Moreh Nevochim , the Ramba”m’s famed composiiton dealing with the fundamentals of the Jewish religion and faith, with the Shem Tov commentary and the HaEfodi commentary. Venice, Bragadin press, [1551]. First edition of Moreh Nevochim with commentaries.
The book Moreh Nevochim was printed once, as an incunable edition, in Rome, Italy before 1480, and it was printed without any commentary. This is the first edition with the important commentaries that were included in the following editions and with Klalei Pirkei HaMoreh and elucidation of difficult words. Actually, copies of the early edition are almost extinct and to the best of our knowledge a complete copy has never been auctioned; thus, this is the first edition from which leading rabbis had studied.
This copy contains dozens of glosses in several ancient scripts. These glosses include a lengthy one that begins with: Said Meir … in the gloss, the writer attacks the words of the Shem Tov commentary, in an especially sharp language. [Possibly, the writer is Rabbi Meir Katzenellenbogen – the Mahar”m of Pàdova who lived and operated in Italy in the period the book was printed …].
Complete copy, with all the leaves of Klalei Pirkei HaMidot , elucidation of the foreign words and an index of the verses, and with the postface and poems at the end.
Stefansky, Sifrei Yessod 494.
[12], 185, [1] leaves, 28.5 cm.
Fine condition: A few aging and dampness stains. A few worming holes in the white margin. Simple binding.
Shnei Luchot HaBrit – Pure words from precious pearls, composed according to the written and oral Torahs given at Sinai, arranged and proofread by [many honorifics] … the complete sage … Rabbi Yeshayah HaLevi Horowitz. Amsterdam, Immanuel Benveniste Press, 1648-1649. First edition.
First edition of the book famous across the Diaspora throughout the generations and by which its author, Rabbi Yeshayah HaLevi, is known – as the Ba’al HaShla”h HaKadosh . This is the first edition which was printed with much toil by the author’s son, Rabbi Sheftel, rabbi of Poznań.
One of the fundamental books of mussar and Kabbalah including insights into the revealed and the hidden and topics in proper conduct, this is one of the most well-respected and appreciated books across all factions in all Jewish communities. With Vavei HaAmudim by Rabbi Sheftel, the Shla”h’s son, who, out of respect for his father, referred to his own work as a “foreword.”
Owner’s signature on leaf 88 and in the last leaf of Shnei Luchot HaBrit .
Stefansky, Sifrei Yessod 359.
[3], 2-421, [1]; 3-44 leaves, 30 cm. Lacking the title page of Vavei HaAmudim and the following leaf with part of the foreword by the author’s son.
Moderate-fine condition. Aging stains. Singles worming holes.
Professional restoration of leaves 227-268 with slight damage to text, as well as of the margins in leaves 421 and the following four leaves. Several individual words are damaged.
Shoshanim L’David, on Shisha Sidrei Mishnah. Two Volumes, Parts I & II Venice, [1752]. Part I is lacking the title page and several leaves. Some of the leaves have been professionally restored and are completed by hand.
Overall fine condition.
Sefer Kli Yakar – commentary on the Early Prophets by Rabbi Shmuel Laniado, chief rabbi of Aleppo, known as ‘Ba’al HaKeilim’ after the name of his book. With the Nevi’im text.
The book was printed by his son-in-law R’ Avraham Laniado, author of Magen Avraham , also printed that same year. Juan di Gara Press , 220.
Rabbi Shmuel Laniado, ‘Ba’al HaKeilim, ‘ was a biblical commentator and chief rabbi of Aleppo. He lived in Safed and Aleppo in the 16th century and the early 17th century. His grandfather was Rabbi Shmuel Laniado, who resided in Adrianople, Turkey, after the Spanish exile, and he is mentioned in Teshuvot HaR’e’em . Regarding his father, R’ Avraham Laniado, not a lot is known, but R’ Shmuel does quote him in his books. The place and year of Rabbi Shmuel’s birth are unknown, but it is known that he lived for a certain period in Safed. He cites extensively from contemporary sages who lived in Safed at the time, such as the Mahar”i Beirav, the Rama”k and the Ar”i; R’ Shmuel Alkabetz and others. Rabbi Shmuel Laniado left the Land of Israel under the guidance of R’ Yosef Karo, in order to lead the community in Aleppo. He was appointed chief rabbi there in 1601, after the passing of Rabbi Shmuel ben Yosef HaKohen. He himself probably passed away between 1605 and 1610 and was succeeded by his son, R’ Avraham. Many of his descendants served as rabbis of the Aleppo community.
Owner’s signature: Rabbi Pesach b”r Avraham Eliezer. Rabbi Pesach, av beit din of Rechnitz, was a disciple of Rabbi David Oppenhiem.
Rare book, more so as fully complete.
[1], 3-564 leaves, 27.5 cm.
Fine condition. Blemish in the title page. Reinforcements in the margins of the first three leaves. The remainder of the book’s leaves are in very fine condition with minimal aging stains. Impressive antique leather binding with light blemishes.
Meginei Zahav – answers to criticism by the author of Sha”ch on the Ta”z , by Rabbi Yoel of Shebreshin, grandson of the Ta”z. Prague, 1720. First edition.
As is known, the Shach and the Ta”z held opposing opinions on many halachahs. The author of Sha”ch wrote Nekodot HaKesef with criticism of the Ta”z. Nekodot HaKesef was written after the Ta”z’s passing, so he was unable to respond. In this work, his grandson rises to his grandfather’s defense to answer the Sha”ch’s criticism. The book is called Meginei Zahav because it defends the words of Turei Zahav .
With an approbation by Rabbi David Oppenheim of Prague. Important approbations from German rabbis and from Polish rabbis from the time of the conference at the fair in Gramnitz with discussion of the decision by Poland’s rabbis in the disagreement between the Sha”ch and the Ta”z. More material included.
Uncommon book, certainly as complete.
26 leaves, 18 cm.
Fine condition. Slight tears without damage to text in the title page. The last leaf has tears with lack to the text of individual words. Simple binding.
Kabbalist Rabbi Shimon Lavi was born c. 1485 in Castile, Spain. During the Spanish expulsion, he traveled with his parents to Morocco. He began a journey to the Land of Israel in 1549. On his way, he stopped in Tripoli, where he came upon a Jewish community in a sorry state. The Chid”a, in his book Shem Gedolim , wrote: He planned on traveling to the Land of Israel, but when he arrived in Tripoli, he saw that the community there was deeply unfamiliar with Jewish law and did not even know how how to pray or make blessings properly. He decided that it would be appropriate to draw them close to Judaism and teach them Torah and fear of G-d, and that this takes priority over going to the Land of Israel – he followed up with this decision and was successful.
Rabbi Shimon Lavi authored the renowned hymn “Bar Yochai, ” yet his magnum opus on the Zohar remained in manuscript and was almost completely unknown. The Chid”a stayed in Tunisia in 1734, where he saw the manuscript of this book at Rabbi Yeshua Tanuji’s. In 1795, the book was brought to print from that same manuscript. The Chid”a knew this work, but at that time, he had already stopped giving approbations, so he did not write an approbation, but he did call the work Ketem Paz (the work was not given a name by its author).
In the introduction here, the proofreader, who was also a Kabbalist, Rabbi Ya’akov Ben Na’im, wrote: “Days and years of life will be added for the renowned rabbi, wonder of the generation, our teacher … the Chid”a, who called this work Ketem Paz …” In his book Shem Gedolim , the Chid”a wrote a hint that the book was called Ketem Paz [ כתם פז ] per gematria and abbreviations, but he does not explicitly write that it was he who chose this title. An article discussing said topic is included with this lot.
[2], 281-448 leaves, 22 cm. High-quality paper.
Very fine condition with the exception of tears in the final forty leaves, without lack to the text.
Mishnayot Kelim and Ohalot formatted as Talmudic tractates, by the Admo”r Rabbi Gershon Chanoch Henoch Leiner of Radzin. Josefow 1873 – Piotrków 1903 , first edition. Two volumes. Interesting handwritten gloss.
A masterpiece by the gaon Admo”r of Radzin who began writing it at a very young age. The Admo”r was known eventually as the recreator of the Mitzvah of the techelet of the Tzitzit.
On Mishnayot Seder Tahrot there is no gemara, not in the Babylonian Talmud and neither in the Yerushalmi (except for Tractate Niddah). This composition is in the format of the gemara, with the Mishnah and after it the “gemara” and around them the author’s commentaries, a kind of Rash”i commentary and Tosfot that appear in the gemara. With Massoret HaShas and Ein Mishpat .
The “Shoel UMeshiv” and other leading rabbis of the generation, Rabbi Yitzchak Elchanan Spektor, Rabbi Shimon Sofer and more, wrote enthusiastic approbations for the book. Among those who approbated the book was also Rabbi Bezalel Hacohen of Vilna. After a brief period, the Beit Din of Vilna, headed by Rabbi Bezalel Hacohen, spoke out against the author and his book, fearing it might eventually be considered part of the Talmud. The author the Admo”r and his men answered back and the issue turned into a major controversy.
The author was unimpressed by the ban of the rabbis of Vilna and continued to write the second section, on Tractate Ohalot, and prepare it for printing, although he did not manage to print it in his lifetime. The second section was given enthusiastic approbations by many leading rabbis, so it seems that in fact the ban of the rabbis of Vilna was not accepted.
Nevertheless, a slight change was made to the second section. Printed on the top of each page was ‘Sefer Sidrei Taharot’ and on its bottom ‘Compiled from the words of Tana’im and Amora’im’. This was done, as indicated by the Admo”r’s son, per the recommendation of Rabbi Chaim of Brisk. The son wrote that he found such a note in his father’s writings and although his father did not order it, he printed the additions to each page.
This set had belonged to Rabbi Shlomo Avraham Razechta author of Sefer Bikurei Shlomo , whose stamps and signatures appear on both sections. Printed in the first section is an approbation by the author of Shoel UMeshiv and there he asks a question which remains to be studied (Tzarich Iyun Gadol). In this copy, Rabbi Shlomo Avraham wrote a comment alongside the approbation settling the question and is even surprised at the gaon of Lvov for leaving the question to be studied.
Refer to the Hebrew catalog text for a brief biography of the Admo”r of Radzin and of Rabbi Shlomo Avraham Razechta the gaon of Ozrakov .
Stefansky Chassidut 434.
[I] Tractate Kelim. Josefow, [1873]. [10] 544 pp. 43 cm. The leaf of the map at the end of the book is lacking. With wide margins.
[II} Tractate Ohalot. Piotrkow, [1903]. [8], 546 pp. 38 cm.
Tractate Kelim is in original leather binding slightly damaged. The two volumes are in very fine condition.
Seder Hayom, Kabbalistic commentary on the prayers. By Rabbi Moshe Ben Machir. Zholkva , [1793].
Bound with Livyat Chen VeOr Yekarot. Venice, [1742].
73, [4], 92 leaves. 22 cm.
Moderate fine condition, front binding detached, aging stains, scorching with slight lack of text in several leaves.
Signatures and owners’ notations, on the two title pages.
Ein Ya’akov , two volumes. With commentaries by Rash”i, the Maharsh”a, the Ri”f by Rabbi Yoshiyahu Pinto, and others. Amsterdam, at Proops Press, 1725.
With the book Asaf Mazkir authored by Rabbi Zacharyah of Porto, who marked references to hundreds of books that deal with Talmudic aggadahs. The source references are written in small letters with abbreviations in the margins of the leaves; in the final leaves of each volume, there is a detailed alphabetic listing for the abbreviations. Important approbations for this edition appear at the beginning of the first volume, along with a long poem with an acrostic of the name of the printers.
Part 1: (Berachot – Rosh HaShanah). [11], 353, [3] leaves.
Part II: (Ta’anit-Kodshim). [1], 340, [3] leaves, Lacking Part III.
19 cm; fine condition. Aging stains. Two reinforcements to the final leaves without damage. Original leather bindings.
First edition of the commentary on Ecclesiastes by Rabbeinu Sa’adiah Gaon. Published from an old manuscript, with references by R’ David Frankel.
[1] 2-34 leaves, 21 cm.
Old cardboard binding. The first two leaves are detached. Somewhat brittle paper. Moderate-fine condition.
Seder Haggadah Kefi Minhag HaYisraelim HaKara’imֲ printed by the community in Egypt.
Facsimile print of the haggadah printed in Budapest in 1903 (See Otzar HaHaggadot 1618). Jacket cover per earlier publications.
There is a comment on the back of the title page – a warning from the Karaite Beit Din in Egypt that each copy of the haggadah must contain the stamp of the Karaite sect. The copy before us contains such a stamp.
Rare haggadah! Not listed by Ya’ari, and does not appear inֲ Otzar HaHaggadot. The bibliography of the Hebrew book no. 000201245 lists a haggadah like this one, but with the name of a printer (see supplements by Ben-Menachem to 18).
17 pages, 20 cm; very fine condition. Jacket cover.
* Siddur HaTefillah K’Minhag HaKara’im, Part I. Vilna, 1890. Weekday prayers … Shabbats … and with a supplement of Karaite customs by Rabbi Yosef z”l son of Rabbi Mordechai HaKadosh. [2], 464 pages, 22 cm.
* Siddur HaTefillah K’Minhag HaKara’im, Part II. Festival prayers. Printed by Yeshuah Shmuel and Sons. Al-Qahirah [Cairo], 1935. 312, [1] pages. The Bibliography of the Hebrew Book records that they saw only this second part, and the collection at the National Library only contains this second part; apparently more parts were not printed during that same period.
*ֲ Siddur HaTefillah K’Minhag HaKara’im im kol Hora’otehah V’Inyanehem, Part I. Published by Chevrat Bachurei Ahavat Torah L’Yisrael HaKara’im B’Mitzrayim. Cairo, 1946. Weekday prayers, evening and morning, and prayers for all the annual Shabbats. 464 pages, 24 cm.
*ֲ Seder Tefillot HaKara’im, work of Shlomo … ben Rabbi Yitzchak HeChacham … and Moshe … Tungur, by Rabbi Yitzchak … son of Rabbi Shlomo Iskowitz, Part IV. Vienna, 1854. [2], 222 pages, 24 cm. Possibly lacking the last leaf.
*ֲ Sod HaTefillah, Parts I & II. Printed by Kh”k HaYisraelim HaKara’im Ytz”u B’Mitzrayim, with the approbation of the Va’ad and the Beit Din. Budapest, 1903. Part I: Weekday evenings and mornings, Rosh Chodesh, Purim and the four fasts. 112, [3] pages. Part II: Shabbat Evenings and mornings, and Rosh Chodesh. 172 pages. 19 cm. (Blemish on the last leaf.)
Overall fine condition.
*ֲ Dod Mordechai – the essence of Karaite faith, Karaite books, and Karaite laws of ritual slaughter, by Mordechai ben Nissan. Vienna, 1830. [4], 36, [1] leaf, 22 cm. This book includes Karaite responsa to the Christian scholar Jacob Trigland about the essence of the Karaites. Leaf of errata at the end. Printed together with the books: Orach Tzaddikimֲ about the dispute between the Karaites and the rabbis, with a list of Karaite books, separate half title page;ֲ Kitzur Inyanei HaShechitah by Eliyahu Bashitzi to Karaite,ֲ separate half title page.
*ֲ Pinat Yikrat, the ten fundamental principles of Karaite faith, with a list of mitzvahs, missives and letters about Karaite faith. Gozlov, 1934. Handwritten (in pencil) notations, comments and corrections along the entire length of the book. This is an important composition on the foundations of Karaite faith by Yitzchak ben Shlomo the Karaite. The book was edited by Avraham Perkowitz, who also added his own content. Introduction in Kadar [the language of the Karaites]. There are several variants of this book, and there were additional leaves added to it printed in 1840. Refer to the Bibliography of the Hebrew Book listing number 000135787. The copy of this book before us is without the leaves which were added later. Pagination according to this copy: [2], 15, [1]; [18] leaves, 20 cm. Some of the leaves were printed on blue paper.
* ‘Inyan HaShechitah’ manuscript. Vowelized manuscript. Lined notebook, 23 pages written in block vowelized script. Apparently, the booklet Inyan HaShechitah L’Adat HaYehudim HaKaraim (Ramleh? 1958), which appears below, was printed from this manuscript.
*ֲ Inyan HaShechitah L’Adat HaYehudim HaKaraim, by Chacham Shmuel HaKohen [Ramleh?] 1958. 16 pages. Jacket cover. Vowelized.
*ֲ Seder Haggadah shel Chag HaPesach k’fi Minhag HaYehudim HaKaraimֲ published by Chevrat HaHatzalah L’Vnei Mikra B’Medinat Yisrael. Jerusalem, 1961. 24 leaves.
* Single leaf in Karaite-Arabic.
Overall fine condition.
HaOrevֲ – controversy about the Prague rabbinate after the passing of the gaon Rabbi Yechezkel Landau, author ofֲ Noda BiYehudah. Salonika, [Vienna?] 1795. Only edition. Rare book. After Rabbi Yechezkel Landau’s passing after almost 40 years as rabbi of Prague, a dispute erupted about the leadership of Prague between the Noda BiYehuda’s son, Rabbi Shmuel, who had already begun to serve as dayan and assistant to his aging father, and two dayanim in Prague, Rabbi Michael Bachrach and Rabbi Ya’akov Ginzberg, who acted independently. The book before us, which was published anonymously, cites letters and claims from both sides. The letters are called “Plugta D’Shmuel” and “Tiyuvta D’Shmuel.” The author used the pen name “Pinchas Chananyah Argozi.” There are a number of hypotheses with regard to the author’s identity. There are those who wrote that he was Rabbi Shaul Hirschel Levin (Berlin). However, the author was apparently actually Rabbi Baruch Yaltash of Prague, author of Taam HaMelech on the Ramba”m’s “Sha’ar HaMelech,” which hints at his being the author. Also, the place of print indicated on the title page – Salonika – is incorrect, and the book was apparently printed in Vienna. The compilation “Kivrot HaTa’avah” is printed on the last three leaves – a public notification by Rabbi Shmuel Landau that he does not want to be published in the book HaMeasef. There is an interesting halachic deliberationֲ on the first leavesֲ about early Jewish coins – whether they had impressions of people on them, including the expert opinion of a gentile who wrote his view in French. Rabbinic signatures and owner’s notations from the time of printing, including an interesting notation on the title page about the question of the author’s identity. 20 leaves, 19 cm. Fine condition. Professional restoration to the title page with a small photocopied completion. Aging stains and isolated worming perforations. Cropped upper margins. Detached back binding.
Joh. Adami Scherzeri P.P. Trifolium Orientale continens Commentarios R. Abarbenelis in Haggֳ¦um, R. Sal. Jarchi in Parsch. I. Geneseos, & R. Mos. Majemonidֳ¦ Theologiam, cum Versione, Notis Philologico-Philolophicis, & Appendice Speciminis Theologiֳ¦ Mythicֳ¦ Ebrֳ¦orum, junctis Autoritatum SS. Scripturֳ¦, Rerum ac Verborum Indicibus necessariis
The author, Johann Adam Schertzer, was a German theologian and a Lutheran cleric, teacher of the famed scientist and philosopher Gottfried Leibniz.
[8] 170 [14] pp, 19 cm. Fine-very fine condition, dismantled binding.
Issue number 31 of the rare journalֲ Roshanahi – Bukharian-Nationalist-Jewish journal. Printed by lithograph on a large sheet. Bukharian in Hebrew letters. This issue also includes news from Teheran, London and Moscow.
Towards the end of 1925, a Judeo-Bukharian newspaper called Roshanahi [“My Light”] began to appear. It published the literary works of the first Bukharian creators of the Soviet era, including M. Ch. Bachiev [Mochiv], Gabriel Samandrov, Yehonatan Khurayev, Ya’akov Chaimov and others. Roshanahi served as the official bulletin of the Central Bureau of Bukharian Jews, to the side of the propaganda wing of the Cheka (the secret political police of the Communist regime after the revolution).
Before us is an extraordinarily rare journal. The National Library collection contains only some of the published issues, and of the issues published in 1926, they only have photocopies. According to some historians, the issues of this journal published that year were printed in only 200 copies. (Regarding this journal, see more in Handbook of Jewish Languages Boston-Leiden, 2016, pp. 263-264; and Pa’amim, a multidisciplinary quarterly on research of Jewish communities in the East, published by Machon Ben-Tzvi, issue 136.)
4 pages, 45×35 cm. Moderate-fine condition. Fold marks. Tears without lack, mainly in the folds.
Printed diagram of the Third Temple, to be built in the future, with Hebrew writing, titled in Hebrew and in English.
This wondrous diagram was drawn by the kabbalist Rabbi Moshe Edrei (!).
Rabbi Moshe bar Yitzchak Edre’i [c. 1775-1842] was born in Mogador and studied in Rabat. He was a disciple of Rabbi Yehudah Anhori. He later immigrated to Europe where he lived in several countries. Already in 1792, while he was yet very young, he arranged Torat Chaimֲ (London, 1792), kabbalistic studies for Friday nights. Aside from being a scholar of both the hidden and the revealed [aspects of Torah], he was also a scholar of general knowledge. He lived in Amsterdam, where he learned ancient languages. He printed his bookֲ Yedei Moshe (sermons and eulogies) in Amsterdam in 1729. He moved on from there to England, and towards the end of his life he ascended to Jerusalem. He authored the renowned book Ma’aseh Nissim – She’erit Yisrael about the Sambatyon river and the ten tribes. More material about him is included with this lot.
[1] leaf paper, 33.5×44 cm.
Fine condition. Professionally restored tears.
Before us is the famed forgery by Shlomo Yeudah HaSepharadi – Friedlander. There is a photocopy of the manuscript from 1212(!) on the back of the first title page; a proven forgery.
As is known, we only have the Talmud Bavli on Seder Kodshim, which deals with the services in the Beit HaMikdash. The above author relates that he acquired a very ancient manuscript from the Benveniste family of Turkey, in which he discovered the Talmud Yerushalmi on Seder Kadshim. The author managed to receive approbations from important public figures, including rabbis and renowned academics. However, it was later discovered that it was an artful forgery, and all the stories about the manuscript’s discovery were lies and deception. There were two volumes printed in total, including Tractates Zevachim, Erchin, Chulin and Bechorot. With a lengthy introduction to “prove” the book’s veracity.
[8] 100 leaves. Including the table of errata. 33.5 cm. Very fine condition. Somewhat brittle paper.
Maharsh”a, halachic novellae by Rabbi Shmuel Eidels. Nowydwor, Krieger Press, 1789. Unknown edition.
Halachic novellae by the Maharsh”a on the entire Talmud in one volume. This edition is not mentioned in the Bibliography of the Hebrew Book and is not found in any large public library throughout the world.
Editions of this work were printed in Nowydwor in 1781 and 1792. However, this edition is unknown.
Hebrew books were printed in Nowydwor, northwest of Warsaw, for thirty years – approximately 1781-1810. Refer to Ch. D. Friedberg, HaDefus HaIvri B’Polania , p. 75-82. The first book printed there was the Chiddushei Hilchot Maharsh”a , printed in 1781.
247 [should be 248] leaves, 33 cm. Fine-very fine condition. Aging stains. Dismantled binding.
Letter from the heads of the Safed and Tiberias communities to the great minister, Rabbi Rephael Farhi – minister of finance in Damascus, about the earthquake in Safed and Tiberias.
An earthquake struck Safed and Tiberias and desperately hurt the local Jewish communities. It took the Jewish settlement there many years to recover from the ruin of that earthquake and the damage it caused.
Before us is an emotional letter sent to the great minister, Rabbi Rephael Farhi, who was the minister of finance in Damascus, and held enormous influence on the Jews of Syria, with a call to come to the assistance of the Galilee settlers.
The letter mentions the study hall of ‘The famous tzaddik, Rabbi Avraham Dov, zlh”h- Rabbi Avraham Dov of Ovritch, author of Bat Ayin.
Torn letter, incomplete. The beginning of the letter is stamped by Yeudah b”r Moshe S”T, and later on in the letter there is mention of Rabbi Machluf HaKohen’s mission – a mission not mentioned by Ya’ari.
[1] leaf paper. 22×26 cm. Oriental script.
Fine condition. Professionally restored with damage to text. Cropped lower margins.
Shivah Einayim . The Ramban’s elucidation on the chapter”Zeh Borer” and Tractate Makkot. With the Raav”ad’s Sefer HaZechut. There are also a number of responsa by leaders of the generations, such as a question by Don Nissim Benveneste to the Mahar”i Abuhav, responsum of Rabbi Yitzchak son of Zayeit and more. Edited by Rabbi Yaakov Londin. Leghorn, [1745]. First edition.
[4], 2-68 leaves, 21 cm. Owner signatures, stamps and inscriptions.
Moderate-fine condition. Minimal worming holes and aging stains. Some loose leaves. Simple binding.
The oldest kollel was “Kollel Chassidim,” which was also called “Kollel Vohlin,” and occasionally also “Kollel Russia.” It started in Tiberias and continued in Safed and then in Jerusalem. All the Chassidim who ascended to the Land with Rabbi Menachem Mendel of Vitebsk joined this kollel at first, without geographic differentiation. However, processes of division by geographic region of origin began, then these association patterns gradually narrowed and the kollels split and increased in number.
Until c. 1860, most Chassidim who were born in the areas of the “Pale of Settlement,” Kiev, Vohlin and Podolia, the regions of New Russia, Serbia and the principalities of the Danube (and Lachia and Moldavia) registered with Kollel Volhin. Kollel Volhin in Safed was already founded in 1796, and the kollel in Jerusalem only in 1841, with the move of the Beck family from Safed and the establishment of the Chassidic community in Jerusalem. Another stage in the split of Kollel Volhin in Jerusalem was around 1955, with the establishment of Kollel Reisin, which dealt with distributing monies to Chassidim of White Russian and Lithuanian descent. The kollel was centered in Tiberias and the quality of the relationship with Kollel Vohlin is not clear.
This document attests to a respectable donation from the estate of philanthropist Aryeh Leib Shaul … Segal? of London for Kollel Chassidim in 1851. The donation was transferred to the leaders of the Perushim kollel: Rabbi Yeshayah Bardaki and Rabbi Shmuel Salant, and they transferred it to the heads of the Volhin kollel. However, they were to transfer part of the donation to other people as well, who were not part of the Perushim society, and had not yet established their own kollels – the people of Poland and ֳ–sterreich. Apparently, Rabbi Shmuel Salant added this request: “Transfer to the people of Warsaw and ֳ–sterreich, to be given directly into their hands.” With a stamp from Kollel Chassidim: “Kehal Chassidim Ashkenazim” – a very rare stamp. Iyar 1851.
This document recalls the friction between the various groups in Jerusalem at the beginning of the founding of the settlement there.
[1] leaf paper. 22×14 cm. Fine condition. Tiny holes.
Ethics of the Fathers with English translation and commentary. London, 1772. Rare.
This was apparently the first edition of Pirkei Avot with English translation. One of the first books printed in London by Jews. Unusually long introduction.
Handwritten inscription on flyleaf.
108-73, 48, [2], XLII pages. 16.5 cm. Printed from left to right. Hebrew with English translation. Hebrew text is vowelized.
Fine condition. Aging stains. Used binding.
At the end of 1874, when R’ Michel HaKohen left Chavatzelet, he began to publish a monthly calledֲ HaArieli. At the top of the front page, he wrote: “Fifth Year,” because this editorship also included the years he was a partner in Chavatzelet. Subtitle: “Contains all that is necessary for the hearts of faithful lovers of Zion, by me, Michel HaKohen – Wish me well! Prepare my way.”
At the beginning of the second year, he increased the size of the picture of HaArieliֲ to be as in the format of most monthly periodicals, and he also brought Rabbi Avraham Zussman into the business. However, he only continued with this publication for two years, and ended it in 1876-7, with R’ Michel returning to the editorship of Chavatzelet. Rabbi Chaim Michel Michlen, the editor’s son-in-law, later wrote about him and about the newspaper: “He forgot one thing, and as a result did not see success. A newspaper cannot succeed in Jerusalem unless it has some material and moral support from a community or from a party … He was missing these three things: 1) No one supported him. 2) He did not have his own press at the time 3) He was desperately poor.”
This document attests to the events behind the veil of the administrators of the newspaper, when R’ Avraham Zussman gave over all his rights to R’ Michel HaKohen: “I, the undersigned, may not express my opinion, from this day forward, with respect to printing Chavatzelet; everything is dependent on R’ Michel HaKohen and R’ Y. Frumkin. R’ M. HaKohen’s word is as my word, his hand is as my hand, and his opinion is as my opinion. I have transferred my opinion in this matter from my own good will, to my friend, the above-mentioned R’ Michel HaKohen. He should do as he sees fit, and I may not protest.” Signing as witnesses: R’ Avraham ben Yeshayah and R’ Yosef Aryeh Lion. Stamp of HaShe’ari court at the top. Shevat 1878.
[1] leaf paper. 22×15 cm. Fine condition.
