Huge collection of over 120 sefarim collected by their owners over the years. The collection consists of sefarim with glosses, dedications, signatures and stamps from gedolei hadorot over the past two hundred years, from all over the Diaspora – Hungary, Galicia, Poland, Russia, Lithuania. Many sefarim in the collection are full of glosses that were clearly written by leading gedolei Yisrael as is evident from their glosses.
Highlights of the signatures, stamps and dedications:
The sacred gaon Rabbi Moshe Freund
The sacred gaon Rabbi Asher Shmuel Panet
Sefer that was gifted to the sacred gaon Rabbi Ya’akov Elimelech Panet
The sacred gaon Rabbi Shraga Tzvi Altman
The sacred gaon Rabbi Shimshon Altman, av beit din of Szendrő
The gaon Rabbi Mendel Frankfurter, a disciple of the Chatam Sofer
The gaon Rabbi Feivel Plaut, a disciple of the Chatam Sofer
The sacred gaon Rabbi Leib Friedman, dayan of Pressburg
Set of Shulchan Aruch that belonged to the sacred gaon Rabbi Tzvi Hirsch Porush
The sacred gaon Rabbi Menachem Segal Pollack, author of Chelek Levi
The sacred gaon Rabbi Yehudah Leib Ben Mordechai Dov of Hornosteipel
The sacred gaon Rabbi Meir Leifer of Ungvar
Two sefarim with stamps of the sacred gaon Rabbi Shmuel Gross of Barbesht-Kerestir and additional signatures from the Gross-Kerestir family
Sefer with the signature “Yekutiel Yehudah Teitelbaum”
Noda BiYehudah with a dedication from the sacred gaon Rabbi Ya’akov Tannenbaum, author of Naharei Afarsimon
Sefer with two signatures by the sacred gaon Rabbi Yechiel Michel Fried son of the author of Pnei Meiven
The sacred gaon Rabbi Mordechai Freund
In summary, a one-of-a-kind collection to enrich your treasury.
Various conditions.
* Likkutei Halachot on tractates from Kodshim: Tamid, Temurah, Kritut and Bechorot, by the rabbi of the entire Jewish people, the kohen gadol , Rabbi Yisrael Meir HaKohen of Radin. Pietrkov, 1909. First edition.
Bound with:
* Likkutei Halachot on Tractates Pesachim and Chagigah, by the rabbi of the entire Jewish people, the kohen gadol , Rabbi Yisrael Meir HaKohen of Radin. Pietrkov, 1909. First edition.
This copy contains two revisions in the author’s penmanship. The glosses match the Chafetz Chaim’s penmanship in the notes he made on his sefarim . These two glosses touch the root of the matter and completely change the relevant halachah. Despite the Chafetz Chaim noting the two printing errors, these errors have not been corrected in a printed edition. Since the Chafetz Chaim did not print another edition in his lifetime, in the elucidated edition printed many years later (Israel, 2005), these two errors have also not yet been corrected (refer to the attached photocopy).
The first gloss is in Tractate Temurah, Chap. I, page 5a. In the leaves of the book, it reads, “It helps that they are already [כבר] domesticated animals” and the Chafetz Chaim corrected in his penmanship, “It helps that they are like two [‘כב] domesticated animals” – which completely changes the meaning.
The second gloss is also in Tractate Temurah, Chap. VI, page 15b. In the leaves of the book, it reads, “Rabi Eliezer reasoned this, and this makes it permissible” and the Chafetz Chaim changed one word, so that instead of writing permissible [“מותר”], he writes that it is prohibited [“אסור”] which obviously completely reverses the halachah.
The Mishnah Berurah series of sefarim , which discusses daily halachah, was printed in many editions by the Chafetz Chaim in his lifetime, and he corrected the errors that occurred in earlier editions. However, his Sefer Likkutei Halachot which discuss Land-of-Israel dependent halachahs, which in his day were mashiach -era halachahs [the Chafetz Chaim authored this sefer from the desire to strengthen the study of Seder Kodshim and other halachahs that would be performed after Mashiach’s arrival] so no additional editions of the work were printed and the corrections that appear here were never inserted.
Kodshim: 32, 3-35; 3-38; 3-24 pp. 24.5 cm.
Moed: 82 p, 24.5 cm.
Fine condition. Aging stains. Brittle paper. Paper glued to the top of the title page. Original binding. Sticker on the spine.
“I heard something like this from the Adm”o, the great rabbi, Rabbi Ya’akov Shemesh ztz”l, who was a rabbi in the kloiz in the large beit midrash in my hometown of Frankfurt am Main” ( Chiddushei Chatam Sofer Gittin 32b)
Sefer Ba’al HaNefesh, Hilchot Niddah L’Ra’ava”d – a fundamental halachic work. With Hilchot V’Chiddushei Masechet Niddah L’HaRamba”n and more from the Rishonim .
Personal copy that belonged to the gaon Rabbi Ya’akov Shemesh, av beit din of Frankfurt and the Chatam Sofer’s first teacher, who often refers to him in his works as mori v’rabi . The gaon Rabbi Ya’akov Shemesh’s signature appears at the top of page 33a [at the beginning of the Raza”h’s glosses on Ba’al HaNefesh ], a lengthy and beautiful signature: ” LaHashem HaAretz U’Melo’ah , signed, the small one, Ya’akov Shemesh.”
It is hard to ignore the fact that this is the copy that belonged to the Chatam Sofer’s first rabbi, the one who introduced him to the world of learning. According to the date of print, the sefer was printed about a year before the Chatam Sofer’s birth, so that it is not inconceivable that from this very fundamental work, in which the Rishonim [the Ra’ava”d, the Ramba”n, the Raza”h and the Ra”n] deliberate the serious halachahs of taharah , the Chatam Sofer began his main study of halachah in the large kloiz in Frankfurt with his first rabbi, the gaon Rabbi Ya’akov Shemesh …
Refer to the Hebrew catalog text for a brief biography of the gaon, Rabbi Ya’akov Shemesh .
[1] 74 leaf, 20 cm. High-quality paper.
Fine-very fine condition. Aging stains. Isolated worming perforations. New binding.
Sefer Teshuvot HaRema MiPano – responsa and commentary on practical halachic sugyas by the leading posek and Kabbalist of Italy, Rabbi Menachem Azaryah of Pano. The title page does not explicitly state the author’s name, only noting his initials: מ”ע [-מנחם עזריה]. First edition in the author’s lifetime. Zanetti Press, Venice, 1600. Stefansky, Sifrei Yessod 298. Hard-to-find sefer . Cataloged among the “Rare Books” in the National Library in Jerusalem. Magnificent copy, stunning leather binding with decorative gilt imprints and gilt title in Italian.
Personal copy of the renowned gaon and capitalist Rabbi Chaim Segri ( Otzar Rabbanim 6088), author of Binyan Av , who was sent in 1666 at the head of the rabbinical mission from Italy to investigate the ways of the false messiah Shabbetai Tzvi. He was among the leading rabbis of Italy in the time of Rabbi Shlomo Algazi. He served as the first rabbi of Vercelli, Italy, and was the patriarch of the Segri rabbinic dynasty of Vercelli [as well as the patriarch of the Segri banking family]. His familiar signature appears at the top of the title page: “Chaim Segri.” Dozens of glosses [approximately 140 lines] along the leaves of the sefer , some lengthy, in Judeo-Italian script, in Rabbi Chaim Segri’s clear, beautiful penmanship.
Rabbi Chaim Segri’s manuscripts maintain a special place in the history of Jewish manuscripts. They are considered one of the authoritative sources of understanding the phenomenon of the aforementioned false messiah, his Kabbalistic manuscripts, and his disciple, Nathan HaAzati. For example, “The manuscript by R’ Chaim Segri in the Ginsburg Collection in Moscow, 517, is cited in all sefarim discussing the study of Sabbateanism. See, for example, Sfunot , (anthology 14, p. 252): “His [R’ Chaim Segri’s] major Sabbatean volume was divided into three: “Raza D’Uvda D’Bereishit” is Sefer HaBriah (Part I in the Ginsberg Collection, p. 120a, p. 184a); ‘Sha’ar HaBriah’ (in Ginsberg manuscript II) and “Zamir Aritzim Ya’aneh” (in Ginsberg manuscript I)
Refer to the Hebrew catalog text for brief biographies of the author, Rabbi Menachem Azariah (the Rem”a) of Pano and the author of the sefer , the renowned gaon and Kabbalist, Rabbi Chaim Segri.
143 leaf. 20 cm. Light, high-quality paper.
Very fine condition. Signatures. Minimal aging stains. Slight tear without lack on leaf 141 in the index. Magnificent leather binding.
Sefer Chiddushei Halachot Maharsh”a with Sefer Chochmat Shlomo by the Maharsha”l. Amsterdam, Proops Press, 1755. Copy that belonged to the gaon Rabbi Avraham Rosenberg, av beit din of Copenhagen.
Magnificent edition of the two most important commentaries on Talmudic tractates predating their being printed in the backs of editions of the Talmud.
The title page displays two signatures of Rabbi Avraham av beit din of Copenhagen. Ink spilled on leaf 181, and it covers several lines of the leaf. The gaon transcribed the relevant text onto the margins of the page [approximately 100 words].
Refer to the Hebrew catalog text for a brief biography of the gaon Rabbi Avraham Rosenberg, av beit din of Copenhagen .
[1] 300 leaf. 41.5 cm. Especially wide margins.
Fine-very fine condition. Elegant antique binding.
Sefer She’elot U’Teshuvot Minchat Yitzchak [Part I] by the renowned gaon Rabbi Yitzchak Ya’akov Weiss, later ga’ava”d of Jerusalem, in place of the gaon of Satmar. London, 1955.
Author’s personal copy – that of the gaon Rabbi Ya’akov Yitzchak Weiss – one of the leading geonim of his generation and one of the golden links in the chain of rabbis in the holy city of Jerusalem. The author wrote glosses in this copy, as can be seen on each and every leaf. Among its sheets, he left about twenty important glosses, including some especially lengthy ones, in his hand. The text in the next edition of Minchat Yitzchak is indeed revised according to these glosses.
The sefer includes the Mikveh Taharah compilation by the same author. Between the leaves of this author’s copy, there is a large handwritten page dealing with this precise topic. What was written on this leaf is not printed – the author apparently commented on these matters, yet these comments were not printed.
Important historic item – first copy [author’s copy] of the first sefer [out of ten volumes] of the first edition [of many] of Shu”t Minchat Yitzchak , one of the most important s ifrei shu”t of all time, and among the most famous of those printed in recent generations. And all across the leaves of this pedigree copy, the sacred author, the ga’ava”d of Jerusalem, to whose geonut and sanctity the entire Torah world subjected itself, left many important glosses in his penmanship.
Refer to the Hebrew catalog text for a brief biography of the gaon Rabbi Yitzchak Ya’akov Weiss, ga’ava”d of Jerusalem .
[4] 279. Thick, high-quality paper.
Fine condition. Dismantled binding.
Sefer Olat Tamid , elucidation on Shulchan Aruch Orach Chaim with the Shulchan Aruch text, by Rabbi Shmuel b”r Yosef of Kraków. Two parts: Olat Tamid and Olat Shabbat . Amsterdam, 1681.
Among the most renowned works on Shulchan Aruch Orach Chaim, with approbations from Va’ad Arba Aratzot, Rabbi Ya’akov Sasportas, Rabbi David of Lida – rabbi of the Ashkenazic community in Amsterdam, Rabbi Yitzchak Abuhav – rabbi of the Portuguese community, and more. It became considered the most important and most popular halachic work immediately upon publication, often cited in later works.
The Magen Avraham, too, frequently cites this work, often critically, as discussed by Rabbi Chaim Nathan Dembitzer in his work Klilat Yofi (Part I, pp. 61-62): “Although Olat Tamid was well-received when it first came out, and beloved to all … When the wondrous work Magen Avraham was printed, complete with many critical comments on [ Olat Tamid ], the author also pointedly remarked several times: “not as in the Olat Tamid. ” Hence the Tamid was abolished. It has not been reprinted from then and until now. Magen Avraham was lovingly accepted in its place and halachah is determined according to the latter across the entire Diaspora to this day.”
Inscribed on the flyleaf: Bought with my own funds in honor of my Creator, the youth Shimon son of the rabbi, the author of Sefer Minchat Ya’akov and Chok Ya’akov – none other than the gaon Rabbi Ya’akov Reisher [1660-1733], one of the leading poskim in his generation, rabbi of Reisha, Worms and Metz, also known as the author of Shevut Ya’akov . The owner of this sefer was the author’s only son, the gaon Rabbi Shimon.
Refer to the Hebrew catalog text for a brief biography of the gaon Rabbi Shimon (Bechhofen) .
2, 260 (should be 60); 10, [6], 65-114; 50 leaf, 31 cm. Additional owner’s signature on the title page: Elazar HaLevi (of Amsterdam?).
Fine condition. Minimal aging stains. Detached title page. Leather-covered wooden binding, with blemishes.
“I am certain that one who follows this schedule and does not budge from it will be beloved in Heaven and on Earth, be successful in all he undertakes, wise in all his ways, live long and see children and grandchildren, and Heavenly matters will be successful in his hands.
Sefer Seder HaYom – important Kabbalistic-halachic sefer by Kabbalist Rabbi Moshe Ben Yehudah HaMakiri. Lublin, 1914. Personal copy that belonged to the gadol hador Rabbi Shmaryahu Yosef Chaim Kanievsky, which accompanied him from his youth until his final years. Owner’s signature from Reb Chaim’s early days on the inside of the front cover, in his own script: “From the library of Chaim Kanievsky, ” along with other owner’s signatures of his.
Seder HaYom is a halachic-Kabbalistic sefer describing, according to the introduction, “the schedule a person should follow day and night, Shabbat and festivals, the schedule for the entire year in his home and while he is travelling, when he lies down and when he arises.” This sefer was published in many editions, and constitutes the source of various customs and texts, including the text of the Modeh Ani prayer, mentioned in this sefer for the first time. The end of the sefer features his commentary on the mishnah “Ben chamesh shanim l’mikra” and an elucidation of Sefer Kohelet.
Aside from the sefer’s immense value as the personal copy of the gadol hador , what can be seen from the sacred usage marks on each and every page of the sefer , is evidence that the gaon Rabbi Chaim Kanievsky studied it extensively [he mentions it dozens of times in his own sefarim ]. In several places, he even marked it in pencil. Indeed, this sefer’s purpose is to promote appreciation of each and every moment of every day of the year, as it says in the preface: “This schedule should be followed day and night, on Shabbat and during festivals, across the year, whether sitting at home or on the road, when a person lies down and when he arises” – as if telling the story of Reb Chaim’s life. There was none other like him, not even in the generations that preceded his, a person who utilized every moment of his time as he did, to the extent that even his blessings were said using abbreviations out of concern for wasting time.
As such, the segulah of this sefer is of unlimited value as an expert amulet, and as one of the sefarim that built the gadol hador . It is exciting to read the blessings written by the author, who was a Safed Kabbalist during the period of the Ar”i HaKadosh, promising that a person who conducts himself according to this sefer , as did the gadol hador the gaon Rabbi Chaim Kanievsky, the following: “I am certain that one who follows this schedule and does not budge from it will be beloved in Heaven and on Earth, be successful in all he undertakes, wise in all his ways, live long and see children and grandchildren, and Heavenly matters will be successful in his hands.”
Refer to the Hebrew catalog text for brief biographies of the author, Kabbalist Rabbi Moshe Ben Machir [alternately, “HaMakiri”] and the owner of the sefer , the gaon Rabbi Shmaryahu Yosef Chaim Kanievsky .
58 leaf. 21 cm.
The sefer is in fine condition, without significant lack, tears or wear, however, there are Rabbi Chaim’s sacred usage marks – on almost every single page.
Novellae on the parashiyot , Chamesh Meggilot, holidays and festivals; Talmudic novellae and responsa, by Rabbi Shaul [Lowenstam], av beit din of Amsterdam and grandson of the Chacham Tzvi. Amsterdam, 1778. First edition. Two parts.
First edition of the sefer by Rabbi Shaul of Amsterdam – renowned rabbi of Amsterdam and one of the leading rabbis of his generation. Part II has a separate title page. The “building” is divided into “homes” and “rooms” and the novellae on Torah are entitled “Chadrei Torah”; on holidays, “Beit Moed”; and on Sha”s, “Beit Talmud.”
Part II, leaf 30, bears a responsum from the author’s brother, Rabbi Tzvi Hirsch, av beit din of Berlin, with respect to “whether one can rely on what you found in a specific sefer just reprinted by one of the current gedolei hador to permit shaving on Chol HaMoed by a poverty-stricken worker.” This is obviously referring to the Noda BiYehudah’s responsum. The author and his brother vigorously disagree with this ruling. Out of respect for the Noda BiYehudah, they do not mention him by name.
The Chid”a met the author the same year the sefer was printed. In Shem HaGedolim , he wrote about him: “I, the insignificant, had the merit of receiving the Shechinah in 1778 when I was on a mitzvah mission. I had the privilege of being influenced by his Torah, his humility and his perfection.”
This copy was received as a gift from the author. The recipient wrote the following on the flyleaf in beautiful print lettering: “This sefer was given as a gift by our honorable master, teacher and rabbi, the great and famed gaon, the light of the Diaspora, Rabbi Shaul … av beit din and lecturer here in Amsterdam.
[6], 36; 40; 42 leaf. As in many copies, without the [2] leaves of indices at the end of Part I, and without the supplements at the end of Part II. 30 cm.
Fine condition. Tear without lack in the text in leaf 6 and in leaf 15. Stains. Dismantled binding.
“He was a gadol olam , my father, my father, chariot of Israel … I studied from him every day in our beit midrash , from the works he authored” (the Chatam Sofer)
Shu”t Maharasha”ch , one of the fundamental works of halachic adjudication [Stefansky, Sifrei Yessod 294] by Rabbi Shlomo son of Rabbi Avraham HaKohen – Maharasha”ch, one of the leading poskim of his generation [together with Mahariva”l and Maharashda”m, the three were considered the leading poskim of their generation]. Three parts – responsa, chiddushim on the Ramba”m, and chiddushim on Talmudic topics. Salonika-Venice, 1595-1586. Especially rare set.
Complete copy that belonged to the gadol olam Rabbi Ephraim Zalman Margaliot of Brod, author of Beit Ephraim and Mateh Ephraim , among the leading poskim of all generations, who would often cite the Maharasha”ch’s sefarim [dozens of times] in his sefer , Beit Ephraim . His beautiful signature is clearly displayed at the top of the first leaf in the first volume “HaK’ Ephraim Zalman Margaliot of Brod.”
All three volumes are present here, in rare full completeness. The fourth part was printed 140 years later.
The first part was printed in Salonika 1586-1587, without a title page. In place of the title page, the author wrote something of a preface at the top of the first leaf. He writes there about the process of bringing this work to print, including the names of the benefactors from the ‘Midrash Garush Castilla” (community of Spanish exiles in Salonika) who supported his efforts. The year of print appears at the end of his introduction.
The second part was printed in 1592 (with a title page). During the printing process, the author penned more responsa. He printed these later responsa in Salonika and added them to this part, with a preface. These leaves are not found in all the copies.
The third part was printed in Salonika in 1594-1595. Printed in the original without a title page.
Alongside the Beit Ephraim’s signature are two additional signatures from gedolei Yisrael of later generations who had the privilege of possessing this magnificent pedigreed set. The gaon Rabbi Menachem Manish Mordechai Teomim Frankel of Brod, the first to receive the set, received it as an inheritance [he was a grandson of Rabbi Elyakim Getzel Margaliot, brother of the Beit Ephraim]. Another owner was the Admo”r of Sadigura, who had one of the most important libraries in the Jewish world, who acquired this set and enhanced it magnificently, stamped it with his renowned stamps ” kinyan kaspi ” etc, and signed his sacred name alongside the signatures of the previous two owners.
Magnificent title pages were added to this stunning and uncommon set, hand-painted by artists and enhanced with artistic script. These title pages also indicate the place and date of print, as appears in the introductions and the colophon. An illustrated title page for the second part as well completes the creation, despite this part already having a printed title page. The Admo”r of Sadigura stamped his famous stamps on these title pages – the latter made by request of the Admo”r of Sadigura (?). The magnificent covers are from the Admo”r’s library.
Stefansky, Sifrei Yessod 294; Y. Mehlman, Gnuzot Sefarim , Prakim B’Toldot HaDefus B’Saloniki no. 40.
Refer to the Hebrew catalog text for brief biographies of Rabbi Ephraim Zalman Margaliot , Rabbi Menachem Manish Mordechai Teomim Frankel of Brod and the Admo”r Rabbi Nachum Ber’enyu of Sadigura .
244: 181; 28, [1]: 126 leaf: 2° leaf, 7.5 cm. Printed on thick paper,
Magnificent hand-painted title pages. Magnificent bindings from the Admo”r of Sadigura’s library.
Many lengthy handwritten glosses all along the first volume; the glosses have not been thoroughly examined.
Very fine condition. Usage marks and aging stains.
Large and important collection of [29] sefarim , mainly fundamental sefarim with handwritten glosses, comments and revisions. The sefarim are mainly halachic and responsa works as well as novellae on Talmudic tractates, alongside sefarim on other Torah topics. Some of the glosses are lengthy, and their content indicates that the writers were expert Torah scholars. The glosses have not been researched.
Refer to the Hebrew catalog text for a complete list of the volumes in this lot. The collection is being sold as is.
Refer to the Hebrew catalog text for a detailed list of the sefarim and the signatures in them in this lot.
The sefarim have not been examined; they are in various conditions. Sold as is.
“Here lies the Ark of G-d, pillar of Torah and fear of Heaven, lofty and sacred righteous rabbi, wise and modest wonder of the generation … Rabbi Mordechai Michael Jaffe … an angel of the Heavenly G-d”
S
efer Parashat Derachim – twenty-six
drushim and the
kuntress “Derech Mitzvotecha” on counting the mitzvahs, by Rabbi Yehudah Rosanes, author of
Mishneh LaMelech . Venice, 1743. Second edition of one of the most fundamental works of
drush literature.
Rabbi Mordechai Michael Jaffe’s owner’s signature appears at the top of the title page. Rabbi Jaffe was a leading disciple of Rabbi Akiva Eiger’s. Dozens of especially lengthy glosses handwritten by Rabbi Mordechai Michael Jaffe appear along the sheets of the sefer .
Refer to the Hebrew catalog text for brief biographies of
Rabbi Yehudah Rosanes and
the gaon Rabbi Mordechai Michael Jaffe.
[2], 76 leaf, 28 cm. High-quality paper. The final page bears a permit to print the
sefer from “the leaders of the country” Venice, 6 Tammuz 1742.
Fine condition. Aging stains. Light wear in the margins. New binding.
Binyamin Ze’ev – responsa by Rabbi Binyamin ben Matityah. Venice, Bomberg press. 1538. First edition. Lacking the title page and the following leaf. Handwritten author’s glosses.
The author, one of the gedolei Yisrael in the period between the Rishonim and the Acharonim, brought this work to print himself. This is his first book of responsa, printed in his lifetime. The author writes in the sefer that errors occurred while proofreading, and the author corrected these by hand. With supplements the author added by hand after the printing.
This copy contains handwritten glosses and comments on leaves: 73, 210, 260, 337, 338, 339, 405, 456 – especially lengthy gloss, 474, 501. There is no doubt that some of the glosses are in the author’s penmanship, as is known from other copies as well.
Refer to the Hebrew catalog text for a brief biography of Rabbi Binyamin ben Matityahu, known as Rabbi Binyamin Ze’ev of Orta .
Lacking: title page and the following leaf. Present here: 3-367, [2], 376-399, 399-575 leaf. 19 cm.
Moderate condition. Minimal worming perforations and tunnels. Simple binding, worn.
She’elot U’Teshuvot Kol Aryeh by Rabbi Avraham Yehuda HaKohen, av beit din of Beregszász, and of Mád towards the end of his life, brought to print by the author’s grandson. Szilágysomlyó [Shamloy], 1904. Dedication from Rabbi Shlomo Zalman Ehrenreich.
First edition of the sefer . The sefer was edited by the author’s grandson. He signed his name in full at the end of the introduction as hinted here: זה ש מי ל עולם מ ן ה עולם וזה ז כרי ל דור מ עם ברא יתהלל י-ה ולירושלים ע יר ה קודש ר בתי ע ם נ ז ר ר אשינו י שובו י שראל כ בראשונה. The author also wrote an especially lengthy ‘good opening’ with the author’s divrei aggadah .
The title page bears a handwritten dedication from Rabbi Shlomo Zalman Ehrenreich, which indicates that he edited the sefer .
Refer to the Hebrew catalog text for a brief biography of from Rabbi Shlomo Zalman Ehrenreich .
[2], 9, 151 leaf. 37 cm. Lacking 2 subscriber leaves at the end.
Moderate-fine condition. Blemishes in the title page. Tears and adhesions in several leaves. Minimal worming perforations. Worn binding.
Shu”t Bnei Moshe . Copy that belonged to the author of Kerem Shlomo with a self-dedication handwritten by the gaon Rabbi Moshe Amarillio, author of Halachah L’Moshe Handwritten glosses. Impressive copy with wide margins. Extraordinarily rare condition.
Shu”t Bnei Moshe by the gaon Rabbi Moshe Shalton one of the leading sages of Constantinople of his time.
Copy that was sent by the author of the gaon Rabbi Slomo Amarillio, rabbi of Salonika and author of Sefer Kerem Shlomo
Dedication wording on the title page: Gift to my master and father, may Hashem protect him, amen] from the sage, the lofty gvir , Rabbi Moshe Shalton of Constantinople … Moshe Amirillio.
THe sheets of teh sefer contain important and lengthy handwritten glosses, some by father and son. Page 25b bears a slightly shorter gloss from the early 19th century.
Refer to the Hebrew catalog text for brief biographies of the gaon Rabbi Shlomo Amarillio , and his son, the gaon Rabbi Moshe Amarillio .
[2], 126, 8, [3] leaf. 31 cm.
Fine-very fine condition. Minimal tears in the margins of the last leaf . New binding.
Korban Elitzur , method for Tractate Avodah Zarah with broad in-depth discussions on the laws of breirah , by Rabbi Mansour Marzouk. Salonika, 1777. Only edition. Pedigree copy.
Expansive work on Tractate Avodah Zarah.
Dedication and owner’s signature on the title page: ‘Pure gift to me from the author, DP (David Pardo), S”T’
The author, Rabbi Mansour Marzouk, an Aleppo sage, ascended to Jerusalem and studied at “Beit Ya’akov Ferrara” with rabbis of the Mizrachi family, authors of Pri HaAretz and Pri HaAdamah . He was one of the leaders of Beit El and a dayan alongside Mahari”t Algazi.
Rabbi David Pardo ascended to Jerusalem, arriving in 1782. Shortly after his arrival, he was invited to serve as a member of Mahari”t Algaz”i’s beit din . The author of this work apparently gave it as a gift to Rabbi Pardo when he met him in Jerusalem. Opinions differ as to when Rabbi Mansour Marzouk passed away in the 1780s. According to this, he was certainly still alive in 1782.
Refer to the Hebrew catalog text for a brief biography of Rabbi David Pardo .
[2], 196, 8 leaf, 31 cm.
Fine condition. Adhesions and blemishes on the title page. Minimal worming perforations in the first and last leaves. Stains.
Da’at Zekeinim – commentary by the Ba’alei HaTosafot on the Torah and Sefer Minchat Yehudah by Rabbi Yehudah b”r Eliezer – Riv”a. Livorno, 1783.
First edition of this fundamental work.
With approbations including an approbation from the Chid”a, who rarely granted approbations.
Leaf 85 bears an especially lengthy gloss handwritten by Rabbi Daniel Tirani, av beit din of Florence. Gloss in dense script.
Refer to the Hebrew catalog text for a brief biography of Rabbi Daniel b”r Moshe David Tirani .
Stefansky, Sifrei Yessod no. 7.
[8] 90 leaf. Lacking the title page. 26.5 cm.
Printed and bound with:
Afar Ya’akov – commentaries by Rash”i and the Re’em, by Rabbi Moshe Zakut . Livorno, 1783.
29 leaf. 26.5 cm.
Fine-very fine condition. Aging stains. Minimal tears. Simple new binding.
“I heard something like this from the Adm”o, the great rabbi, Rabbi Ya’akov Shemesh ztz”l, who was a rabbi in the kloiz in the large beit midrash in my hometown of Frankfurt am Main” ( Chiddushei Chatam Sofer Gittin 32b)
Sefer Ba’al HaNefesh, Hilchot Niddah L’Ra’ava”d – a fundamental halachic work. With Hilchot V’Chiddushei Masechet Niddah L’HaRamba”n and more from the Rishonim .
Personal copy that belonged to the gaon Rabbi Ya’akov Shemesh, av beit din of Frankfurt and the Chatam Sofer’s first teacher, who often refers to him in his works as mori v’rabi . The gaon Rabbi Ya’akov Shemesh’s signature appears at the top of page 33a [at the beginning of the Raza”h’s glosses on Ba’al HaNefesh ], a lengthy and beautiful signature: ” LaHashem HaAretz U’Melo’ah , signed, the small one, Ya’akov Shemesh.”
It is hard to ignore the fact that this is the copy that belonged to the Chatam Sofer’s first rabbi, the one who introduced him to the world of learning. According to the date of print, the sefer was printed about a year before the Chatam Sofer’s birth, so that it is not inconceivable that from this very fundamental work, in which the Rishonim [the Ra’ava”d, the Ramba”n, the Raza”h and the Ra”n] deliberate the serious halachahs of taharah , the Chatam Sofer began his main study of halachah in the large kloiz in Frankfurt with his first rabbi, the gaon Rabbi Ya’akov Shemesh …
Refer to the Hebrew catalog text for a brief biography of the gaon, Rabbi Ya’akov Shemesh .
[1] 74 leaf, 20 cm. High-quality paper.
Fine-very fine condition. Aging stains. Isolated worming perforations. New binding.
“It cannot be that it is by the Ra’ava”n, as he cites the Ramba”n and other Acharonim; it is by a later author. Chaim Kanievsky, Bnei Brak”
Volume of unique sefarim bound together. Personal copies that belonged to the Sar HaTorah, the gaon Rabbi Shmaryahu Yosef Chaim Kanievsky. The front flyleaf features his signature: ” MiSifrei Chaim Kanievsky .” Important comment handwritten by the Sar HaTorah at the beginning of the first sefer, ‘ Ma’amar Haskel , along with his original signature, “Chaim Kanievsky, Bnei Brak.”
* Sefer Ma’amar Haskel – elucidation of the hymn, “E-l E-lokim Hashem Diber, ” recited on the second ma’ariv of Shavuot. “Authored by Rabbeinu HaGadol, HaRav R’ Eliezer b”r Nattan … known as Ra’avan, author of Even HaEzer. ” Printed with a half-title only, at the beginning of the first page. Unknown edition. [Vienna, 1810?] 16 leaf, 33 cm. Thick paper. Fine condition. Minimal aging stains and worming perforations.
In the margins of the half-title page, alongside the attribution of the sefer to the Ra’ava”n, the gaon Rabbi Chaim Kanievsky writes an important and interesting comment, and signs it: “It cannot be that it is by the Ra’ava”n, as he cites the Ramba”n and other Acharonim; it is by a later author”! Indeed, currently, all researchers agree that the author of Ma’amar Haskel is not the Ra’ava”n, author of Even HaEzer [material attached]. What the researchers discussed at length, the gaon Rabbi Chaim Kanievsky, from whom nothing was hidden, wrote in brief.
The sefer is bound together with another four unique and special sefarim.
* Reb Chaim’s library included Sefer Ohalei Tam , which is an early book of responsa by Rabbi Tam ibn Yichye, which was printed in Sefer Tamat Yesharim (Venice, 1622). This copy was wormy, and Reb Chaim wanted to study it, but it was difficult to do so in such a condition. As such, he requested that this sefer be photocopied in its entirety for him so he could study from the photocopied leaves. Indeed, this volume contains a photocopy of this sefer (without the indices), with the first leaf bearing a copy of Reb Chaim’s stamp.
* So too, the photocopy volume of Sefer She’elot U’Teshuvot Heishiv R’ Eliezer V’Siach HaSadeh , printed in Neuweid in 1749, which also bears a photocopy of Reb Chaim’s stamp.
* So too, Sefer Damesek Eliezer Part II by Rabbi Eliezer Lifshitz, also printed in Neuweid in 1749 (without the title page).
* So too, Shu”t Maharam”ah by Mahari”l, printed in Shu”t Toldot Adam by the Rashb”a (Lemberg, 1811).
Overall fine condition.
She’elot U’Teshuvot Pnei Yehoshua by Rabbi Yehoshua b”r Yosef av beit din of Kraków. Amsterdam, 1715.
First edition. Copy that previously belonged to Rabbi Chaim Berlin, with his handwritten glosses.
First edition of this important work of responsa, printed from the author’s manuscript.
The author [1577-1648?], among the geonim of his generation, a disciple of the Sm”a and the Mahara”m of Lublin and rabbi of the author of Sha”ch , served as av beit din in important communities, and eventually became av beit din of Kraków. He is also known for his work Meginei Shlomo written to resolve the Tosafot’s difficulties with Rash”i. He was a grandfather of the author of Chiddushei Pnei Yehoshua , who cites him in his sefarim .
The title page states: “Part I.” Part II was printed about 150 years later.
This copy bears several of Rabbi Chaim Berlin’s stamps from when he lived in Jerusalem. Several glosses and corrections in his hand on a few leaves.
Refer to the Hebrew catalog text for a brief biography of the gaon Rabbi Chaim Berlin .
Uncommon sefer .
[2] 52 leaf, 29 cm.
Very fine condition. Minimal aging stains. Simple new binding.
Novellae on the parashiyot , Chamesh Meggilot, holidays and festivals; Talmudic novellae and responsa, by Rabbi Shaul [Lowenstam], av beit din of Amsterdam and grandson of the Chacham Tzvi. Amsterdam, 1778. First edition. Two parts.
First edition of the sefer by Rabbi Shaul of Amsterdam – renowned rabbi of Amsterdam and one of the leading rabbis of his generation. Part II has a separate title page. The “building” is divided into “homes” and “rooms” and the novellae on Torah are entitled “Chadrei Torah”; on holidays, “Beit Moed”; and on Sha”s, “Beit Talmud.”
Part II, leaf 30, bears a responsum from the author’s brother, Rabbi Tzvi Hirsch, av beit din of Berlin, with respect to “whether one can rely on what you found in a specific sefer just reprinted by one of the current gedolei hador to permit shaving on Chol HaMoed by a poverty-stricken worker.” This is obviously referring to the Noda BiYehudah’s responsum. The author and his brother vigorously disagree with this ruling. Out of respect for the Noda BiYehudah, they do not mention him by name.
The Chid”a met the author the same year the sefer was printed. In Shem HaGedolim , he wrote about him: “I, the insignificant, had the merit of receiving the Shechinah in 1778 when I was on a mitzvah mission. I had the privilege of being influenced by his Torah, his humility and his perfection.”
This copy was received as a gift from the author. The recipient wrote the following on the flyleaf in beautiful print lettering: “This sefer was given as a gift by our honorable master, teacher and rabbi, the great and famed gaon, the light of the Diaspora, Rabbi Shaul … av beit din and lecturer here in Amsterdam.
[6], 36; 40; 42 leaf. As in many copies, without the [2] leaves of indices at the end of Part I, and without the supplements at the end of Part II. 30 cm.
Fine condition. Tear without lack in the text in leaf 6 and in leaf 15. Stains. Dismantled binding.
Kiryat Chanah. Responsa by Rabbi Gershon Kovlentz of Metz. Metz, 1784, first edition. The gaon and chassid Rabbi Yehoshua Heschel Teomim Frenkel’s signature appears on the title page, along with an additional inscription, apparently in his hand. Several stamps on the title page and among the leaves of the book. Page 53 contains a handwritten comment. Additional owners’ stamps on the title page.
Rabbi Yehoshua Heschel Teomim Frenkel was the son of Rabbi Baruch Frenkel Teomim. He was a prominent disciple of the Chozeh of Lublin, and was both erudite in Torah and affluent. He refused to enter the rabbinate and succeeded in business. In his old age, he agreed to enter the rabbinate so there would not be an interruption in rabbinical dynasty of the Frenkel-Teomim family. He was an advocate for chassidut amongst those who opposed it, and arranged the match between his sister and Rabbi Chaim of Sanz (as noted by the rabbi of Plonsk in his letter featured in Ohel Baruch) . His teacher, the Chozeh of Lublin, greatly admired him and arose before him. He was also honored by Rabbi Shalom of Belz. He passed away in 1843 and his epitaph includes great praises. ( Ohel Baruch, p. 35; Encyclopedia L’Chassidut , volume 2, p. 76-77).
59 [3] leaves, 20 cm. Owner’s inscription on the endpaper: “This book belongs to me, the small one, Eliezer Menachem Mendel.”
Very fine condition. Original binding, worn.
Tractate Niddah and mishnayot Taharot. Frankfurt am Main, 1720. Copy belonging to the author of Shev Yaakov , Av Beit Din of Frankfurt. With his son, Rabbi Zeev Wolf’s, and grandson’s, Rabbi Shmuel’s signatures. Handwritten glosses.
The top of the title page bears the handwritten inscription: ‘Belonging to the great and wonderful gaon, Rabbi Yaakov Katz, Av Beit Din and lecturer in Frankfurt …” Additional inscriptions on the title page refer to his son’s possession: “Belonging to … the wondrous Torah scholar … Rabbi Zeev Wolf Katz,” as well as his grandson’s: “Belonging to … Rabbi Shmuel Cohen son of Rabbi Ze’ev Wolf Katz.” Handwritten glosses on leaves 5, 7, perhaps in the Shev Yaakov’s handwriting?
Rabbi Yaakov HaCohen Paprush was born in Prague in 1670. From a young age he was known as an expert adjudicator, and was appointed rabbi of Koblenz. In 1718 he arrived to Frankfurt, and was appointed by the Maharshashach to head the senior yeshivah in the city, and to serve as Av Beit Din in place of Rabbi Avraham Brody. The yeshivah was one of the most important in the period and was attended by approximately 400 students, many of whom later served as rabbis and adjudicators. He passed away in 1742, and his successor was the author of Pnei Yehoshua . He was famous for his book, Shu”t Shev Yaakov , which was cited by many of the Later Authorities. His son Rabbi Zeev Wolf Paprush was an adjudicator in Frankfurt, then rabbi of Friedberg, and passed away in 1758. Rabbi Zeev Wolf’s son, Rabbi Shmuel, was a adjudicator in Posen and Av Beit Din of Friedberg.
88, 178 leaves. 32 cm. Moderate condition. Damage to first leaves. Dismantled old leather binding.
