Novellae and in-depth discussions on Tractate Horiyot, as well as responsa, from Rabbi Chaim Yosef David Azoulay (the Chid”a). Livorno, 1756. First edition.
The first work printed from among the many works by the Chid”a, known to have been written when he was only 17 years old. The Chid”a printed the sefer when he was in Livorno towards the end of the period of his first mission in Italy.
The Chid”a received approbations for the sefer from his teacher, Rabbi Yonah Navon, who encouraged him to commit his novellae to paper already in his youth, along with those by his father, Rabbi Yitzchak Zerachiah Azoulay, and by his father-in-law, Rabbi Nissim Berachah. Many additional approbations from sages of Jerusalem and Hebron; Rabbi Yehudah Ayash and others.
Sought-after sefer . With respect to its rarity, one can grasp it from Rabbi Betzalel Rangshburg’s introduction to his sefer , Horah Gaver on Tractate Horiyot (Prague, 1802), in which he discusses Sefer Sha’ar Yosef and writes that he expended a huge amount of effort to obtain it, but he was unsuccessful. Refer to M. Benayahu as well, in his work HaChid”a p. 186, where he writes that the sefer became scarce already in the author’s lifetime.
Complete copy with the author’s dedication to Michael Pereira di Lion, in Spanish, and with the printing permit from the parnassim of the Livorno community.
Benayahu, Sifrei HaChid”a 1.
Inscription on the title page.
16 pp. 120: 40 leaf. Approximately 30 cm. Printed on white paper.
Fine condition. Minimal worming perforations. New binding.
Mishnat Chachamim authored by the renowned Kabbalist Emmanuel Chai Ricci, with the Maggid Mishnah commentary by Rabbi Moshe b”r Yekutiel Zalman of Drahichyn and Pinsk. Zolkiew, 1745. First edition, especially rare.
Printed around the sefer Mishnat Chachamim . The author, Rabbi Emmanuel Chai Ricci, was killed in 1743, and already two years posthumously, an extensive work was published to elucidate what he wrote in the depths of Kabbalah!
With a beautiful approbation from the sages of the Brody kloiz , and other approbations.
Important sefer that to the best of our knowledge has not been sold at auction as a complete copy for over twenty years.
Pages 5b and 6a bear handwritten glosses in an early script by an unidentified Kabbalist, from the period in which the sefer was printed. Several additional leaves bear short handwritten corrections.
[68] leaf. 22 cm.
Fine condition, aging stains. Light blemishes in the margins of the title page and several leaves.
“To explain that the gaon Rabbi Yonatan (Eibeschütz) was dealt with deceptively … and a door was opened against this gaon . .. may they burn in fire ” (from the text of the title page)
Polemic of amulets and Sabbateanism: Sefer Luchot Edut , the apologetic work by Rabbi Yehonatan Eibeschütz, with the iggerot and the posters from rabbis, parnassim and community leaders who stood at his side against Rabbi Ya’akov Emden. Historically significant work. First edition. Altona, 1755. Especially sought-after sefer . Beautiful copy.
This is the central work by Rabbi Yehonatan justifying his ways against the harsh accusations hurled by Rabbi Ya’akov Emden – the Ya’ave”tz. About a year later, his primary rival, Rabbi Ya’akov Emden – the Ya’ave”tz, published his sefe r , Shevirat Luchot HaOn . A star-of-David-shaped amulet appears in the sefer on leaf 63, written by Rabbi Yehonatan Eibeschütz for a woman in childbirth (followed by a lengthy explanation of his intent, to remove any suspicion of his using Sabbatean amulets).
The title page bears the handwritten rabbinic signature “HaK’ Uri HaKohen.” This may be the very rare signature of the wonder-worker, the Admo”r Rabbi Uri HaKohen Yalles of Sambor – one of the leading Admo”rim of the generations. The Rebbe of Sambor would sign using an unusually thick pen, as in this signature here.
Refer to the Hebrew catalog text for a brief biography of Rabbi Uri HaKohen Yalles of Sambor .
[12], 2-78 leaf, 18 cm.
Fine condition. Aging stains. Taped reinforcements in the margins of the title page and the last leaf, without damage to the text. Tear with lack in the margins of leaf 26 without damage to the text; with paper completions. Borderline margin cuts, with damage to the pagination letters of some of the leaves. Beautiful new leather binding.
First edition of a Sefer HaZohar HaKadosh printed in Ashkenazic countries for Ashkenazic Jewry.
Scarce sefer , almost no copies have survived intact. Even the National Library in Jerusalem does not have a complete copy.
Incomplete copy.
Only two first editions preceded this edition, those printed in Mantua and in Cremona, 1558-1560.
Several significant differences are known to distinguish these two first editions.
This edition here is based on the Cremona edition, but supplements from the Mantua edition are added. Hence this is a Sefer HaZohar completed from both editions.
The editor and proofreader of Zohar Lublin was Kabbalist Rabbi Nathan b”r Yitzchak Shapira, cousin of Kabbalist Rabbi Nathan Shapira, author of Megaleh Amukot .
Ginzei Yisrael – Osef Mehlman 1069 (listing an incomplete copy).
The rare complete sefer includes 132; 122; 146 leaf.
This copy’s title page was completed by professional photocopy. Lacking the following leaf – the proofreader’s foreword, and leaf 7.
Lacking in the second pagination: leaf 23 and leaf 80. Lacking in the third pagination: leaf 50, 118-119; and the sefer concludes with leaf 130 (lacking 16 leaves at the end).
Approximately 28 cm.
Entirely artistically restored sefer . Worming damage, tears and lacks primarily in the margins of the leaves, without completion of the text. Aging stains. Beautiful new leather binding.
The laws of Orach Chaim with the Chukei Chayim commentary and the laws of Yoreh Deah with the Chukei Da’at commentary, by the great and expert Rabbi Moshe Yekutiel, known as Kaufman Cohen, a son-in-law of the great gaon Rabbi Avraham Abele of Kalisch, author of Magen Avraham . Berlin, 1700. First edition. Two parts, with a dedicated title page for each part, and with the rare siddur (the siddur is incomplete).
Exceptional work with an alphabetic arrangement of the halachahs in Shulchan Aruch according to topic, and not according to the standard simanim arrangement. Alongside the words of the Shulchan Aruch is a commentary and sources, often from his father -in-law, the author of Magen Avraham , as well as Kabbalistic concepts. The author also arranged a huge chart for cross-referencing his sefer with Shulchan Aruch’s simanim .
Many prayers appear among the leaves of the sefer , some Kabbalistic, and some authored by the author of the sefer . Kabbalistic prayer for livelihood (in the halachahs of Rosh Chodesh), a prayer composed by the Ta”z, a prayer by Kabbalist Rabbi Naftali Katz, and more. Additional prayers and segulahs printed on the last leaves of the sefer . With the menorah-shaped LaMenatze’ach psalm.
This copy also contains the 20-leaf rare siddur written in small unvowelized letters. Mifa’l HaBibliographiah notes that the siddur was apparently added to only some of the copies, and it is present in only one of the three copies in Jerusalem.
Present here are the complete Orach Chaim section and the complete Yoreh Deah section, with almost all of the leaves of the rare siddur.
[9] leaves are present from the introduction, and from the siddur: [4]-15, 18-20.
Chelek Orach Chaim: 159, [2], 160-190, [1] leaf.
Chelek Yoreh Deah: 35, [1], 35-72, [3], 79-85, 83-94 leaf.
Fine condition. Aging stains. One leaf is detached. Original leather binding, worn and blemished.
Binat Mikra – elucidation of entries and arrangements of the breaks between the cantillation notes … in addition to the cantillation notes in the sefarim ‘Eme”t’ [Iyov, Mishlei Tehillim] … according to the breaks and the connections between the topics as musical notes for the tune, by Rabbi Menasheh of Ilya. Especially Rare sefer .
The author, a disciple of the Gr”a, elucidates the cantillation according to the simple approach in this work. Page 3b: “I heard from the pious gaon … Rabbi Eliya’ of Vilna … who would often explain the errors of those who state that drash will explain the simple understanding.”
The sefer was printed in large block letters, about which the author writes on the title page “I only found large block letters at the printers, which is possibly beneficial for more fluent reading …”
Refer to the Hebrew catalog text for a brief biography of the author, Rabbi Menasheh of Ilya Ben-Porat .
Signature on the back of the title page, comments in the margins of the pages.
Vinograd, Sifrei HaGr”a 1570.
[20] leaf, approximately 17 cm.
Shishah Sidrei Mishnah with the commentaries of Rabbi Ovadiah of Bartenura and the Tosafot Yom Tov, and more. With Chiddushei Mahar”i by Rabbi Yoel of Omtchislav – a disciple of the Gr”a. Dubrovno, 1802. Five parts. (Lacking Seder Kodshim). Especially rare. Mif’al HaBibliographiah HaIvri and the National Library only list four parts: Zera’im, Nashim, Kodshim and Taharot.
First edition of Chiddushei HaGr”i, known in subsequent editions as Chiddushei Mahari”ach – none other that the unique gaon Rabbi Yoel Chassid of Omtchislav – one of those who gazed upon the Gr”a’s countenance, and astonishingly, also an admirer of the Ba’al HaTanya (refer to the biography in the Hebrew text for more on this)!
The Gr”a’s son-in-law’s approbation appears in the first part [Zera’im], the gaon Rabbi Uri Shraga Feivush b”r Mohara”sh, rabbi of Dubrovno. Later on in the volume is a preface by the author, who writes about his father: “For close to 29 years, he left worldly concerns and occupied himself with eternal matters, leaving the burden of the ways of the world … he battled sleep, fighting his drooping eyelids, and also fasted and afflicted himself for six years.”
Refer to the Hebrew catalog text for a brief biography of the gaon Rabbi Yoel Chassid [Frumkin], a leading disciple and close associate of the Gr”a’s .
Specifications of these volumes:
Seder Zera’im. [4], 132 leaf.
Seder Moed. [1], 172 leaf.
Seder Nashim. [1], 159 leaf.
Seder Nezikin. [1], 196 leaf.
Seder Taharot. [1], 223 leaf. Owners’ notations.
Approximately 26 cm. Overall fine condition. Identical new bindings.
Beautiful direct prayer for the entire year, with many virtues beyond anything that has ever been printed before, by Rabbi Shlomo Zalman London. He brought merit to the masses, collected and compiled abbreviated laws related to prayers and brought them to print in a small volume. Amsterdam, 1727. Lacking two leaves.
Siddur arranged by Rabbi Shlomo Zalman London with a preface by him for this edition.
Important siddur, printed in a small format.
[1], 84; 41, 43-83, [1] leaf, 13 cm. Lacking leaf 2 and leaf 66.
Fine condition. Aging stains. Beautiful parchment binding. Gilt page cuts.
Siddur per the Karaite custom, Part V. Venice, Bomberg Press, 1528-1529.
Especially rare first edition of the Karaite siddur and machzor.
The printers divided the set into five parts, but only the first part has a title page.
There are apparently no remaining complete copies of the siddur including all five parts.
Ginzei Yisrael-Osef Mehlman 1838 (incomplete copy). Haberman, HaMadpis Bombergo 145, not listed completely. The National Library does not have a fully complete set.
This is the first part of section V, which includes “Seder Aseret Yemei Rachamim.”
121-213 leaf. The fifth section begins with leaf 121, but this copy only has the first part, up to leaf 213, noting ‘the prayer is completed.’ 18 cm.
Fine condition. Artistically restored sefer with marginal completions. Blemish in isolated words in the upper margins, primarily in some of the leaves. New semi leather binding.
Machzor according to the Roma community custom, with explanations of foreign words, and comments. Part II. Venice, 1616.
Machzor for the days of Selichot ; Rosh HaShanah and Yom Kippur; for Sukkot and for public fasts. Some of the piyutim and hoshanot have short explanations in the margins on the side of the leaf.
Important early machzor. Refer to Mavo LaMachzor Bnei Roma , p. 117, no. 10.
To the best of our knowledge, it has never been sold at auction.
344 leaf, 14 cm.
Moderate condition. Aging stains. Stickers for reinforcement on individual leaves at the beginning and end of the machzor.
Light blemishes in the title page and the reinforcing leaf on its reverse. New semi-parchment binding.
Orden de Ros Asanah y Kypur / traduzido en español, y de nuevo emmendado, y añadido el Keter Malchut, y otras cosas. [1652]. Completed by hand.
Orden – Spanish machzor for Rosh HaShanah and Yom Kippur, especially early. From among the first and earliest editions of these machzorim.
The entire machzor was written exclusively in Spanish, without the Hebrew original. The machzor was printed for Spanish anusim who returned to Jewish observance and did not know Lashon HaKodesh .
Background to printing this machzor: Towards the end of the 16th century, a wave of immigration began from the Iberian Peninsula, often referred to as the ‘Western Spanish diaspora’. These immigrants were children of New Christian families, “conversos” – Jews who chose to convert to Christianity. Some of them did so only for appearances and lived as anusim . Many of them engaged in local and international trade. At that time, merchants were encouraged by the local authorities and received permits to leave the area of the Iberian Peninsula and settle in new areas, mainly in port cities in western Europe such as Amsterdam.
Some of the New Christians who left Spain and Portugal at the time decided to return to Jewish life. These families were cut off from the Jewish world for over a hundred years. None of the people who left Spain or Portugal in the 16th and 17th centuries were actually born Jewish, and all of them – even if they observed Jewish traditions in secret within the family – were effectively raised and educated as Christians. In a gradual process that lasted many decades, the Jewish communities in the Western Sephardic diaspora became established. Some of them even became very important centers in the Jewish world of that time.The Amsterdam community became one of the most important centers of Hebrew and Jewish printing in the 17th century.
Despite the impressive integration of these communities in the Jewish world, the prolonged disconnect of their members from Jewish observance resulted in a disconnect from Jewish customs and even from the Lashon HaKodesh , which had been forgotten by them. This machzor was printed for them exclusively in Spanish. [MiToch Segulah, Magazine Yisraeli LeHistoriah , Issue 130, Nissan/April 2021].
Birth dates are inscribed on the blank leaves …
478 pp. 15.5 cm. p, 12 pp, in the middle (323-334) are completed in beautiful antique script.
Fine condition, aging stains. Leather binding with a gilt imprint bearing the name Clara Benbunan upside-down.
Orden de Ros-Asanah y Kipur – machzor for Rosh HaShanah and Yom Kippur. Amsterdam, Aharon Hisquia Querdio Press, 1706. Photocopied title page.
The entire machzor was written exclusively in Spanish, without the Hebrew original. The machzor was printed for Spanish anusim who returned to Jewish observance and did not know Lashon HaKodesh .
Background to printing this machzor: Towards the end of the 16th century, a wave of immigration began from the Iberian Peninsula, often referred to as the ‘Western Spanish diaspora’. These immigrants were children of New Christian families, “conversos” – Jews who chose to convert to Christianity. Some of them did so only for appearances and lived as anusim . Many of them engaged in local and international trade. At that time, merchants were encouraged by the local authorities and received permits to leave the area of the Iberian Peninsula and settle in new areas, primarily in port cities in western Europe such as Amsterdam.
Some of the New Christians who left Spain and Portugal at the time decided to return to Jewish life. These families were cut off from the Jewish world for over a hundred years. None of the people who left Spain or Portugal in the 16th and 17th centuries were actually born Jewish, and all of them – even if they observed Jewish traditions in secret within the family – were effectively raised and educated as Christians. In a gradual process that lasted many decades, the Jewish communities in the Western Sephardic diaspora became established. Some of them even became very important centers in the Jewish world of that time.The Amsterdam community became one of the most important centers of Hebrew and Jewish printing in the 17th century.
Despite the impressive integration of these communities in the Jewish world, the prolonged disconnect of their members from Jewish observance resulted in a disconnect from Jewish customs and even from the Lashon HaKodesh, which had been forgotten by them. This machzor was printed for them exclusively in Spanish. [MiToch Segulah, Magazine Yisraeli LeHistoriah, Issue 130, Nissan/April 2021].
456 pp, 14 cm. Title page in professional photocopy.
Very fine condition. Minimal aging stains. Gilt page cuts. Magnificent leather binding with gilt imprint. Some of the titles are cropped.
Antique machzor, printed in two parts, the first in 1557. This is the second part, with prayers for Tishrei.
On the title page: On Lag LaOmer, 1559. In the colophon: completed on Chanukah of 1559 / ב’ש’ו’ב’י’ [ש”ך].
Rare machzor. To the best of our knowledge, it has not been offered at auction for decades.
Signature on the back of the title page: “bought from … Eliyahu Lati, Tuviah of Beit Baruch …”
Ginzei Yisrael 315. Cohen Bibliographiah shel Machzorim V’Siddurei Tefillah Lefi Minhag Bnei Roma 10.
[1], 290-532 leaf. 14 cm.
Fine condition. Minimal aging stains. Used leather binding.
Machzor per the Roma community custom, Part II, with an elucidation of foreign words and precious comments … Venice, di Gara Press, 1587-1606.
Machzor for the Tishrei prayers and public fasts.
The title page states: 1587, and the colphon on leaf 347: Entirely completed on … 12 Tishrei, 1606.
This important machzor was printed in Venice in 1587 and again in 1606-1607; and in Mantua in 1776. There are copies known to contain some of the leaves from different editions. The National Library catalog notes “all the copies have leaves bound in them from other releases.”
The title page is from a special variant. Bibliographers indicated signs for differentiating between the the original title page and the title page printed in Mantua. On the original title page: “Con licentia.” On the fraudulent title page: “Con licenza.” However, this is a third variant (refer to the photocopy).
Rare machzor.
Ginzei Yisrael – Osef Mehlman 316-317. Haberman, HaMadpis di Gara 90, 242, Mavo LaMachzor Bnei Roma , 11, 12, 15.
347 leaf, 15 leaf.
Fine condition. Aging stains. Several detached leaves. Antique binding, worn and dismantled.
Machzor K’Minhag Bnei Roma , Part II, for the high holidays, Sukkot and fasts. Venice, Juani Cloney, Bragadin Press. 1626.
Including selichot and prayers for Elul and the Tishrei holidays, selichot for public fasts and prayers for the ill along with additional prayers.
Small format print of this important machzor.
Ginzei Yisrael – Osef Mehlman 318. A’ Piateli, Bibliographiah shel Machzorim V’Siddurim K’Minhag Bnei Roma no. 36.
344 leaf, 15 cm.
Fine condition. Minimal aging stains. Minimal worming perforations. Simple binding.
Seder Ma’amadot arranged according to the day of the week, printed by order of Ya’akov Cohen di la Mann. Venice, Pietro and Lorenzo Bragadin, 1616.
Beautiful Seder Ma’amadot , printed in vowelized letters.
Especially rare sefer . Mi’fal HaBibliographiah lists this sefer according to a copy in a private collection. It lists: 48, [4] leaf. The copy we saw had slight blemishes in the last four leaves, and the pagination is indecipherable.
This copy bears leaves up to leaf 52.
A siddur was published that year in Venice according to the custom in Poland, along with Tehillim, customs, lamentations, seder ma’amadot , and yotzrot . Seder Ma’amadot is the rarest of them all. The only copy in the National Library was received from the Valmadonna Library.
Vinograd, Venitziah , 1092.
54 leaf, 16 cm.
Moderate-fine condition. Aging stains. Professionally restored sefer . Light blemishes with damage to a few words. New binding.
Meah Berachot – blessings arranged for us by the ancients. With many additional tikkunim . With blessings, prayers and piyyutim for the annual festivals and a Passover Haggadah. Amsterdam, 1688. Especially sought-after sefer . Rare condition.
Work of historic significance, printed for the anusim who immigrated to Amsterdam and did not yet know Lashon HaKodesh . With special blessings for this period. With “Hashkavat HaSerufim al Kiddush Hashem” (a prayer for the anusim who were burned at the stake by the inquisition). Ritual circumcision service for converts and slaves, a blessing upon purchasing slaves, and more. Also including the halachahs of ritual slaughter in rhyme. Approbations from Rabbi Yitzchak Abuhav, Rabbi Ya’akov Sasportas and Rabbi Shlomo di Olivera.
Illustrated frontispiece with drawing of birkat levanah , birkat shofar , birkat besamim , birkat milah and a drawing of Yitzchak sowing Meah She’arim. Year detail 5447 (תמ”ז/1687) The detailed title page bears a chronogram for תמ”ח/1688 [שימני כח’ת’ם’ על לבך]. One of the first Hebrew sefarim with copperplate etchings.
[5] leaf, 303, 20, [10] pp. Printed without the leaves in Spanish. 12.5 cm. High-quality paper, gilt page cuts.
Very fine condition. Owner’s signature. Minimal aging stains. tear in the margins of one or two leaves, without lack. New binding.
Seder HaTefillah al Derech HaSod – kavvanot from Sefer Pri Etz Chayim by Rabbi Chaim Vital, received from his teacher, the Ar”i. Zolkiew, 1781. This is probably the first siddur printed using the text later known as nusach Sephard. Incomplete copy.
Siddur for the entire year, weekdays, Shabbat, festivals and high holidays; with the Passover haggadah. The entire siddur, from beginning to end, is per Kabbalistic tradition with sacred Names and kavvanot.
Very important edition. Most Chassidic tzaddikim of the first generations prayed from this edition, and some even wrote glosses and intentions on this edition, such as the Maggid of Kozhnitz and others.
The editor, Rabbi Aryeh b”r Avraham, writes that this siddur was prepared according to a manuscript in his possession; according to the sefer Mishnat Chassidim , as well as according to the siddur per kavvanot HaAr”i edited by Rabbi Aryeh Leib Epstein [Königsberg 1765-1768]. It was proofread primarily according to Pri Etz Chayim . The siddur also contains content from Rabbi Shabtai of Rashkov. This siddur is, in fact, the first edition of the renowned siddur known as Siddur Rabbi Asher [Lemberg, 1788] in which Rabbi Asher added supplements and revisions. The 1788 siddur also has a permit printed in it by the publishers of this siddur here indicating their permission to reprint it.
Kabbalistic pictures and diagrams.
Vinograd, HaGr”a 1285.
Stefansky, Sifrei Yessod 424.
Incomplete copy. Present here: [3], 144, 143-170 leaf. Lacking [4] leaves at the beginning of the sefer and [24] leaves at the end.
(Present in the complete copy: [7], 144, 143-192, [2] leaf.)
19.5 cm.
Leaves 12-104 are in fine-very fine condition.
The remainder of the sefer is in moderate condition. Worming perforations. Minimal wear in the margins of several leaves, some with lack in the text. Many usage marks. Perforation in leaf 61 with damage to the text. Leaf 121 is completed with a different copy. The center has a tear with lack in the text (completed by hand) and with an adhesion in the margins. Several leaves are partially detached. Unbound.
Sephardic machzor for the high holidays, Seder Selichot for nights of ashmurot and prayer services for Rosh HaShanah and Yom Kippur, with Kabbalistic elucidations. Venice, 1638.
With Peirush HaTekiot by Rabbi Moshe Cordovero – the Rama”k. Short Kabbalistic elucidation on the Rosh HaShanah prayers.
The final leaf bears a poem by the proofreader, R’ Yehudah Aryeh of Modena.
Printed on its own, not as part of a set.
Early machzor with Kabbalistic elucidation, uncommon sefer . The copy scanned by the National Library is from a copy in the Valmadonna Library.
311 leaf, 15.5 cm.
Fine condition. Artistic restoration to some of the leaves in the sefer . Marginal completions in 10 leaves. New semi-leather binding.
“These are the books that swallowed this snake’s poison in some hidden places, the siddur Tefillah Ketter Yosef , hence rabbis of the previous generation decreed that it should be placed in genizah” (the Ya’ave”tz)
Siddur for the entire year, Ashkenazic text. With the Ketter Yosef commentary – Kabbalistic explanations and prayers by Rabbi Yosef of Premishlan. Berlin, 1699. Incomplete copy. Close to 100 handwritten Kabbalistic glosses, some quite lengthy, by an unidentified Kabbalist.
Especially rare work as a result of most of the copies being buried by order of the gedolei hador after Sabbatean motifs were found among its leaves. To the best of our knowledge, a complete copy has never been offered at auction . This copy is the most complete among the few copies that have been offered at auction.
Rabbi Moshe Lipshutz’s Sefer HaZikaron (pp 884-888) notes regarding the rarity of this siddur: “The sefer is very rare.” He continues, writing about its being put into genizah in the previous generation, by rabbinic order: “Refer to Gechalei Esh p. 53, in the letter that was sent on Tzom Gedaliah of 1725, sent by the author of Knesset Yechezkel [the gaon Rabbi Yechezkel Katzenelbogen, av beit din of Ah”u] to Rabbi Moshe Chagiz, as follows: ‘I saw the writings … so I ordered an announcement be made in all synagogues that all the prayers with the Ketter Yosef commentary be brought to me.”
He also tells of the work’s Sabbatean leanings there: “Refer to Luchot Zikaron (Frankfurt am Main, 1904). I indeed examined Ketter Yosef al HaSiddur , in the hidden part, and it is filled to the brim with apostasy, that is, explicit hints to Shabbetai Tzvi. The Ya’avetz, too, in his sefer Torat HaKana’ut (Altona, 1752) categorizes this siddur as among the works suspect of Sabbateanism, writing: “These are the books that swallowed this snake’s poison in some hidden places, in the siddur Tefillah Ketter Yosef, hence rabbis of the previous generation decreed that it should be placed in genizah .” However, in his sefer Edut B’Ya’akov (Altona, 1756) the Ya’avetz qualifies his words about the author, but not about the siddur, as follows: “Yet the senior dayan in Amsterdam R’ Moshe Frankfurter, said that the author of the body of the Ketter Yosef commentary in the siddur wrote his commentary only on the revealed. He was blind, and he does not know what the printers or proofreaders added. They added to the commentary, and they will be the ones to answer for it.” (Refer to Sefer Zikaron by Rabbi Moshe Lipschutz, pp. 888; Sefer Meishiv Devarim , pp. 121-133.)
14-64, 61-96, 101-174, 51, [1], 55-66, 57-84, 83-86; 97 leaf. Lacking [10] at the beginning of the sefer . 21.5 cm.
Most of the leaves are in fine-very fine condition; the first part of the sefer is in moderate-moderate-fine condition. Usage marks and significant wear in the first part, with tears (some with lack) in the margins of some of the leaves. Four leaves are bound in the incorrect places. Beautiful new binding.
Machzor for the entire year “per the Ashkenazic custom with all the parashahs and the haftarahs . With vowelization and cantillation. We have also added a commentary and word definitions. Part I.” Venice, Di Cavalli Press, 1567.
Including weekday and Shabbat prayers and the hymns from Shabbat Bereishit through Shabbat Nachamu.
Especially important machzor, primarily based on the 1557-1620 Sabbioneta-Cremona machzor, with many supplements. Some later editions call the commentary printed in it “Ma’agalei Tzeddek, ” and a few even call the entire work Machzor Ma’agalei Tzeddek .
That same year, the same press printed a similar machzor according to the Polish custom, also present in this catalog.
[3] 7-255, [3], 261-284 leaf. 30 cm.
Most of the leaves are in fine-very fine condition; some are in moderate condition. The first and last leaves were completed with leaves from a different copy with smaller margins; these have paper completions. Several handwritten lines on leaf 237. Beautiful new binding.
Siddur Nehora HaShalem , nusach Sephard. Two parts with separate title pages. [Lemberg], Rabbi Avraham Yosef Segal Press, 1860. Hard-to-find edition. Not listed in Mif’al HaBibliographiah nor in Otzar HaSefer HaIvri ; not found in the National Library.
The siddur includes the commentaries: Derech HaChayim by Rabbi Ya’akov, av beit din of Lissa; halachot from the author of Chayyei Adam ; various supplements from the Radba”z, the Shla”h, Chid”a, and the Iyun HaTefillah commentary by Rabbi Shmaryah Shmerel, av beit din of Romlov.
Signatures and stamps by the Kabbalist Rabbi Asher Anshel Braun, ritual scribe in Jerusalem. Five leaves of paper/amulets are found among the leaves of the siddur with a special prayer for success in Torah. Apparently Kabbalist Rabbi Asher Anshel would distribute them as a segulah for those seeking salvation.
Refer to the Hebrew catalog text for a brief biography of the Kabbalist Rabbi Asher Anshel Braun .
[1] 134, 36, 169-356 leaf. Lacking at the end – apparently just a few leaves. 21 cm. Antique semi-leather binding, with the name of the siddur imprinted on the spine.
Fine condition. Aging stains. Isolated worming marks. Slight blemishes in the margins of the first title page, with a tiny blemish in the border and without damage to the text.
Machzor for the whole year, per the communities in Pihem, Poland and Mehrin, with all the parashahs and the haftarahs with vowelization and cantillation, and with a commentary and word elucidations unknown until now. Part II [including all the prayers for the month of Elul through Simchat Torah. With Selichot for the month of Elul and the Ten Days of Repentance]. Venice, Di Cavalli Press, 1567. Incomplete copy.
Especially important machzor, primarily based on the Sabbiotena-Cremona machzor of 1567-1560, with supplements. Several subsequent editions call the commentary printed in it “Ma’agalei Tzeddek.”
That same year, the same press printed a similar machzor according to the Ashkenaz custom, also present in this catalog.
Most of the leaves of the sefer contain many short passages (most of which are single words) handwritten from c. the mid-17th century, with commentary on the hymns. The content of the commentary has not been closely examined; it may be an original unknown work. If indeed it is an original commentary, this machzor’s Torah and financial values increase tenfold.
Several comments by different writers, some very early.
Two handwritten notes are bound after leaf 175 with the piyutim ” HaGoyim ayamim zimzumim, kadar v’Edomim ( Otzar HaShirah V’HaPiyut Part II, 1676) and ” Malchutam b’avadcha ovdei pesilei nechasim .”(ibid, Part III, 1692). These piyutim and several additional piyutim opposed non-Jews, and as a result were omitted from most editions before being printed by the censor (or erased thereafter).
15-120, 127-140,140-143, 146-289 leaf, lacking the first [14] leaves, completed by photocopy. 32 cm. Large format.
Overall moderate condition. Many usage marks, tears and wear in the margins of many leaves. Several places are torn with slight lack in the text. Beautiful new binding.
Derashot al HaTorah V’HaMoadim B’Derech HaChassidut im Shemuot V’Chiddishei Torah MiGedolei HaAdmo”rim by the Admo”r Rabbi Moshe Elyakim Briyah Hopstein of Kozhnitz. [Lvov, 1858]. First edition. Beautiful margins.
First edition of the renowned Chassidic work by the Admo”r Rabbi Elyakim Briyah of Kozhnitz, one of the most prominent Admo”rim of all generations.
Refer to the Hebrew catalog text for a brief biography of the Admo”r Rabbi Moshe Elyakim Briyah .
Stefansky, Chassidut 74.
[1], 188 leaf. 25.5 cm. Owners’ stamps (some are rubbed-out, with slight damage to the leaf).
Fine-very fine condition. Minimal aging stains. Slight wear in the margins of several leaves. Old binding with imprints, rubbed and slightly blemished. Later spine.
