Tana”ch – Amsterdam, 1701. “Goral HaGr”a edition” – hand-painted illustrated title page.
Twenty-four. Chamishah Chumshei Torah … with Nevi’im Rishonim and Acharonim and Ketuvim. Amsterdam, 1701.
This edition was used by Rabbi Aryeh Levin to conduct the ‘Goral HaGra.’
The hand-painted title page is illustrated with a copper engraving featuring the figures of Moshe and Aharon. Two additional title pages in Hebrew and Latin script, an introduction in Latin and a six-stanza poem in Hebrew: “The eternal Torah which existed, before any creation was created…”
Two columns per page.
This 1701 edition was used by Rabbi Aryeh Levin to conduct the ‘Goral HaGra’
according to the tradition received from the rashei hayeshivah in Volozhin, and whose source is the Gr”a himself.
Rabbi Chaim of Volozhin, Rabbi Aharon Kotler and others used the goral to receive answers for questions that were irresolvable through revealed means. Its most famous use was undoubtedly the goral conducted by Rabbi Aryeh Levin in 1950 in order to identify the bodies of twelve of the casualties of the “Convoy of 35” who were unidentifiable by any other methods.
[6], 292 leaves, 293-306, [4] pp. 15 cm.
Excellent condition. Color page cuts. Original magnificent leather binding with imprinted spine.
Na”ch Megishei Minchah – Nevi’im and Ketubim with Rash”i’s commentary and a commentary in German printed in Tze’enah U’Re’enah lettering. Amsterdam, 1753-1756. Impressive set in especially impressive leather bindings.
Impressive edition of andimportant Na”ch.
This set was bound in seven volumes, as follows:
Nevi’im Rishonim – Part II:
Volume I: Book I: Yehoshua. [1], 63 leaf. Book II: Shoftim. [65]-139 leaf
Volume II: Book III: Shmuel. [140]-318 leaf
Volume III: Book IV: Melachim. [319]-414 leaf
Nevi’im Acharonim – Part III:
Volume IV: Book I: Yeshayah. 179 leaf. Book II: Yirmiyah. [180]-316 leaf
Volume V: Book III: Yechezkel. [317]-459 leaf. [Book IV]: Hoshea (-Malachi). [460-590] leaf.
Ketubim: Part IV
Volume VI: Book I: Tehillim. 180 leaf. Book II: Mishlei. [181]-251 leaf. Part III: Iyov. [252]-338 leaf
Volume VII: Book IV: Daniel. [339]-384 leaf. Book V: Ezra, (Nechemiah). [385]-440 leaf. Book VI: Divrei HaYamim. [441]-536 leaf.
17.5 cm.
Excellent condition. The set is almost totally unused. Magnificent leather bindings with a gilt decoration on a broad area of both sides of the volumes and across the spine. Color page cuts. The set is placed in an elegant new binding.
Holocaust survivors: Talmud Bavli: ‘The Munich Sha”s’ printed by the survivors immediately after the Holocaust, on German soil. Munich-Heidelberg, 1949. Original bindings. Complete set, 19 volumes. Based on the Vilna edition of Sha”s. Published by Va’ad Agudat HaRabbanim in the American Zone of Germany, for Holocaust survivors.
During the destruction of European Jewry, even Jewish libraries all over the continent were destroyed, as described in the introduction of the Munich Sha”s by Rabbi Senig and Rabbi Rose. They very movingly relate the deeds of the accursed Nazis who toiled to burn all the
sifrei kodesh “That bitter day is still engraved in our minds, when the order arrived in the ghetto from the evil Nazi regime to gather all the
sefarim into one place, to remove and destroy them. Risk of death awaited anyone who left even one book behind.”
The survivors took the initiative to create one of the most interesting and symbolic enterprises of the Holocaust survivors in Germany – printing various
sefarim in improvised presses.
The crown jewel of the printing enterprise in the DP camps was the printing of the Talmud. Va’ad Hatzala in the United States was enlisted for this. The initiative to reprint the Talmud was led by Rabbi Rose and Rabbi Shmuel Abba Senig and funded by the Joint. It enjoyed the support of the American military authorities. The rabbis viewed this project as of first-rate importance, as it enabled the study of gemara to return to its rightful place at the center of Jewish life. First a single volume was printed with Tractates Nedarim and Kiddushin, and only in 1949 was the entire Talmud reprinted, in 19 large volumes. This lot includes the complete set of this special edition Talmud. There were only 600 sets printed in total, of which approximately 100 arrived in the Land of Israel.
This edition is called “The Munich Sha”s”or “The Survivors’ Sha”s.” It is characterized by color title pages designed especially to mark the event of the printing of the Talmud on the scorched earth of Germany, with illustrations of Jewish towns in the Land of Israel and a labor camp surrounded by barbed wire, and the inscriptions “Labor camp in Germany during the Nazi reign, ” and “They have almost destroyed me in the land, but I did not abandon your commands, ” integrated with elements of redemption. The unique title page illustrations were made by artist G. Rosenkrantz, as he signed in the margins of the title page. This edition is very sought-after by collectors.
39 cm. All of the bindings are original and in fine condition. Five of the volumes are reinforced in the spine.
The vast majority of the leaves of the
sefarim are in very fine condition, without obvious signs of use excluding:
Tractate Berachot – Slight wear in the first leaves. One leaf is detached.
Tractate Beitzah – The second title page and the following leaf are detached with minor tears in the white margins.
Tractate Pesachim – Tears in the first three leaves without lack in the text.
Tractate Ta’anit – Large tear without lack in the text in leaf 10 of the leaves of the Ri”f.
Tractate Shabbat – Restored tear in leaf 2. Slight tears in the first leaves.
Tractate Yoma – Restored tears in both title pages.
Creases in the title pages of several tractates.
Shem HaGedolim – renowned work by Rabbi Yosef Chaim David Azoulay – the Chid”a. Livorno, 1786-1798. Two parts: Shem HaGedolim Part I, second edition with supplements; Shem HaGedolim Part II, first edition.
The renowned sefer by the Chid”a, Shem HaGedolim , was authored and printed by the Chid”a in several parts, with supplements and completions.
Two parts as printed by the Chid”a. These sefarim as printed by the Chid”a have special importance, as they omit several passages from the Chid”a’s words (an article on the subject is included).
The sefer as it appears today was edited by bibliographer Yitzchak Isaac Ben-Ya’akov, author of Otzar HaSefarim , who combined all the parts according to the aleph-bet .
Present here:
Shem HaGedolim Part I. Livorno, Eliezer Sa’adon Press, 1798. Second edition of the first part, with the addition of Va’ad L’Chachamim Part II, printed here for the first time. Also with Chasdei Avot-Rashei Avot , expanded edition on Tractate Avot with Rashei Avot as printed here for the first time. The Chid”a added a mark in the form of a hand before each one of the supplements that appear here for the first time.
Shem HaGedolim Part II. Livorno, Avraham Yitzchak Castillo and Rabbi Eliezer Sa’adon Partners Press, 1786. First edition of Part II.
As was the Chid”a’s way, in each sefer he printed, he added compositions and supplements for his other sefarim . This is the case for these two sefarim here as well, which contain supplements: At the end of Shem HaGedolim Part I, after the work on Tractate Avot, omissions were also added. At the end of Shem HaGedolim Part II as well, there are supplements, including the omissions from previous works by the Chid”a, and with additional omissions from Sefer Shem HaGedolim .
Sefer Shem HaGedolim is one of the fundamental works of Hebrew bibliography, a cornerstone for the study of the life stories of gedolei Yisrael – Rishonim and Acharonim and their writings. This sefer already in the Chid”a’s lifetime became scarce, very hard to find.
Benayahu, Sifrei HaChid”a 10, 30. Stefansky, Sifrei Yessod 545.
The two parts here are complete, with all the leaves of the supplements.
Part I: [2], 144 leaf, 21 cm,
Fine-very fine condition. Wide margins, straight from the sheets, not cut. Minimal worming perforations in the white margins. Aging stains. New binding.
Part II: 104 leaf. 20 cm. Owners’ signatures.
Fine-very fine condition. Slight tear in the title page and the last leaf, without lack in the text. Aging stains. Isolated worming perforations. New binding.
Mishneh Torah L’HaRamba”m , with commentaries. Amsterdam, 1702.
Complete set with all the picture leaves except for the illustrated frontispiece. With the Lechem Mishneh volume.
Important especially proofread edition of the Ramba”m, from which subsequent editions were printed. With the addition of thousands of references to commentaries on the Ramba”m. Refer to: Stefansky, Sifrei Yessod p. 48.
This edition is also known as the ‘Michtav’ edition per the date it was printed as indicated on the title pages [‘מכתב’] . With an interesting introduction from the proofreader about comparing texts, with a dedication in Portuguese written by the printer, Emanuel Attias (in the first part). With approbations from Amsterdam rabbis.
Part I: (Mada-Zemanim). [8], 327, [2] leaves of diagrams for Hilchot Shabbat, Sukkah and Kiddush HaChodesh, and more. [4] leaf. Lacking the illustrated frontispiece.
Part II: (Nashim, Kedushah). [2], 227, [4] leaf.
Part III: (Hafla’ah, Taharah). [1], 368, [1] leaf of diagrams for Hilchot Kilayim, [9] leaf.
Part IV: (Nezikin-Shoftim). [1], 309, [13] leaf.
37 cm.
This complete set has an additional volume, Lechem Mishneh . The printers planned to insert each part into the volume of the Ramba”m, but this did not materialize. Starting from this edition, the Lechem Mishneh commentary was printed in Mishneh Torah L’HaRamba”m .
Sefer Lechem Mishneh , by Rabbi Avraham di Boton. Amsterdam, [1703-1714].
Second, revised edition with comments and references by Rabbi Shlomo Yehudah Leon.
[3], 49, 52, 54, 70 leaf. 35 cm. All parts in one volume.
37 cm.
Very fine condition. Minimal aging stains. Semi-parchment binding, slightly chafed.
“With respect to this orphaned generation, I say ‘Hashem’s ways are upright, the righteous follow them, and the pious/Chassidim fail in them” [ Noda BiYehudah Yoreh Deah p. 93, see below.]
Shu”t Noda BiYehudah on the four parts of Shulchan Aruch by the gadol hador , the gaon Rabbi Yechezkel Landau, av beit din of Prague, known as the author of Noda BiYehudah after this work. Two parts bound together with separate title pages. Prague, 1736-1737. Sought-after rare first edition of this fundamental sefer , printed by the sacred author in his lifetime.
Pedigree copy with important glosses: Several owners’ signatures on the first title page, including from the gaon Rabbi Yosef Shaul b”r Meir HaLevi (Landau), son-in-law of Rabbi Yisrael of Shklov and a descendant of the Noda BiYehudah. Several beautiful scholarly glosses appear in the margins of the leaves, some lengthy. The glosses are not signed, but the text speaks directly “as one would speak to his friend” indicating that they were written by one of the gedolei hador . For example, in one of the glosses [in the indices at the end of Part I] the Noda BiYehudah wrote: “I found it in Hagahot Maimoni ” and the writer of the glosses states: “This is also found in the Tosafot ” … And in the margins of one of the glosses [Even HaEzer, siman 43] the writer of the glosses wrote: “I heard from the sacred Admo”r the gaon Rabbi Chaim of Volozhin … [Refer to Sho’el U’Meishiv , Shu”t Beit Ephraim , Baruch Ta’am , Cheshek Shlomo and more. More material included.]
Stefansky, Sifrei Yessod 309: This is the first edition of one of the most important halachic sefarim on the Jewish bookshelf, accepted across all generations, over the entire Diaspora, as the pillar of halachah. Written by one of the giants of the generations among the Jewish people, known by the name of his sefer , as the “Ba’al Ha Noda BiYehudah ” [to the extent that his actual name, Yechezkel Landau, has almost been forgotten]. The Chid”a, in Shem HaGedolim , writes about Noda BiYehudah : “His responsa are based on the principles of sharp and expert pilpul and sevarah … A wise person’s wisdom can be seen in his sefarim , and here he is shown to be great and wondrous, among the gedolei hador , a mighty gaon, praised by the Jewish people and deeply respected…” The Ba’al HaTanya attests about this sefer , “The rabbi from Prague was unique across generations for his instructions, Hashem was with him. He always hit the nail on the head, he was never off-target finding the truth in anything he ruled. ( Mofet HaDor p. 74).
The “Leshem Yichud” controversy: The Noda BiYehudah’s famed responsum opposing recital of “LeShem Yichud” appears in simanim 90-93 in the first part here. In these simanim , the Noda BiYehudah sharply opposes reciting ‘LeShem Yichud’ before performing mitzvahs, as Chassidim are accustomed to do, as follows: “With respect to this orphaned generation, I say ‘Hashem’s ways are upright, the righteous follow them, and the pious/Chassidim fail in them.” However, despite the Noda BiYehudah attacking a famous Chassidic custom in this responsum, his name retained its sacred status among Chassidim. Chassidic historic works relate that when the Ba’al Shem Tov received a Heavenly revelation that for the sake of his soul, he must serve a talmid chacham . He specifically went to the Noda BiYehudah and presented him with coal with which to light his pipe. Tradition also relates that the Besh”t said about the Noda BiYehudah: A third of the world rests on the drung [the tall man – the Noda BiYehudah was a tall man]. Belz Chassidim, for example, to this day, do not recite ‘LeShem Yichud’ on the Noda BiYehudah’s yahrtzeit due to his opposition to it.
The progression of its printing: The printing started in Adar 1776 [as appears on the title page] and concluded in Tevet 1777 [as appears on the colophon at the end of the second part]. Simanim 90-93 in the first part (with the famed responsum opposing recital of ‘LeShem Yichud’) are from Sivan 1776, that is, the Noda BiYehudah wrote them several months after the beginning of the printing. On the day the printing concluded – the eve of Rosh Chodesh Shevat, 1776, which was when he finished writing his sefer Noda BiYehudah Kamma , and he gave a derashah in honor of the occasion. ( Ahavat Tziyon Prague 1827, drush 9, 18b).
The magnificence of its printing: The Noda BiYehudah’s son, the gaon Rabbi Ya’akovka of Brod, writes about the beauty of this first edition: “… From the day the press in Prague was founded to this day, no sefer has been published that is so beautiful.” Indeed, as can be seen from this copy, which was printed with beauty and elegance, in bright ink, on thick and high-quality paper. Despite the three hundred years that have passed since its printing, the leaves have been preserved in rare integrity, without the tears typical of books of this age. The (original?) cover has also been preserved in excellent condition, including the leather spine and the name of the sefer stamp on it.
Refer to the Hebrew catalog text for a brief biography of Rabbeinu Yechezkel HaLevi Segal Landau .
[1], 86, [9] leaf; [1], 157 leaf. Lacking the leaf with the author’s introduction at the beginning of Part I. 34 cm.
Fine condition. Signatures. Stamps. Aging stains. Antique embossed semi-leather binding with lack.
Text of Sefer Iyov with the extensive commentary ‘Givat Pinchas.’
On the title page: Prepared and researched by the rabbi and darshan … Rabbi Pinchas son of Yehudah, maggid meisharim of Polotsk, who self-titled the sefer .
The maggid of Polotsk cites the Gr”a in his sefarim , and in several places refers to him as “my teacher.” Refer to 16:10, commentary beginning with ” Mori .”
Refer to the Hebrew catalog text for a brief biography of Rabbi Pinchas son of Yehudah .
More material included.
Vinograd, Otzar Sifrei HaGr”a 1579.
[2] 48 leaf, 24 cm.
Fine-very fine condition. Aging stains. New leather binding.
Sefer Shir HaShirim with the ‘Derech haMelech’ commentary by Rabbi Pinchas b”r Yehudah – the maggid of Polotsk, the Gr”a’s renowned disciple. Horodna, 1804. First edition. Especially rare sefer .
Vinograd, Otzar Sifrei HaGr”a 1580.
12 leaf, 20.5 cm.
Bound with:
Sefer Kohelet with the ‘Derech haMelech’ commentary by the same author, [Rabbi Pinchas b”r Yehudah – the maggid of Polotsk]. Horodna, 1804. First edition. Especially rare sefer .
Vinograd, Otzar Sifrei HaGr”a 1580.
14 [should be 15] leaf, 20.5 cm.
Fine condition. Minimal worming perforations and aging stains.
Refer to the Hebrew catalog text for a brief biography of Rabbi Pinchas son of Yehudah .
More material included.
Shevet MiYehudah al Sefer Mishlei by Rabbi Pinchas b”r Yehudah – the maggid of Polotsk, the Gr”a’s renowned disciple. Text of Sefer Misheli with the extensive commentary, ‘Shevet MiYehudah’
On the title page: With the crown he was granted … the rabbi and
darshan … Pinchas son of Rabbi Yehudah,
maggid meisharim of Polotsk, who
darshened each and every passuk … in Mishlei, with allegories, poetic words and riddles … from Chaza”l’s words … and called it ‘Shevet MiYehudah’ after his father …The maggid of Polotsk cites the Gr”a In his
sefarim , and in several places he refers to him as “my teacher.” In this
sefer here as well, he cites the Gr’a in 13:9, 13:20, 21:19, 23:28.
Refer to the Hebrew catalog text for a brief biography of
Rabbi Pinchas son of Yehudah .
More material included.
The list of subscribers at the beginning of the
sefer mentions the Gr’a’s sons and disciples: his sons Rabbi Aryeh (Yehudah Leib) and Rabbi Avraham; and his disciples Rabbi Abele Fussweiler, Rabbi Avraham Danzig – author of Chayyei Adam, and Rabbi Ya’akov Kahana. The
sefer was printed five years after the Gr”a’s passing.
Otzar Sifrei HaGr’a 1589.
[2], 70 leaf, 20 cm. Blue paper.
Moderate-fine condition. Slight blemishes in the final three leaves with damage to the text, Stains. Minimal worming perforations. New semi-leather binding.
Article entitled “Chitzim Shnunim” (“Sharpened Arrows”), to be shot at the hearts of those who loathe our sacred religion and hate all those who adhere to it … they who slander us to the government … written in honor of the chevra kaddisha Machzikei HaDat, by one named Moshe Aryeh Leib Hermalin [מאל”ה]. Lvov, 1881.
Refer to the Hebrew catalog text for a brief biography of Rabbi Moshe Aryeh Leib Hermalin .
Chachmei Galicia II, 399-700.
Especially rare work.
To the best of our knowledge, it has never before been offered at auction.
31 pp, 20 cm.
Very fine condition. Simple binding.
Fundamental sefer of iyun and pilpul study. This sefer is cited many times in sefarim printed by rabbis of recent generations, such as the Ketzot HaChoshen and the Netivot HaMishpat , as well as Rabbi Akiva Eiger. Its words are studied to this day in every beit midrash . Wide margins.
Refer to the Hebrew catalog text for a brief biography of the author, Rabbi Epraim Navon .
Sought-after sefer . Early owners’ signatures, and handwritten glosses.
One gloss notes: Eshtmitiah meharav, z”l …
Ya’ari, Kushta 372. Stefansky, Sifrei Yessod 317.
[3], 22, 106, 48 leaf. 31 cm.
Moderate-fine condition. Wide margins. Minimal worming perforations, minimal stains. Bottom margins cut as 4 leaves without lack in the text. Dismantled binding.
Michtav Oz shel Torah “opposing the Agudah, by the great Admo”r, the gaon and tzaddik of Lubavitch shlit”a, who was followed by thousands and tens of thousands of Jews, Chaba”d Chassidim, may they be blessed and preserved.” [Poland, 1922].
The booklet contains “an open letter to the honorable Council of Torah Sages in Poland, and especially the president, the Admo”r, the author of Imrei Emet of Gur, and the vice-president, Rabbi Mordechai Yosef Elazar Leiner of Radzyn, opposing Agudat Yisrael’s Council of Torah Sages in Poland.” Additional letter to the Admo”rim.
The booklet complains against Agudat Yisrael’s “Council of Torah Sages, ” the “Yessodei HaTorah” educational network, and against “Keren Eretz Yisrael” whose goal was to settle religious Jews in the Land of Israel, and more. The main gist of the Rayya”tz’s claims is that Agudat Yisrael’s modus operandi looked like that of the Zionist parties, which borders on chillul Hashem .
For more on this, refer to Alfasi’s book HaChassidut , and Shivat Tziyon (Tel Aviv, 1986) pp. 86-87 and 143-148, for Agudat Yisrael’s response to the above letter, from a manuscript.
The National Library has a single copy, slightly damaged, and two photocopy copies.
Most of the copies were destroyed by Agudat Yisrael supporters.
16 pp, 22 cm.
The other booklets are entitled: Aliyat HaKodesh , Marganita Tav and Tosafot Chayim b’shem Vikuach V’HaShalom . Refer to the Hebrew catalog text for more details about these booklets.
All the booklets are in fine condition.
Seder Haggadah shel Pesach with its blessings before and after, especially for children … and we added blessings for erev [!] tavshilin and aruvei chatzrim [!]. Sulzbach, Zekkel ben Aharon Madpis [Erenstein], 1805.
With instructions for Seder night in German, in Tze’enah U’Re’enah lettering.
With a translation for “Adir Hu” (Almachtiger G-tt) “Echad Mi Yodea” and “Chad Gadya” in German, in Tze’enah U’Re’enah lettering.
Especially rare haggadah.
Mif’al HaBibliographiah HaIvri describes a 23-leaf copy (the last leaf is lacking), as does the National Library. There is a note that it is lacking leaf 24 (present here). The copy in the National Library is scanned to their site; it is blemished in its title page and elsewhere.
According to OCLC, there is only one complete copy, located in the JTS library.
To the best of our examination, this rare haggadah has never appeared at auction.
Ya’ari 336; Otzar HaHaggadot 484.
24 leaf, 15.5 cm.
Fine condition. Aging and usage stains. Minimal perforations and tears. Cardboard binding with dismantled marbleized paper.
Passover Haggadah per the customs of Sephardim and Ashkenazim, London, 1794. Exceptionally rare haggadah.
First edition of the English translation by David Levi (1742-1801), printed with Hebrew and English on facing pages. The haggadah integrates both the Ashkenazic and Sephardic customs and was intended for immigrants from Spain, Portugal and Ashkenaz. Instructions in Hebrew and in Ladino. With Ashkenazic translation in Hebrew letters of hymns: “Adir Hu, ” “Echad Mi Yodei’a” and “Chad Gadya.”
This is the third or fourth haggadah ever printed with an English translation.
David Levi also translated a six-volume set of
siddurim and
machzorim . His precise translation was reused in many later editions, both in England and in America. The first haggadah printed in the United States (New York, 1837) was printed using his translation.
Ya’ari 254,
Otzar HaHaggadot 371.
39 leaves, 7 pages, 20.5 cm.
Fine-very fine condition. Usage stains. Simple binding.
Mavo She’arim – gateways to Kabbalah by Rabbi Chaim Vital, second edition with supplements not printed at first. Salonika, 1806.
The first edition was printed in Koritz, 1783, and this edition had ma’amarim and drushim added to it that had not been printed in the first edition: ” Sha’ar Klipot Noga Mahadurah Batra , ” ” Drush Birkat HaLevanah , ” ” Ma’amarim D’Rosh HaShanah , ” ” Ma’amarim D’Sukkot ” and more. The supplements are printed on leaves 150, 2-176, as well as glosses by Rabbi Ya’akov Tzemach.
[1] 176 leaf, 20.5 cm.
Very fine condition except for the dismantled and worn binding.
Refer to the Hebrew catalog text for a detailed list.
32 booklets, some of which are rare.
Overall fine condition.
