Sefer Siftei Chachamim – the renowned supercommentary on Rash”i’s commentary on Chamishah Chumshei Torah and Chamesh Meggilot, printed in most chumashim, by Rabbi Shabtai Meshorrer Bass. Frankfurt am Main, 1712. Antique owner’s signatures on the title page.
Complete copy of the sefer printed in the author’s lifetime. The commentary was printed at first without the chumash, to be used together with other chumashim. With an approbation by Rabbi Shlomo Shatin-Katz, the Maharshasha”ch.
133 [should be 143] leaf, approximately 20 cm.
Fine condition. Aging stains. Slight blemishes in the margins of the title page and the following leaf. Minimal worming perforations. Stickers for reinforcement on two leaves, with small lack. Several detached leaves. New binding.
Sefer Orot Elim . First edition. Salonika, 1823. First book by the gaon Rabbi Eliezer Papo, author of
Pele Yoetz . In the preface, the author writes that the profits from this book are designated for the publication of his renowned book,
Pele Yoetz . Incomplete copy.
The author, Rabbi Eliezer Papo, was known as a sacred person, and his grave in Bulgaria was a pilgrimage site before the Holocaust. Many would flock to this site on his yahrtzeit and at other times, and would experience salvation. The reason for this was that before his passing, he promised that anyone who would visit his grave site after immersing [in a mikveh] and reciting Tehillim and prayers with proper intent would experience salvation and mercy in all required areas. The renowned Kabbalist Rabbi Yoshiyahu Pinto, av beit din of Morocco, known as “The Tycoon’s Rabbi” renewed the tradition of going to his grave site in recent years. Many wealthy and common Jews go together with him in an airlift and tell of open wonders that occur there year after year.
Refer to the Hebrew catalog text for a brief biography of
Rabbi Eliezer Papo .
[2] 2, 5-64 leaves. Lacking leaves 3-4. 19.5 cm.
Fine-very fine condition: Minimal aging stains. Tear in leaf 55 with slight lack in the text. Small tear in the last leaf, without lack. Beautiful new binding.
Sefer Zayit Ra’anan – fundamental commentary on the Yalkut Shimoni by Rabbi Avraham Abele Gombiner, author of Magen Avraham . First edition. Dessau, 1704.
First, comprehensive edition of Zayit Ra’anan , printed in later editions only in an abbreviated version on the pages of Yalkut Shimoni .
Stefansky, Sifrei Yessod 138.
[11], 3- 62 (mispaginated, should be: 82.) 32 cm.
Fine condition. Stains.
Three volumes of Talmud Bavli, unique editions printed on their own, not as part of a Sha”s. These editions were printed in a small format designed for the benefit of travellers, etc. In these three editions, every two leaves constitutes one leaf of the standard editions for easy use during travel. These tractates are naturally uncommon, as they became worn and lost.
* Tractate Megillah. Amsterdam, Dayan Press, 1730. 45 (should be 75), [1] leaf. 19 cm. Very rare edition.
On the title page: made as a small volume so that a person can carry it in his coat and continue to study even while he is travelling. This tractate was printed on its own, not as part of a Sha”s. It is not recorded in the list of single editions from Amsterdam presses in the article on printing the Talmud.
* Tractate Yoma. Amsterdam, Proops Press, 1740. 189 leaf, 19.5 cm.
Chiddushei Maharsh”a is printed in the margins of the pages (and not as customary, after the gemara).
Mifa’l HaBibliographiah writes that the sefer includes only 183 leaves. This copy includes 189 leaves. These leaves include Kitzur Piskei HaRo”sh and Peirush HaMishnayot L’HaRamba”m , as mentioned on the title page.
* Tractate Niddah. Metz, Mai Press, 1770. 172; 29-44, [2]; 30 leaf. Lacking two leaves. 19.5 cm.
The last 30 leaves include the Ri”f on this tractate, with a separate title page.
Total of [3] volumes. The title pages and the flyleaves bear antique signatures and notations; these have not been examined.
Overall fine-very fine condition. Usage and aging stains. Wear and tears in several leaves. Beautiful antique bindings with abrasions and slight wear.
Tractate Beitzah with commentaries – Rash”i, Tosafot and Piskei Tosafot, as printed in Frankfurt am Oder [1667-1699]. Sulzbach, Zekkel ben Aharon [Ehrenstein] Press, 1800. Unfamiliar style edition. This tractate was printed on its own, and not as part of a Sha”s.
The known copies do not have the border, and the writing on the title page is in Rash”i script. This unique variant has the entire tractate printed in a different form from the known copies. The title page has a decorative border and the writing on the title page is in block letters. In addition, the printer’s device does not appear on the title page.
40 leaf, 31 cm. Owner’s signature with an ex libris : The youth Yehoshua Goldberger.
Fine condition. Blemishes on several leaves, some restored with blemishes in the text. Aging stains. Old binding.
Eleh Divrei HaBrit , letters from rabbinic leaders “to foil a new religion (concocted by some non-Torah individuals) to establish customs not according to Jewish law, ” published by the beit din tzedek of Hamburg. Altona, [1819].
Buds of Reform Judaism in Germany emerged with the prayer customs in a Hamburg “temple.” In this framework, there were “revisions” to the prayer services. The Reform removed prayers about the final redemption from the siddur, a pipe organ was introduced into the temple, and prayers were recited in German. The Reform based the revisions on talmudic and rabbinic sources, and publicized this in a book called Noga HaTzedek – Ohr Noga (Dessau 1818) in which their rabbis expressed opinions justifying arranging the revisions.
This book was printed in response, including twenty-two halachic responsa from rabbinic leaders in Germany, Hungary, Poland and other countries, which bring proofs from halachah and poskim showing that the revisions are completely forbidden. Among the geonim of the generation whose responsa appear in the sefer : Rabbi Yaakov of Lissa, author of Netivot HaMishpat , the rabbis of Prague – Rabbi Elazar Flecklesh and Rabbi Shmuel Landau, the Chatam Sofer (several letters), Mahara”m Bennet, Rabbi Akiva Eiger, Rabbi Meshulam Zalman HaKohen (Maharz”ch) of Furth, author of Bigdei Kehunah , and others.
In the beginning, the Chatam Sofer objected to the book’s publication, reasoning that even raising the issue by engaging in debate with the Reform may strengthen them. Nevertheless, he afterwards acknowledged the book’s influence: “A collection of letters from the rabbis of the period was printed in Hamburg, and they called the book Divrei HaBrit and thank G-d, it performed wonders among the Jews.”
XVI, 131 pages. 22 cm. Light, high-quality paper.
Fine condition. Minimal stains. Taped reinforcements in the margins of individual leaves, without damage to text.
Beautiful binding, tear in the spine.
Sefer Turei Even – novellae on tractates Rosh Hashanah, Chagigah and Megillah by Rabbi Aryeh Leib b”r Asher [Ginzburg], rabbi of Metz and author of Sha’agat Aryeh . Metz, 1781. Fundamental sefer . First edition. Copy that belonged to the gaon Rabbi Zalman Wasserman, av beit din of Mergentheim – one of the geonim and Chassidim of Ashkenaz. Signatures and glosses.
Sefer Turei Even is one of the most fundamental works of novellae for these tractates and it was subsequently printed in innumerable editions. This is the first edition, printed by the Sha’agat Aryeh in his lifetime.
The first three leaves of the sefer bear three owner’s signatures of the gaon “the youth Zalman Wasserman” av beit din of Mergentheim (two of the signatures are crossed out). In addition, two short glosses appear along the book’s leaves.
Refer to the Hebrew catalog text for a brief biography of the gaon Rabbi Zalman Wasserman, av beit din of Bad Mergentheim .
[1], 56 [should be: 58]; 44; 48 leaf. Each tractate has its own separate pagination. 30 cm. Thick paper.
Fine condition. Aging stains. Wear in the binding.
Unusually and in error, the sefer was bound – in the original – with two identical title pages. The first title page was slightly worn out in the over 200 years since, but the additional title page bound after it is preserved in excellent condition.
Sefer Shnei Luchot HaBrit [ Shla”h ] “pure sayings more precious than pearls … composition on the Oral and Written Torah, arranged and organized … by the complete G-dly sage, butzina kaddisha , rabbi of the Land of Israel … Rabbeinu Yeshayah HaLevi Horowitz.” Frankfurt am Oder, Michel Gottshlak Press. 1717. Including an illustrated title page, which is lacking in many copies. Signature and glosses.
This is a magnificent early edition of Shnei Luchot HaBrit with an illustrated poem by the author, and an especially lengthy approbation from the gaon and Kabbalist Rabbi Naftali Katz, author of Semichat Chachamim , appearing for the first time in this edition. The book Hakdamat Vavei HaAmudim by his son, Rabbi Sheftel Horowitz, appears at the end of this volume, with a separate title page.
The remnant of a rabbinic signature in chatzi kolmus script appears at the beginning of the book. Several short comments appear along the length of the book, apparently by the same writer.
Volume I – [4], [1]-263 leaf. Approximately 30 cm.
Volume II – 264-422; 44 leaf. Approximately 30 cm.
Fine condition. The illustrated title page is pasted onto paper for reinforcement.
Meginei Eretz – Shulchan Aruch Ohr HaChaim. Dyhernfurth, 1754. Illustrated frontispiece.
Shulchan Aruch with the meginim : Magen Avraham and Turei Zahav and with the commentaries: Be’er HaGolah , Ateret Zekeinim , Lekket HaKemach and Panim Chadashot by Rabbi Meir Chajes.
[3] 322 leaf. Two title pages. 34 cm. Owner’s notations on the back of the first title page and on the second title page.
Fine condition. Aging stains. Slight wear in the margins of the last leaves, without damage to text. Tear without lack in the margins of the first title page. Simple binding.
Sefer Meginei Eretz – Shulchan Aruch Orach Chaim with Turei Zahav, Magen Avraham, Pri Chadash and Even HaOzer. Amsterdam, Proops Press. 1754. Beautiful early edition of Meginei Eretz . Antique leather binding, with pure gold imprints. Handwritten glosses.
Two title pages. The first title page is illustrated with an elegant woodcut of the four shepherds: Moshe, Aharon, Yosef and David, each wearing his designated crown, Keter Torah , Keter Kehunah , etc.
The front flyleaf bears owners’ signatures and notations. Several beautiful and lengthy handwritten glosses are noted along the book’s leaves, by several writers, in Ashkenazic script, some tiny. The comments and the signatures have not been examined.
[3] 36 [4] 37-338 leaf. 37 cm.
Fine-very fine condition. Aging stains. Artistic restoration of the margins of the first title page. Magnificent antique binding, leather-covered wood, with pure gold imprints. New leather spine with gold imprints.
Em HaBanim Smechah on geulah and redemption of the soul from the final exile, by the sacred gaon Rabbi Yissachar Shlomo Teichthal [Teichtal]. Budapest, 1943. This sefer that discusses redemption was written at the height of the Holocaust. Rare, sought-after sefer .
The sefer is called Em HaBanim Smechah for the joy of the Land of Israel when its children return. It deals at length with with subjects related to the Holocaust and the ultimate redemption. The author wrote this sefer primarily in an attic where he was hiding from the Nazi threat. He cites hundreds of sources from memory only! The book includes several introductions in which the author describes his life during the Holocaust. The sefer was printed Tevet – Chanukah, 1943.
Refer to the Hebrew catalog text for a brief biography of Rabbi Yissachar Shlomo Teichtal .
Historically important, this book is disputed by rabbis and scholars with respect to the author’s intent, and whether he was in favor of ascension to the Land of Israel even for those who were not mitzvah-observant.
[11], 3-360 pp, 23 cm.
Fine condition. Original binding, dismantled.
Sefer Shir Yedidut – poems and prayers with words of praise and appreciation recited in Torino throughout the entire year. With hymns in commemoration of historic events. Mantua, 1778. Historically important work.
Includes a poem in honor of members of the Zrizim Society; Shir HaOleh al Mokdah in memory of those burned at the stake in Torino on the second day of Passover in 1775; refrain commemorating the redemption of the city from the French on 28 Elul; a poem for the fire festival, (in commemoration of the miracle the occurred the night of Simchat Torah in 1691, when a flame fell into the aron kodesh here in Torino during Shacharit on Simchat Torah); a prayer for droughts, a prayer for viral pox – in a foreign language, and a bakashah for times of war, heaven forbid.
24 leaf, 17 cm. The page preceding the title page bears a lengthy notation, signed in a foreign language.
Fine condition. Aging stains. Original leather binding, blemished.
Sefer Seder HaDorot – history of people and events from Creation to just before the period in which the author lived. Including the order of the Tana’im and Amora’im, and the names of books and their authors, by Rabbi Yechiel Halperin, av beit din of Minsk. Karlsruhe, 1769. First edition.
Fundamental book of the chronicles of Jewish leaders and their histories. Divided into three parts. 1) Seder Yemot Olam Seder HaDorot; history of prominent people and events from Creation to just before the period in which the author lived. 2) Seder Tana’im V’Amora’im; history of the Tana’im and Amora’im in extensive detail. 3) Names of authors and all their books, arranged alphabetically. Dedicated section for the authors and another section for the books.
Due to its importance, this book was printed in dozens of editions. This is the first edition. Handwritten glosses along the length of the book, with one especially lengthy gloss by Rash”i’s history.
[13], 180 leaf. 32 cm.
Fine condition. Aging stains. Light restoration in the margins of the title page and the following leaf with a minor blemish in the text.
Sefer Ya’arot Dvash , derashot by the gaon Rabbi Yehonatan Eybeschütz – the epitome of Jewish sharpness. Two parts bound together, with separate title pages. Karlsruhe, Part I, 1779, Part II, 1782. Notations, signatures and glosses.
First edition of Rabbi Yehonatan Eybeschütz’s renowned work, subsequently printed in many editions. The sefer was published by the author’s nephew and disciple, R’ Yehudah Leib b”r Moshe Vormayz (Wormeish)of Karlsruhe, with a foreword by him. Many approbations. Approbation from Rabbi Aryeh Leib Ginzburg, author of Sha’agat Aryeh at the beginning of each part – a separate approbation for each.
Both title pages bear rabbinic signatures in Hebrew and owners’ stamps in a foreign language. Both flyleaves (front and back) feature many notations and signatures, also in both languages. Likewise, there are several handwritten glosses on the book’s leaves.
Stefansky, Sifrei Yessod 491.
Part I, [4], 116 leaf; Part II. [4] 116 leaf, 20.5 cm.
Fine condition. Aging stains. Single worming perforation. Antique reinforcements to the title page and the last leaf. Slight tear in the margins of the last leaf, without damage or lack. Magnificent new binding.
Sefer Orot HaMitzvot – commentaries and hints to the mitzvahs in the Torah per the weekly Torah portions by Rabbi Binyamin Raphael Diash Brandon, a rabbi of the Portuguese community in Amsterdam. Printed and bound in the original with Emek Binyamin – responsa by the same author. Amsterdam, Janson Press, 1753. First edition, complete. Pedigree copy.
The responsa section includes a responsum from Rabbi Aharon Lidishma, a rabbi in Suriname, South America. This responsum is considered the first “responsum” sent by an “American” rabbi to a European rabbi. Regarding this fact, refer to the article “Shu”t B’America” in Otzar Zichronotai by Rabbi Y. D. Eisenstein (New York, 1930), p. 340.
The responsa part, Emek Binyamin , was printed and distributed on its own. This is the original volume with both complete sections. This copy belonged to Mori Shalom Yitzchak HaLevi, rabbi of Yemenite Jews in the Land of Israel.
[16], 103, [1]; [1] 22, [1] leaf. Mispaginated. 18.5 cm.
Moderate-fine condition. Stains and usage marks. Minimal worming perforations, mainly at the end of the volume. Tears with lack in the title page and leaf 10 of Sefer Orot HaMitzvot , without damage to the text. Simple binding.
Sefer Ratzuf Ahavah – novellae on Sha”s and Tosafot by the gaon Rabbi Shlomo Algazi, av beit din of Izmir, “unique in his generation in in-depth Torah study” (as attested by the Chid”a). Verona, 1649. First edition.
Refer to the Hebrew catalog text for a brief biography of Rabbi Shlomo Algazi .
Regarding the printing, refer to M. Benayahu, “Yediot al Hadpassat Sefarim V’Hafatzatam B’Italiah, ” Sinai , 34, 1954, pp. 158-159.
[1], 19, 25-32, 37-44, 41-152, [1] leaf. Marked 152. Mispaginated. High-quality paper. Fine condition. Damp stains. Minimal worming perforations. New leather binding.
* Sefer Shema Shlomo – sermons on the Torah – section on Devarim, by Rabbi Shlomo Algazi, av beit din of Izmir. [Izmir, Avraham Gabbai Press, c. 1663]. Printed without a title page. First edition, hard-to-find.
Sefer Shema Shlomo was printed in 1659. It consists of derashot on four of the five chumashim in the Torah – Bereishit through Bamidbar. For hundreds of years, the existence of another section of this sefer was unknown, the one with the commentary on Devarim (aside from yechidei segulah such as the Chid”a). This section is not recorded in Bibliographiah HaIvrit – nor in Ben Ya’akov’s Otzar HaSefarim , nor in Friedberg’s Beit Akad Sefarim nor by Avraham Ya’ari in his list HaDefus HaIvri B’Izmir . Even the following edition of the sefer (Amsterdam, 1710) was not printed with the section on Devarim, apparently because the printers were unaware of its existence. There is presently one copy known to be extant, in the Mehlman Collection, preserved in the National Library. This is another copy, only the second known in the world!
This sefer attests to the existence of the press in Izmir as late as 1663. Over the years, many bibliographers contended that the press closed around 1660. In this section, at the end of the sefer , there is a “deep essay … delivered on the day of the passing of the rabbi, the author of Rosh Yosef” – Rabbi Yosef Ishkappeh, who passed away in 1662. As such, the book was clearly printed after this, c. 1663.
Ginzei Yisrael no. 884.
42 leaf, 20 cm. Handwritten glosses. Three “crowns” on the last leaf, printing blocks characteristic of Gabbai’s press.
Moderate condition. Blemish in the inner margins of the first leaf. With light damage to the text. Adhesion in leaf 4. Aging and usage marks.
* Bound with Sefer Shema Shlomo by the same Rabbi Shlomo Algazi, on four chumashim – Bereishit through Bamidbar. Amsterdam, Moshe Diash Press, 1710. Second edition. On the title page and leaves in the body of the work, there are several signatures by Rabbi Moshe Chai Pijuto. Ashkanazic signature on the title page (rubbed-out).
Refer to the Hebrew catalog text for a brief biography of the author, Rabbi Shlomo Algazi , and of Chacham Moshe de Pijuto .
[2] 68 leaf. 28.5 cm.
Moderate condition. Worming perforations. Aging and usage marks. The two books are bound together in an antique binding, blemished and worn.
Kuntress Shnat HaSheva – abbreviated laws of Shevi’it , with Be’er Sheva, the sources of the laws, by Moshe Nechemiah Kahanov. Jerusalem, Yoel Moshe Salomon Press, 1881. First edition. Uncommon. Author’s dedication.
The author composed several sefarim including the halachic work Netivot HaShalom – two parts. He was occupied with Torah despite poverty and suffering. In this sefer , he mentions his son who passed away, and he adds that were it not for the fact that he had already started printing this sefer , he would never have considered printing it and deepening his financial straits; he therefore printed only 100 copies.
Refer to the Hebrew catalog text for a brief biography of Rabbi Moshe Nechemiah Kahanov .
Author’s handwritten dedication to Rabbi Avraham Moshe Luntz.
Sh. HaLevi, Sifrei Yerushalayim HaRishonim 382.
34 leaf, 19 cm. Uneven page cuts. Proofreading marks.
Fine condition. Very minor tears.
* Sefer Chibat Yerushalayim – geography of sacred sites and tzaddikim’s graves in the Holy Land by Rabbi Chaim HaLevi Hurwitz. Jerusalem, Rabbi Yisrael Beck Press, 1844. First edition.
The title page features an illustration of buildings in Jerusalem and the Mount of Olives. With approbations from Jerusalem rabbis. Foreword by the printer Rabbi Yisrael ben Rabbi Avraham Beck. Without the approbation leaf [3] that was added to some of the copies (with the approbation by Rabbi Aharon Moshe MiGeza Tzvi of Brod).
Several fraudulent editions of this book were printed in Königsberg and Blomberg. This is the first, original edition.
Sh. HaLevi, no. 23.
[2] 60 leaf, 20 cm. Not bound. Moderate-fine condition. Perforations and a few worming tunnels. Signature.
* Sefer Chibat Yerushalayim – geography of sacred sites and tzaddikim’s graves in the Holy Land by Rabbi Chaim HaLevi Hurwitz. [Lvov, c. 1870.] Imitation of the first edition.
Interesting edition of the important and sought-after work printed according to the first edition (above, printed in Jerusalem in 1844). The title page is also copied in its entirety from the same edition, including details of the printer, the year, and even the picture of Jerusalem in the center of the title page. For more about this forgery, refer to Sh. HaLevi, Sifrei Yerushalayim HaRishonim , no. 23.
[3], 63 [should be: 60] leaf, mispaginated. 20 cm. Moderate-fine condition. Worming perforations and a few worming tunnels.
Volume of the Babylonian Talmud with Tractates Bava Kamma and Bava Metzia. Sulzbach press, 1760. Signatures and many owner’s notations by Rabbi Yekutiel and Rabbi Ben Tziyon Rosenbaum of the Zell community.
Antique leather-covered wooden binding with a pair of functional metal buckles. Dense and precise geometric pattern on the front binding board that gives the binding an eye-catching appearance.
Bava Kamma: 146 leaf. Bava Metzia: 156 (should be: 158) leaf. 32.5 cm.
Most of the leaves in the sefer are in fine-very fine condition. The first leaves are in moderate condition with tears, wear and many adhesions (some on the text). Slight lack at the edge of one buckle. The binding is in well-preserved condition, with minimal wear and chafing. Several tiny perforations.
Sefer Sefat Emet about the virtues and sanctity of the Land of Israel and the privilege and obligation to settle there, by the sacred gaon Rabbi Moshe Chagiz, a leading sage in Jerusalem. Amsterdam, 1707. First edition. Uncommon sefer .
The sefer includes essays and drushim in praise of settling in the Land of Israel, and how it differs from other countries. The author’s introductions appear at the beginning of the sefer in Hebrew and in Portuguese.
Refer to the Hebrew catalog text for a brief biography of the gaon Rabbi Moshe Chagiz.
28 leaf, 14 cm.
Fine condition. Aging stains. Worming perforations. Blemishes in the bottom corners of about [5] of the leaves, some restored, with minor damage to the text.
Sefer Kol Demamah Dakkah, Yecholel V’Yachsof Toldot Mashiach Ben David by Rabbi Noach Chaim Levine, with an approbation by Rabbi Chaim Berlin. Pietrkov, 1905. First edition. Two title pages.
The sefer includes one hundred names for Melech HaMashiach , eighty names for the End of Days and the messianic era, many compilations from various books such as Ma’or VaShamesh , Yismach Moshe and others.
Very rare work; to the best of our examination it has never appeared at auction.
48 pp, approximately 21.5 cm.
Moderate-fine condition. Light tears in the title page. The last leaf is worn with a sticker in the margins of several lines on top of the text. Small perforations in the last [6] leaves, with light damage to the text. Worming perforations. Not bound.
The title page of the sefer Emet V’Emunah is bound at the end of this kuntress , by the same author, and it also deals with Melech HaMashiach and his arrival. Warsaw, 1808. Yiddish.
* Set of Kedushat HaShem – commentary on the Tetragrammaton [שם הוי”ה]. Unique work printed in five booklets dealing with Kabbalah. Five booklets. London, 1917. Complete set.
* Roshei Alfei Yisrael – literary anthology on Torah, wisdom, religion and knowledge. 1915-1919. 16 parts. Quarterly Torah anthology. Almost entirely authored by Rabbi Yosef Shapotshnick.
Refer to the Hebrew catalog text for a brief biography of R’ Yosef Shapotshnick .
Thick volume. 20 cm.
Fine condition. Minimal stains.
Sefer Rabbot . Midrash Rabbah on the Torah and Chamesh Meggilot, with the Matnot Kehunah commentary. Frankfurt am Oder, 1691-1692. Two volumes.
Early and beautiful edition of the Midrash Rabbah with the Matnot Kehunah commentary by Rabbi Yissachar Ber Katz. With the addition of the Imrei Shefer explanations of words and indices. Magnificent illustrated title pages. Leaf 33 features a large picture of Noah’s ark according to the opinions of Rabbi Yehudah and of Rabbi Nechemiah.
302; [1], 130, [5] leaf. 28 cm. Identical antique bindings with gilt imprints. The title page for Chamesh Meggilot was bound in the incorrect place.
Overall fine condition. Blemishes in the first title page and the following leaf.
