VaShev HaKohen. The crowns on Hebrew letters and the wisdom of combining them, by Rabbi Avraham HaKohen of Lask [Poland]. Leghorn, [1788]. First edition.
Kabbalistic illustrations and charts. Leaf 16 bears a handwritten kabbalistic gloss. Interesting example of a work by an Ashkenazic sage printed in a Sephardic community, with enthusiastic approbations from prominent Sephardic rabbis.
The author, kabbalist Rabbi Avraham Katz [d. c. 1800] was born in Lask, Poland. He then moved to Furth and then to Italy. In 1770 he immigrated to Jerusalem, and in 1780 he left on a fundraising mission to Ashkenaz, and then to Tunis and to Leghorn, where he printed this work. He returned to Jerusalem and was killed there in sanctification of G-d’s name by the Turkish government c. 1800. Refer to: Avraham Yaari, Shluchei Eretz Yisrael , Jerusalem, 1951, p. 553-556.
18, 32 leaves. 20 cm. Moderate-fine condition. Old cardboard binding. Sequential worming blemishes in the margins of some leaves, without affecting text.
Limudei Atzilut , found in manuscript by the holy kabbalist, the G-dly Rabbi Chaim Vital … what he received from his rabbi, the holy of holies, the Ar”i.
The book was printed from a manuscript which was found at the kabbalist Rabbi Moshe Sofer of Pshevorsk, with his glosses in several places.
25 leaves. Unbound. Worming damage to most of the book’s leaves, some with damage to text. Poor-moderate condition.
Before us is one of the most important books among the books proving the antiquity of the Zohar , first edition printed within a year of the author’s passing, including eulogies for the author at the end.
The book was authored by RD”L opposing those who deny the antiquity of the Zohar , and claim that Rabbi Moshe de Leon actually authored the book. It is considered one of the most central works defending the Zohar ‘s antiquity.
There are five “branches” in the book, the first proves that it is not tenable that Rabbi Moshe de Leon was the one who authored the book. The second branch proves that the Early Authorities quoted sayings from the Zohar in the name of the Midrash Yerushalmi. The third proves that the Zohar was composed even before the conclusion of the Talmud. The fourth brings hypotheses that the sayings in the Zohar were written at the time of Rabbi Shimon bar Yochai and his disciples, and the fifth revolves around the claim that at the time of the mishnah, Torah thoughts were written in the holy tongue, and that Aramaic was used only for mundane matters, and it speaks about the language style of the Zohar.
Rabbi David Luria was among the leaders of his generation in Russia. His family was related to the Maharsha”l, a descendent of the Luria family that was related to Rash”i, and from it back to King David. He is considered to be one of the greatest fighters against the Reform. When he was about 40 years old, he was victim of denunciation – that he had called for rebellion against the Russian regime. He was imprisoned for about six months, but was acquitted in the end.
[2] 36, 8 leaves, 20 cm.
Very fine condition, tiny stains on the title page and on the pages.
Five books by the Gaon of Vilna, first editions. Some are incomplete copies.
* Apei Ravrivei . Shulchan Aruch Even HaEzer with the Beit Shmuel and Chelkat Mechokek with the Biur HaGR”A . Vilna and Grodno [1812-1819]. Early first edition of Biur HaGR”A . [2], 3-24, 23-55, 188 leaves. Missing title page. Vinograd, Sifrei HaGR”A 753, 754.
Printing of the Biur HaGR”A on the Shulchan Aruch Even HaEzer was first started in Grodno in 1812. Only a small section was printed, through siman 25, with only the Biur HaGR”A and no other commentaries. That printing was terminated because of the Napoleonic Wars. Even a title page wasn’t printed. When the printing was restarted in 1819, the Biur HaGR”A was printed with additional commentaries, from the start of the Shulchan Aruch until its conclusion, in a format such that whoever had the previous first section could complete his copy. Refer to: H. Lieberman, Ohel Rache”l II, p. 389-400. This is an early edition, including: through siman 25 of the Shuchan Aruch with only the Biur HaGR”A , as it was printed in 1812. Later the Beit Shmuel and Chelkat Michokek commentaries were printed for these simanim. This is followed by simanim 26 through the end of the Shulchan Aruch surrounded by all the commentaries together. This copy has a sticker at the end of the early edition. The early edition ended in the middle of siman 26, and in 1819, the bottom of the page was covered with a sticker with a chart of the simanim, and started printing again from the beginning of the siman. However, the title page printed in 1819 is lacking.
* Later Prophets, with Rash”i’s commentary, Metzudat David , Metzudat Tzion with Yiddish and with the Biur HaGR”A . Vilna Grodno [1820]. First edition of the Biur HaGR”A on Na”ch. Vinograd, Sifrei HaGRA 24. Isaiah: [1], 151, 151-154 [should be: 155], lacking the second title page, Ezekiel and The Twelve. 2-128: 114 [2], 117-134. Lacking the start of the volume and the folded leaves.
* Elya’ Raba . The GR”A’s commentary on Mishnayot Seder Teharot. Brunn, [1802]. First edition. 44 leaves. Missing the title page and approbations. Vinograd, Sifrei HaGR”A 241.
* Psikta Rabbati with the Hagahot HaGR”A . Breslau, [1831]. First edition. 79 leaves, lacking title page, approbations and introduction. Vinograd, Sifrei HaGR”A 1398.
Likkutei HaPardes , “Halachic decisions and responsa … composed by the great eagle, Rabbeinu Shlomo, ztz”l … brought for the second time to the printer … with important supplements, very little from one of the small ones who desires to serve G-d.” At the Shlomo son of Yosef Proops Press.
19 cm. 35 leaves. Old binding. Fine condition.
Sefer Yuchsin, Toldot Am Yisrael by Rabbi Avraham son of Shmuel Zacuto. Shlomo Yosef Proops press. Amsterdam, 1717.
[3] 128 leaves. 16 cm.
Detached title page, stains. Fine condition.
Megishei Minchah “Which is Torah with commentary … Rash”i … also the Maspik commentary in German [in Tze’enah U’Re’enah letters] on each and every verse … as well as homilies from several midrashim and Torah commentators.” By Rabbi Menachem Mann Amlander and Rabbi Eliezer Zussmann Roedelsom.
30 cm. [2], 238 leaves. Old binding. Usage stains. Fine condition.
Shoresh Yosef . Special composition dealing with all “מיגו” [“migo”] issues in the Talmud by Rabbi Yosef [Moshe] of Breslau. Amsterdam, 1730. Owner’s notations, stamps and signatures.
Owner’s notation on the title page: “I, the youth Binyamin Ze’ev, bought this” and an additional owner’s notation with a signature in calligraphic Sephardic script. Stamps on the last page, and additional owners’ notations.
The author, Rabbi Moshe Yosef Breslau (1691-1752) served as rosh yeshivah in Krefeld, Germany. He was Rabbi Avraham Brody of Frankfurt’s son-in-law.
[2] 32 leaves, 22 cm. Fine condition. Decorative title page. Thick paper. Stains.
Chamishah Chumshei Torah “with Targum Onkelos, and Rash”i z”l’s commentary, and the five meggilahs (with Rash”i’s commentary) and Targum Sheni on the scroll of Esther (with elucidation … prepared and researched by R’ Chaim Feivel [Feitel] a.k.a. … R’ David Zechariah) and haftarahs with commentary … by R’ David Kimchi … with the addition of Devek Tov which is a wonderful commentary on Rash”i … by … R’ Shimon Unshberg HaLevi.” Hertz Levi HaRofeh Press.
With approbations by rabbis of the Sephardic communities in Amsterdam: R’ David Yisraeli Attias and Rabbi Yitzchak Chaim ibn Dana di Britto; rabbis of the Ashkenazic communities in Amsterdam: R’ Yosef son of Shimon Akiva Ber and R’ Moshe son of Shimon Frankfurt.
Owner’s signature at the beginning and end of the book.
[5], 344; 55 leaves. 23 cm.
Moderate condition. Restored tears. In two leaves, the tears involve damage to text. The title pages have been restored. Usage stains.
First edition of the Be’er Heitev by Rabbi Yehudah Ashkenazi of Tiktin, which is printed today in all editions of the Shulchan Aruch and the Mishnah Berurah . The last page describes the fire in which the part on Yoreh Deah was burned. Amsterdam, 1742. [5] 320 leaves, 18 cm. Aging stains. Fine-very fine condition.
Ateret Tzvi Sefer Beit Lechem Yehuda is a commentary on Shulchan Aruch Yoreh Deah by Rabbi Tzvi Hirsch son of Azriel of Vilna, son-in-law of Rabbi Menachem Mann, who was Av Beit Din in Lublin. 120, 8 leaves, 33 cm. Moderate-fine condition, some of the leaves have pasted-paper reinforcements.
Shulchan Aruch Orach Chaim with Be’er Heitev , Amsterdam, 1757. Press of Rabbi Hertz Levi Rofeh and his son-in-law Cashman. Beautiful original leather binding.
Owner’s signature from the time of print on the title page.
Fine condition.
First edition of the renowned commentary by Rabbi Shlomo HaMeiri, one of the Early Authorities. Printed from manuscript with many important approbations.
Rabbi Yehoshua Heschel Lowenberg (1885-1938, rabbi and rosh yeshivah in New Haven and in Cleveland, USA).
[3] 40 [1] leaf, 20 cm.
Fine-very fine condition, slightly detached binding.
Na”ch with the Ayalah Shluchah commentary, Yosef son of Shlomo Proops Press, Amsterdam, 1777.
Yehoshua, Shoftim, Shmuel, Melachim, Yeshayah, Yirmiyah, Yechezkel, Trei Asar, Tehillim, Daniel, Ezra, Nechamiah, Divrei HaYamim, in nine volumes.
Original leather bindings, slightly worn. Fine condition.
Brit Yitzchak. Amsterdam 1875 – Chanukat HaBayit . Amsterdam 1875. Rare edition. Brit Yitzchak – to take place on the eighth night, before the circumcision … per the Sephardic custom … and the ritual circumciser’s tikkun with supplements and corrections and also the Zohar, vowelized by proofreader David son of Rabbi Rephael Montizinus. Amsterdam, by Daniel Lopez Cardozo and his friend. 1875. On the reverse of the title page: Printing of this book was completed today, the 11th day of the month of Menachem [Av] … the 200th year since the inauguration of the house of our glory, the small temple, the synagogue of the Sephardic community Talmud Torah, here in Amsterdam. [2] 41 [1] page, 17.5 cm.
Printed and bound with: Sefer Chanukat HaBayit , which is a faithful call to those who fear G-d … on they day they come to dwell in the shade … of the house they acquired … and as a good sign they set times for Torah … and this is the order of study from Tana”ch and mishnahs, authored and collected by R’ David Chafshi. Amsterdam, by Daniel Lopez Cardozo and his friend. 1875. Rare book listed in the Bibliography of the Hebrew Book according to a copy printed on parchment. [1] 12 pages, 17.5 cm.
* Brit Yitzchak , Amsterdam 1852. [4], 90 pages. 18 cm. Lacking the leaf with the printers’ stamps. Usage stains, detached paper binding. Detached pages. Moderate condition.
L’David Emet . Laws of reading the Torah per Rabbi Yaakov Algazi by Rabbi Yosef Chaim Azoulay [the Chid”a], with “Torat HaShlemim,” abridged laws of festival (Torah) portions from Shalmei Tzibbur and supplements by the Chid”a. Livorno 1786.
Second edition of L’David Emet printed by the Chid”a in his lifetime, with his supplements and the first edition of “Torat HaShlemim” by the Chid”a. At the end of the book, azharot by Rabbi Moshe Zakut [Reme”z], the service for the inauguration of a new home, the order of study for healing the sick and more.
Owner’s notation on the title page: “Yisrael HaLevi …” and a gloss on the last page. 76 leaves, 14.5 cm. M. Benayahu, Sifrei HaChid”a 9b. Beautiful volume with gilt imprint. Stains. Fine condition.
Grammatica Hebrica – Hebrew-Latin grammar book. With many words in Hebrew and grammar instructions in Latin.
There are handwritten comments on some of the pages.
208 pages. Aging stains, fine condition.
Lashon Zahav part I “Halachah and Responsa as Researched by David Teveli HaCohen Schiff … Av Beit Din of London.”
The author, Rabbi David Teveli HaCohen, was a disciple of the author of Pnei Yehoshua , rabbi of Frankfurt, and he served as a dayan in Frankfurt. He was the chief rabbi of London beginning in 1765. He was one of the rabbinical leaders of his generation and very accomplished in Torah and more. He corresponded in halachah with the author of Noda BiYehudah , as well as with his friend Rabbi Natan Maz of Frankfurt, who consulted with him extensively via mutual correspondence. The book was published posthumously by his nephew Rabbi Gavriel Adler, who wrote the author’s biography in the foreword, and added Kanfei Nesharim – novellae by his relatives from the Adler family.
[3] 44 leaves. 32 cm.
Fine condition. Aging stains. Old binding.
* Philologus Hebraeus at Amstelaedamum Press, 1695. Book of Hebrew philology, includes a preface regarding the positive and negative commandments. Author Johann Leusden was a Dutch Calvinist philologist, Orientalist and theologian. He was the Professor of Hebrew at Utrecht. He was famed for working together with rabbi and printer Yosef Atias on the first Hebrew Bible that numbered all the verses, Biblia Hebraica. 440 [56] pages, 20 cm. Very fine condition.
* De Sacra Poesi Hebraeorum, book of Hebrew grammar written in Latin. Goettingen, 1758. Authored by Robert Lowth, professor of literature at Oxford and one of the great grammar experts of the time. 778 [34] pages, 18 cm. Very fine condition.
Marpeh Lashon Arami , by Rabbi Ephraim Yisrael Bliher, “the wisdom of the grammar of the Aramaic language used in the holy scriptures of Daniel and Ezra, in the Targums and in Shas, and in the rest of Chaza”l’s books.” There is a grammatical chart (גזרת השלמים) bound in the end of the book. One of the earliest books of grammar.
22 cm. 129 cm. [4] pages. Old binding. Fine condition.
Nachalat Shivah , responsa by Rabbi Shmuel son of David Moshe HaLevi. Furth, 1692, first edition. At the end of the “printer’s word” there is an unidentified owner’s signature.
On the title page: Second part of Nachalat Shivah , called Teshuvat She’elot – the first edition of the responsa.
The author Rabbi Shmuel HaLevi [1724-1781] was a disciple of the author of the Ta”Z, and of Shabtai Sheftel Horowitz – son of the ShLa”H. He was a rabbi in Halberstadt, Bamberg and Steinbach. He is known by the name of his work, “the author of Nachalat Shivah .”
[2] 46 leaves, 18 cm.
Very fine condition.
Yafeh LaLev part VI by Rabbi Rachamim Nissim Yitzchak Palaji, Izmir 1889.
There is an additional title page bound in this edition at the end of the book, slightly different from the first title page.
83 leaves. 19 cm. Fine condition. Old binding. Usage stains.
Nachalat Shivah . Second part – responsa by Rabbi Shmuel son of David Moshe HaLevi. Furth, 1692, first edition.
On the title page: Second part of the book Nachalat Shivah , called She’elot U’Teshuvot – which is the first edition of the responsa. “Shimon HaKatan Segal”‘s handwritten signature is on the title page. A leaf written in an early script is affixed to the inner lining of the back binding.
The author, Rabbi Shmuel HaLevi [1624-1681] was a disciple of the author of the Ta”Z , and of Rabbi Shabtai Sheftel Horwitz – son of the Shla”h. He was rabbi in Halberstadt, Bomberg and Steinbach. He is known by the name of his work, “the author of Nachalat Shivah. ”
[2] 46 leaves, 20 cm. Aging stains, especially in the first leaves. Fine condition.
Elucidation of Perek Shirah by Rabbi Chanoch Zundel Luria. Kartchin 1842, first printing.
301, [3] pages. 24 cm. Fine condition. Old binding. Usage stains.
Commentary on Megillat Esther written by the RaM”A when he was in exile in Shidlov. The RaM”A was destitute and starving there. Given that he didn’t have wine to bring him joy on Purim, he wrote this book in its place, and called it Mechir Yayin .
19 leaves, 18 cm.
Very fine condition.
