Halachic Validity of Printing Bans and Approbations

Date: 24 Adar 5583

From: Rabbi Moshe Sofer

To: Unknown recipient

Description

The Chasam Sofer refutes R' Mordechai Benet's three objections to including a cherem against unauthorized reprinting in a haskamah, arguing that printing bans are valid and essential due to the massive capital investment required by printers, that governmental printing laws do not conflict with rabbinic bans, and that historical precedent from the early authorities supports such bans as universally binding enactments. He also stresses the importance of haskamos in preventing the spread of heretical or inaccurate works.

Source: Shu"t Chasam Sofer CM §41

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