A manuscript of a book of sermons written by Rabbi Aharon Furth, in the author’s handwriting [Furth, which is Firth next to Nuremberg], 1780’s.
Specifications: [137] leaves, paper. 16×19 cm. Autograph. On the endpaper is a stamp: “Aharon Furth” and many ownership signatures, including Rabbi Yosef HaCohen Schwartz [1875-1944. Editor of “VaYelaket Yosef” of Grosswardein] who writes: “This ledger of Torah novellae was written by Rabbi Aharon son of Raphael, the dayan of Furth.”
Unique Features: The manuscript begins with the title “Apology” followed by a piyut with the acrostic “Aharon Furth”. This is followed by [70] sermons on the Torah and festivals, on Talmudic topics, for the completion of tractates, circumcision and weddings. At the end of the manuscript, the author added an index of the book’s sermons. On page 116 [b] is a eulogy written by Rabbi Aharon on Rabbi Zvi Hirsch Yanuv [Rabbi Zvi Hirsch Charif], Rosh Yeshiva and Av Beit Din of Furth, who died in 1785. To the best of our knowledge, this work was never published.
Background: Rabbi Aharon son of Rabbi Raphael of Furth (- 1800), was a dayan in Furth. He was appointed to the beit din of Rabbi Meshulam Zalman Cohen, author of Bigdei Kehuna , together with the other dayanim of his community, Rabbi Yosef HaLevi Frankel-Gossdorf, Rabbi Asher Alces and Rabbi Yaakov son of Rabbi Zelig Mertzbach, who supported the publishing of the grammar book by Rabbi Moshe Hakim HaCohen Hoichheimer, who was a dayan and Torah teacher in Furth. His period was an era of growth in Furth, and many hundreds of students studied in its large and famous yeshiva.
For information about Rabbi Zvi Hirsch Yanuv, refer to the book HaYeshiva HaRama B’Furth, part two, pages 263-303, and refer there in comment 212 to the list of eulogies said and written about him.
Condition: Fine-very fine. A few stains, a small amount of the text is faded.
Handwritten book of sermons for siyumim on tractates and the six orders of the Mishnah, delivered in Shavlan near Kovno, between [1852-1883].
Specifications: 280 pages, of which 160 bear written text. 15×21 cm.
Background: Apparently written by Rabbi Shmuel, Av Beit Din of Shavlan, childhood friend of Rabbi Yisrael Salanter, a close disciple of the author of Keren Orah . One of his questions was printed in Chemdat Shaul, siman 19. The author’s grandson commented, “This is HaRav HaGaon Shmuel ztz”l who was later Av Beit Din in Shavlan, and then studied in Karlin and then spent time in the shadow of the Gaon…Yitzchak ztz”l, the Rav Av Beit Din of Karlin, author of Keren Orah, and was very honored in his home, as a grandson of the Keren Orah told me, and from there his questions and hesitations were rushed to the…hagaon Shaul ztzll”l”. Rabbi Yisrael of Salant wrote a letter to Hard”m Meisles, Av Beit Din of Krakow, in 1865 (printed in Moriah, Nissan 1999) that said, “on behalf of my childhood friend… the gaon..Maharas”h Rabbi of Shalvan…, perhaps you have the ability to share in the pain of this outstanding Torah scholar and to be a support for him.” The Maharal Diskin also wrote a recommendation letter (also printed in the Moriah), “to complete the words of our friend, Harav HaGaon …[Yisrael Salanter], because we have aroused together for HaRav..the Av Beit Din of Shavlan, who has seen poverty for six years because of libelous lies, and his judgment has not yet been published (that even this soon should come clean, with the compassion of Hashem).” The libels mentioned by the Maharil Diskin refer to the notorious blood libels that began in 1861 and only ended about six years later. Refer to Zichron Yaakov Lipshitz (section two p. 12). This may be the reason why there are no sermons from those years in this manuscript!!!
Unique features: Each sermon is headed with the event and date on which it was delivered. Lengthy sermons for finishing solitary tractates, orders, and for a siyum for the six orders of the Mishna. The sermons are dated 1852-1859, 1865, 1871, 1877, 1878, 1883. A quick look is enough to verify that the author was a prominent person who had fantastic expertise in halacha and drush, the works of the Achronim, language and writing. His words of mussar were delivered with charm and modesty. His mussar is covered with pleasantness while integrating them with ideas appropriate for the time and words fortifying mussar and G-dly service and promoting Torah study amongst his congregation.
Condition: Very fine. Aging stains. Magnificent, new leather binding.
A work on the book of Tehillim, by Rabbi Yehuda Leib of Braunschweig. Ashkenazi handwriting. 18th century [perhaps 1805]. Not printed.
Specifications: 108 leaves. 17×21 cm, Thick paper, written on both sides of the leaf.
Content: A large, complete work on the entire book of Tehillim. In the colophon [page 105b]: Yehuda Leib in Braunschweig. Brunswick-Braunschweig, a city east of Hanover, Northern Germany.
Unique Features: Orderly and legible handwriting, with no erasures. At the beginning of each chapter is a title with the chapter number and its beginning, a line is drawn between each chapter, with a small number of additions in the page margins, which shows that the author’s intention was to print the work. It begins with a long introduction from the author in which he writes in a Kabbalistic approach about various interpretations of verses connected to the Jewish soul and the soul of Moshe Rabbeinu, which encompassed 600,000 souls. In the colophon, the author writes that he prays he will be able to bring the commentary to print.
In the end, the work was not printed, and we have been unable to discover any further details about the author.
The manuscript was in the Montefiore Collection, MS 36, with the stamp of the library in Ramsgate, it appeared in a Sotheby’s catalog of manuscripts in Montefiore’s library in 2004.
Condition: Very fine. A few aging stains. Bound in original simple binding.
* Sermons for the portions of Bereishit-Ha’azinu, a sermon belonging to the portion of Vayetzei, a sermon for circumcisions, a sermon for parshat zachor, in the name of the Shelah, for the festival of Succot, on matters related to the giving of the Torah, topics related to weddings.
Specifications: 108 pages, paper. 10×17 cm.
Unique Features: The manuscript was in the library of the Admor Rabbi Nachum Dov Friedman of Sadigora, refer to: The List of Manuscripts (99) of the Library of Rabbi… Rabbi Nachum Dov Friedman of Sadigora, 1100. To the best of our knowledge the manuscript was never published.
Content: The manuscript begins with the words: “With the help of G-d I will begin on Monday 12 Iyar…to copy sermons from the ledger before me, Meir Ber, currently here in city of Pelsburg. The young and small one, Diskind Segal, currently there. 1821”. It ends, “Completed on the day with a double portion of ‘ki tov,’ 12 Sivan 1821. The small one Diskind Elas Av Shreiber.”
* A sermon in Yiddish regarding Korach’s claim about a tallit which is entirely blue, followed by “L’Peirush HaNal MeGaon Echad”, “Ma’amar HaGaon Av Beit Din Rabbi David Oppenheim”, “MiGaon Echad”, “Mehagaon Rabbi Heschel” and “Shayach L’Succot M’Gaon Echad.”
Specifications: [6] leaves, paper. 10×17 cm.
Condition: Fine-very fine. A few aging stains and a small amount of ink smudges. Fine condition.
Manuscript of Rabbi Avraham ben HaGR”A with elucidation for “Lecha Hashem HaMamlicha…Kol Tzva HaShamayim Mishtachavim,” and “Et shem Ha-kel HaMelech HaGadol HaGibor V’HaNorah Kadosh Hu.”
Specifications: [1] leaf, paper. 30×19 cm. 23 lines in the handwriting of the son of the GR”A. On the back of the leaf is a compilation of the comments of Rabbi Avraham ben HaGR”A on Shulchan Aruch (Orech Chaim, 314-319). The text is all legible.
Unique features: Rare manuscript, with variations from his printed commentary on the siddur prayer book.
Content: The primary element of the manuscript describes different events during which Hashem was coronated: “HaGedula” – Creation; “HaGevurah”- exodus from Egypt; “V’HaTeferet” – the sun and moon stood for Joshua; “V’HaNetzach” – the fall of Rome; “V’HaHod” – the battle at the canyons of Arnon; “Ki Kol Bashamayim U’Va’aretz” – the battle with Sisra; “Lecha Hashem HaMamlicha” – the battle with Amalek; “V’HaMistnase L’Chol Rosh” – the battle of Gog and Magog. The eulcidation includes: “It is possible that according to our commentary that Netzach and Hod are the ways of prophecy that they throw their souls in front – for G-d, and Hashem repays them in kind with the fall of their enemies. The difference between them is that “Hod” is a term used for something that was already done, and His “Hod” was already seen, like in the battle of Arnon; but “Netzach” refers to something that will happen in the future, in the fall of Rome, whose fall will be for eternity.”
Background: Rabbi Avraham of Vilna the son of the GR”A (c. 1750-1808) was an outstanding scholar in both hidden and revealed Torah. He was a disciple of his father and edited midrashim. His exceptional talents were evident from a young age. His most significant independent works relate to midrashic literature, and his writings have been very beneficial to those who study these subjects. He authored many works, though only some were printed. He helped his father lead the community and operate the kloiz in Vilna. He also edited his father’s letters and writings and elucidated and published some his works. He studied medicine and was a trustee of the “Bikur Cholim” home in the community, where he treated patients. At the end of his life, he served as parnes of the Vilna commuity.
Condition: Moderate-fine. The leaf was professionally restored, without affecting text. Within a magnificent binding with tissue paper.
Prayer for a ritual slaughterer and summary of the halachot of “shechita and bedika” in an illustrated manuscript. By Rabbi Akiva son of Zelig of Banowitz, [1835].
Specifications: [1] large leaf, paper. 56×44 cm. The manuscript is written in scribal letters in black and red. The illustrations have some additional colors.
Unique features: This is a unique manuscript featuring practical tools for a ritual slaughterer: Summary of the halachot of bedika and treifa, prayer to be recited before slaughter, review of the the halachot, their sources and reasons – all with colored illustrated demonstrations. The manuscript ends with the words: “I the young (Akiva son of Zelig?) of Banowitz, made this in the city in pain and difficulty in…[1835].” This is impressive testimony to the tenacity and dedication of a ritual slaughterer, despite the difficult times. There are discrepancies between the halachot brought here and the halachot as written in the Shulchan Aruch. Therefore, we can assume that this is not just a copy of the halachot but prayers and laws that were stored in the writer’s memory.
Content: The manuscript opens with a prayer to be recited by the slaughterer before slaughter: “Please G-d, Creator of all, your glory is on the heavens and on the land your honor….to inspire the love…amen sela.” This is followed by the laws of slaughter, titled: “Amar r”y a”sh” [Rabbi Yehuda said Shmuel said], everyone who did not finish the laws of slaughter, it is forbidden to eat of his slaughter…” At the center of the leaf there is an illustration of the windpipe, lungs, liver and gallbladder. The laws of treifa surround these illustrations and are written within them: the source for the prohibition, the laws of kosher and non-kosher and more. At the bottom of the page there are allusions from the Torah regarding kosher and non-kosher, with colored illustrations and basic rules for doing an interior examination of the lungs. The bottom line mentions the writer and his location.
Condition: Moderate. The leaf was professionally restored and reinforced, since it had been folded for a long time. Aging stains. Light tears with loss of text, primarily in the bottom right corner.
An article on Torah topics, in German, written in the handwriting of the leader of German Jewry, Rabbi Shimshon Raphael Hirsch, Av Beit Din of Frankfurt.
Specifications: [4] pages. 29×22 cm. Thin, greenish colored paper. German. Autograph, with additions in the margins. There is a sentence or expression in Hebrew i n several places between the lines .
Background: Rabbi Shimshon Raphael Hirsch – one of the glorious figures and sculptors of Ashkenazic Jewry. He headed the battle against the German “enlightenment,” and fought against them bravely and fearlessly. One of his main weapons was the pen, of which he made extensive use, and through which he was successful in bringing many Jews back to the fold.
Condition: Very fine. In a magnificent leather binding.
Novellae on tractates Shabbat and Brachot by Rabbi Yaakov Ginzburg. Prague, 1814. With self dedication, handwritten comments and the signature of Rabbi Israel Lissa of Prague.
Specifications: [1], 41, 65, [1] leaves. 34 cm. First edition.
Unique Features: An ownership inscription is on the book’s title page: “This notebook which finds favor in the eyes of knowledgeable men, was sent from the Rabbi the author as a gift to me, Israel Lissa”. Some fifteen glosses, most of them long, in his handwriting, are throughout the book’s pages.
Background: Rabbi Israel Lissa, Av Beit Din of Klodi in the Prague region, was one of the great scholars of Prague in the generation of the disciples of the Noda B’Yehuda. Sharp and knowledgeable, he was a friend of the great scholars of Prague, the author of Teshuva M’Ahava , Rabbi Bezalel Regensburg, Rabbi Shmuel Segal Landau, Rabbi Shmuel Leib Koider author of Olat Shmuel . Discussions with him and responsa to him were printed in all of the aforementioned books, many responsa to him from Rabbi Shmuel Segal Landau were printed in the responsa Noda B’Yehuda Tanina . He edited the books Seder Mishna by Rabbi Wolf Boskowitz, and Ye’elat Che n of the Maharal Tzintz, with whom he was extremely friendly (refer to Shemen Rokeach page 71a).
Condition: Very fine. Aging stains.
Shulchan Aruch Choshen Mishpat with Meirat Einyaim (Sm”a). Krakow, 1672. With tens of scholarly glosses in Ashkenazic rabbinical handwriting written soon after the volume was printed.
Specifications: 320, 14 leaves. 30.5 cm.
Unique features: Throughout the leaves of the work there are hundreds of glosses in Ashkenazic handwriting. The glosses are not signed and were written by a number of writers. Some refer to the words of the Sha”ch , where he disagrees with the Sm”a [the Sha”ch was first printed about ten years after this work was published]. Some of the glosses are references, and some are scholarly comments written by a proficient Torah scholar. He questions the words of the Sm”a and even writes, “I wonder at the Sm”a,” “requires study,” “This is not a question,” and a contradiction from the words of the R”ma. These glosses were not sufficiently inspected, however they were undoubtedly written by outstanding Torah scholars who extensively studied the laws of Choshen Mishpat. Rare work. The Bibliography of the Hebrew Book lists this work according to an incomplete copy and the National Library noted that it was printed in 1670, according to a copy that was missing its title page.
Content: The title page and first leaves bear many signatures of Ashkenazic rabbis:
Yehuda Leib son of the great rabbi Menachem Mendel.
Neum HaTzair B’alfi Binyamin Wolf bla”r HaRav HaMeor Hagadol…Av Beit Din and rabbi of Chelm and son-in-law of the great Rabbi Yehuda… Av Beit Din and Rabbi in Krasnik (?). This apparently is the signature of Rabbi Binyamin Wolf, rabbi of Horodlo (Khorodlo) , author of Anaf Eitz Avot on Pirkei Avot (Offenbach, 1719).
Shraga Feivish (?) of Leifnik.
… of Halshoi.
This Sm”a belongs to … HR”r Gedalya.
Over the years, this copy has been passed between various prominent rabbis who studied the laws of Choshen Mishpat.
Condition: Moderate. Tears, stains. Binding in disrepair.
Magnificent manuscript for a Kohen, including the order of the priestly blessing, beginning from the blessing “Retzei” through the end of “Sim Shalom,” with the “Yehi Ratzon” prayer for livelihood and “Ribono Shel Olam” for dreams. Followed by the order of the redemption of the first born [pidyon haben] and the laws of the priestly blessing. Ink on dark high-quality paper in an artistic-scribal hand, in vowelized block letters, with beautiful illustrations and priestly motifs [hands raised in blessing, crown of priesthood etc.]. Separate title pages, illustrated and decorated.
Colophon on the first title page: “Written by … Moshe son of … Shlomo Friedberg … here in Hamburg.” Leaf 13a notes: “Written on Rosh Chodesh Iyar 1831.” Leaf 161 notes, “this book was written in honor of … R’ Feivelman son of … David Katz z”l of Altona.”
[1], 19 leaves. 18×12 cm. Beautiful collectors’ item. Very fine condition. New deluxe leather binding with matching slipcase.
