Commentary on the Five Chumashim and novellae by Rabbi Shlomo Algazi. A complete copy!
Specifications: 94: 65: 42 leaves. 19 cm. First edition.
Unique Features: The book was printed in installments, and it is extraordinarily rare to find a complete copy. The books of Bereishit and Shemot were printed first, and at their end (93:1) is written, “Finished, but not completed, as the money has run out”. An additional part with Vayikra-Bamidbar was printed, and finally the final section on the book of Devarim.
There are handwritten comments in the book’s leaves, on page 2a is an owner signature: “Bought with money…the young one Yehuda Danon from the yeshiva of Rabbi Chaim Palagi” – Rabbi Yehuda Danon, one of the great sages of Izmir in his generation and one of the Dayanim of the Beit Din of Rabbi Chaim Palagi, who mentions him with respect and admiration in his books many times, refer to Chokukei Lev part two Choshen Mishpat end of siman 19, Ruach Chaim part two Even HaEzer siman 4 pages 3-4, Kaf HaChaim 10:41.
Background: The leading bibliographers did not see this book with all of its parts. Ya’ari only listed the first part in his important work on the Hebrew printing press in Izmir (Areshet I page 120). The last part is almost completely unknown, and did not reach the printers of Amsterdam who printed the book for a second time in 1710. [Refer to Shem HaGedolim of the Chida Ma’arechet Sefarim, entry of the letter Shin, letter 97; Yudlov, Ginzei Yisrael 884; Y.S. Spiegal Alei Sefer 4; foreword to Gufei Halachot of the Du”tz page 19].
Condition: Fine. A small tear on the title page with lack on the other side. A few worming holes, mainly on the last leaves. Faded cardboard binding.
Novellae on the weekly Torah readings and responsa by Rabbi Yehuda Divan, Jerusalem sage and fundraiser in the Diaspora.
Specifications: 71, 31, [3] leaves, 31 cm. Only edition.
Unique features: The title page bears an inscription written in Sephardic rabbinic handwriting from the era: “Presented as a gift to the lofty sage, philanthropist, Meir Benveneste…and to his son Yosef Benveneste. May it be His will that that they study it, they and their progeny forever.”This inscription was apparently written by the author and presented to Rabbi Meir Benveneste, Jerusalem sage, dayan on the beit din of the author of Admat Kodesh, and clerk of the Sephardic kollels. Rabbi Meir signed along with the Jerusalem sages and the author on the letter officially sending Rabbi Y. Z. Azulai and Rabbi Avraham ben Asher in 1741 on a fundraising mission (Refer to Shlichuei Eretz Yisrael, p. 390).
Condition: Moderate-fine. Worming holes and aging stains. Blemished spine.
Novellae on the entire Bava Metzia by Rabbi Yosef Chazan.
Specifications: [3] 157 [should say: 155] leaves. 27 cm. First edition.
Unique features: Signatures and notations in sephardic handwriting on the title page and leaf 1a, and two glosses in sephardic handwriting. One signature reads: אי”ש צעיר. This possibly refers to Rabbi Eliyahu Yisrael, Av Beit Din of Alexandria, author of Shu”t Kol Eliyahu and Kisei Eliyahu.
Content: Foreword by his son, Rabbi Chaim Chazan, author of Shenot Chaim, and his grandson, Rabbi Dovid Chazan, author of Chozeh David. The author was a disciple of the Mahari”t and a patriarch of the Chazan dynasty.
Condition: Very fine. Reinforcements to the title page and following leaf. Aging stains.
Responsa on the four sections of the Shulchan Aruch by Rabbi Yosef Almosnino , Av Beit Din and lecturer in Belgrade, with prominent signatures.
Specifications: [4], 2-116, [2]: [2], 118 leaves. 30 cm. First edition.
Unique features: Complete copies are very rare. Section one features wide margins and white paper. The second volume was printed more than twenty years after the first. The title page of section one bears the signature of Rabbi Yehuda Sid, Rabbi of Sofia, Bulgaria. He authored Ner Mitzvah (Salonica 1810, 1818) and Ot Emet (Salonica, 1799). He immigrated to Eretz Yisrael at the end of his life and settled in Safed, where he passed away in 1815.The title page of section two bears the signature of Rabbi Eliezer de Toledo, author of Sug Chomer Sefer Mishnat D’Rabbi Eliezer (Salonica – Izmir 1853-1873). He was a prominent Torah disseminator in Constantinople and many sages of the city were his disciples. He passed away in 1848 and was eulogized by Rabbi Chaim Palagi. Comment, apparently in his handwriting, on leaf 113b.
Condition: Very fine. Original rubbed leather binding on section one.
Responsa on the four Turim by Rabbi Baruch Kela of Salonica, with comments by his teacher and antiquated signatures.
Specifications: 87 leaves. 27 cm. First edition.
Unique features: Rare book of responsa. One of the first books printed in Izmir. The book includes responsa written by the author’s teacher, Rabbi Aharon ben Chason; his brother, Rabbi Mordechai Kela; and rabbis from the HaLevi family. The book bears Sephardic owner signatures and notations. Gloss signed אני צעיר ד”ה on leaf 71.
Condition: Moderate. Light tear in the title page. Worming holes throughout the book.
Responsa Masa’at Moshe, part two on the order of the Arba Turim, by Rabbi Moshe Yisrael Av Beit Din of Rhodes.
Specifications: [2] 124 leaves. 30 cm. First edition.
Unique Features: On the book’s title page is the signature of Rabbi Yitzchak Sedaka, one of the Rabbis of early 18th century Sofia.
Additional owners: The young one son of Rabbi Reuven, perhaps this is the son of Rabbi Reuven son of Rabbi Yaakov, Rabbi of Sofia at the time. There is also a stamp of Rabbi Chizkiyahu Medini author of the ‘Sdei Chemed’.
Background: Legend tells that he was removed from his position due to argument and strife, and as soon as Yitzchak left the city, a plague broke out among the people. Many of the city’s residents went after him, led by the leaders, re-instated him to his position and the plague ceased. Responsa from him were printed in the responsas Michtam L’David by Rabbi David Pardo and Be’er Mayim Chaim. The introduction to the book Shemo Yosef (Salonika 1769) writes about him that he is one of the early sages, one of those who reveal the secrets, knowledgeable in both the hidden and revealed Torah, both privately and publicly, the Chief Rabbi who is as humble as Hillel Rabbi Yitzchak Sedaka. (Refer to Rabbi D. Pipano, Shulshelet Rabbanei Sofia, at the end of his book Chagar HaEfod, Sofia 1925, 22).
Condition: Fine-very fine. Minimal worming holes.
Responsa, analyses and novellae, concluding with sermons by Rabbi Avraham Yisrael Ze’evi of Hebron.
Specifications: [4], 106, 109-128 [should say: 125]; 38 [should say: 40], [7] leaves. 31 cm.
Content: Various subjects concluding with the Ohr La’Yisharim sermons. Authored by Rabbi Avraham Yisrael Ze’evi, who was among the Rabbis of Hebron for more than thirty years. He was the grandson of Rabbi Avraham Azulai, author of Chessed L’Avraham “and his sanctity was renowned among the Jews and his name great in Yisrael” (praise written by his relative, the Chida, in his Shem HaGedolim). There is a separate, different title page for some of the sermons, as they were printed at a different press in Izmir.
Unique features: Rare. The title page bears a slightly-cropped inscription, “Kodesh L’Medrash Yifa’er Anavim B’Yeshua,” which was one of the prominent yeshivot in Jerusalem at the time (refer to end of HaMaalot L’Shlomo). Per the notations on the title page, this inscription was written by the author’s son, the publisher of this work, Rabbi Yitzachak Ze’evi, Hebron fundraiser and son-in-law of the Rishon L’Tzion, Rabbi Avraham Yitzchaki, author of Zera Avraham. [Binayhu, Chida, p. 277; Shiluchei Eretz Yisrael, p. 584, 586]. Nice margins.
Condition: Very fine. Light reinforcements in the title page margins. Solitary marginal worming hole.
Two works about charity, by Rabbi Chaim Palagi, Av Beit Din of Izmir.
1. Tzedaka Chaim – 34 homiletics for clothing, Izmir, 1874. First edition.
Specifications: [2] 130 leaves. 30 cm.
Unique Features: Special sermons delivered one Shabbat a year in the month of Tevet, in which the Rabbis requested donations for clothing to clothe widows, orphans and poor people.
Condition: Very fine-excellent.
2. Tzedaka L’Chaim – seven hundred and fifty nine sections in alphabetical order, all about charity. Izmir, 1873. First edition.
Specifications: [1], 54 leaves. Bound with the above book.
Condition: Very fine.
A. Ya’ari HaDefus HaIvri B’Izmir no. 193, 208.
Early and Later Prophets and Writings, with Rashi’s commentary and a Ladino translation by Rabbi Avraham Assa. Constantinople, 1743-1745.
Early Prophets. 1743. Specifications: 276 leaves, the book is complete.
Later Prophets. 1743. Specifications: 3-347 leaves, title page, subsequent leaf with the chart of haphtarot and the last leaf with a poem by the translator are all missing.
Writings: 1745. Specifications: 146-376, begins with the book of Job [Tehillim and Mishlei are missing] and also contains Daniel, Ezra, Nechemia and Divrei HaYamim. Three volumes, approximately 20 cm.
Unique Features: An especially rare edition of the Nach with Rabbi Avraham Assa’s [circa 1710-1765] translation. He was one of the sages of Constantinople and author of the book “Tzorchei Tzibbur”. Only a limited amount of copies of the book were printed, for subscribers alone. The book was printed in installments. The printer complained that the subscribers did not keep their promise to pay for the printing of the booklets.
Condition: Moderate. Blemishes on the title page of Early Prophets. A few reinforcements. Worming holes and stains.
