Auction No. 098
Holy books, Manuscripts, Rabbinical & Admors letters, Americana & Judiaca
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Palmistry and physiognomy in Hebrew and Yiddish. [Koenigsberg, c. 1860].
Specifications: 16 leaves, 17 cm.
Unique features: The title page notes: [!] copied by Eliyahu Moshe Galino from the Zohar...The back of the title page features a large illustration of a palm with sketched lines. Each page has the Hebrew text on top and vowelized Yiddish on the bottom. Rare edition of this work that was very popular at the time.
Bound with:
Mifaloat Elokim. Segulot and cures by Rabbi Yoel Baal Shem, Rabbi Naftali Katz and expert doctors. Sklow, [1823].
Specifications: [40] leaves, apparently missing 2 leaves. 17 cm.
Unique features: Many sketches. Rare edition of a work that was very popular at the time. Due to its rarity, some bibliographers wrote that it was printed in 1821 (refer to Ohel Roche"l, section one, p. 191). The National Library's copy is also not complete.
Condition: Fine. Light blemishes to title page. Aging stains. Old, simple binding.
Chemdat Yamim. Large work regarding kabbalistic behaviors for Shabbat, Rosh Chodesh and holidays. Complete, three-volume set. Especially rare.
Specifications: [2] 154 [4]: [2] 130: [2] 282 leaves. About 21 cm. First edition.
Unique features: Work of historic importance, whose author has still not been definitively identified to this day. The title page notes that the manuscript came from Safed, but does not delineate the name of the author.
The second section was printed before the first. In most copies, the first section includes two sets of pagination, but is printed as one section with one title page. This copy was divided into three volumes. The second volume features behaviors for Rosh Chodesh, essentially a continuation of the first section, with its own title page and preface.
Bears stamps of Shlomo ben Yisrael Kohen Tzedek - Katz, of the Tehran beit din, Chief Rabbi of Iranian Jewry. Owner signature at the end of the third volume.
Background: For a short while after the printing of the work, there were rumors that its author was an adherent of Shabtai Zvi, and some even attributed the work to Nathan of Gaza.The Yaavetz was the chief challenger of the work, and many Torah leaders distanced themselves from it. A. Yaari wrote a complete book about the mystery of this work's authorship titled Ta'alumat Sefer (Jerusalem, 1954). He theorizes that it was written by Rabbi Binyamin HaLevi (who preceded Shabtai Zvi). In recent years, this theory has become stronger, but has still not been definitively proven.
Condition: Fine. Aging stains. New, matching half-leather and marbleized paper bindings.
Holy work on the oral and written Torah, Mussar, halachot, and behaviors according to kabbala, by Rabbi Yeshaya HaLevi Horowitz, Av Beit Din of Dubno, Ostrog, Posen, and Prague, buried in Eretz Yisrael.
Specifications: [4], 422: 44, [12] leaves. 28 cm.
Content: Second edition, the index, "tavla shel shayish" was added to this edition.
Unique features: Two title pages. The first is an elegant copperplate engraving, made by Avraham bar Yaakov Hager, who illustrated the famed Amsterdam Haggada.
Background: The Chassidim maintain that the elegant printing of this kabbalistic work of the Shl"a during this year [in Hebrew letters "Nachat" נח"ת], created "Nachat Ruach" [pleasure] in the upper and lower spheres. They connected the printing of this work with the birth of the Baal Shem Tov this same year.
The "Raya"tz" wrote in his letters: "In the year Nacha"t, it was printed again with great elegance, and the revelation of this holy book generated a pleased spirit above, and in this year, the light of Israel was born, the Baal Shem Tov. And it is known that the Baal Shem Tov was born the same year that the Shl"a was printed, to enlighten the world with the light of Torah and yiras Shamayim in the service of the heart. The disciples of the Baal Shem Tov said that his merit is great, in that it was printed so beautifully and accepted amongst the entire diaspora, and merited to be printed the same year that the Baal Shem Tov was born." In addition, refer to Keter Shem Tov Shlemot, Kehat edition, 2004, p. 420.
Condition: Very fine. The first and last leaves have solitary worming holes. Minimal aging stains. Narrow upper margins. New binding.
Sefer Hakdamot V'She'araim. One section of the Leshem Shvo V'Achalma by the foremost kabbalist of recent generations, Rabbi Shlomo Elyashiv.
Specifications: 212 pages. 29 cm. First edition.
Unique features: The leaf before the title page bears the signature of Rabbi Shneur Zalman Tuvia Markowitz, Av Beit Din of Antaliepte, who received the book from the author's son-in-law, Rabbi Mordechai Sperber of Šiauliai.
Background: At the conclusion of his preface, the "Leshem" writes that his family believes that they are progeny of the Arizal, both from his father's and mother's side. He is also a descendant of kabbalist Rabbi Shimshon of Ostropole.
He warns readers not to verbally express the holy names included in the work.
Condition: Very fine. Brittle paper. Blemished binding.
Magen David. Kabbalistic elucidation of the aleph-beit letters by Rabbi Dovid 'n Zimra. Amsterdam, at the press of Asher Anshel Shochet of the Kotnim family. [1713].
Specifications: [4] 52 leaves, 20 cm.
Unique features: Owner signatures: Mordechai son of C. H. Wolff and others.
The book opens with a lengthy preface by the proofreader, Rabbi Moshe Chagiz of Jerusalem, who added his comments to the work. For more information regarding the circumstances that prompted the printing of the work and Rabbi Moshe Chagiz's involvement in its publication, refer to M. Binyahu, Sefarim She'chibram R' Moshe Chagiz V'Sefarim Sh'hotziam L'Ohr, Alei Sefer, 2, 1976, p. 154-160.
Condition: Fine-very fine. Parchment binding with blemished spine. Aging stains.
Kemia Tovah [A good amulet] from the Ari, by Rabbi Baruch Pinchas Rabinowitz, the grandson of the Ba'al Shem Tov. [Vienna], published by M. Hickel, Adria printing press. [circa 1918-1919].
Specifications: [1] printed leaf, 18x25 cm. Alfasi, Chassidut, 1 394-395. Wunder, Galicia 4 653-658.
Unique Features: The amulet contains verses and prayers, with an amulet from the Ari which saved Jews from an epidemic, with instructions in Yiddish from... who beseeches for the entire Jewish people and longs for redemption...
Printed with no year and place of printing. It can be understood from the details of the printer and printing house that it was printed in Vienna in 1918-1919. It is well known that the Rebbe Rabbi Baruch Pinchas Rabinowitz prayed extensively and performed penances during the First World War.
Background: The Rebbe Rabbi Baruch Pinchas Rabinowitz of Skolye [1874-1920] was one of the Rebbes of the most distinguished lineage, the grandson of the Ba'al Shem Tov and grandson of many Rebbes and righteous men of previous generations. He was the son-in-law of the Rebbe Rabbi Asher Yeshayah Rubin of Kolbasov. During the First World War he moved to Vienna. He wrote many books, among them: Imrei Baruch, Divrei Baruch, Tal Orot. He was known to deal with segulot, but the leaf before us has never been recorded.
Condition: Fine-very fine. A few aging stains. Tiny tears in the margins.
Tifteh Aruch - a poem about chibut hakever and the punishments of hell, in 185 verses, by the Kabbalist Rabbi Moshe Zakut.
Eden Aruch - A poem about the Garden of Eden in 277 verses, by Rabbi Yaakov Daniel Olmo.
Specifications: [2], 13; [3], 24, [1] leaves. 24 cm. Two title pages. Vinogard, Venice 1836.
Unique Features: An uncommon book. The book Tifteh Aruch has an explanation of the words and a commentary, by Rabbi Aviad Sar Shalom Basilea. With 'permission' from the sages of Venice, in Hebrew and Italian. The book Eden Aruch has a special title page. On the last leaf: From the words of the author Rabbi Moshe Zakut, in the introduction to the Tikkunei HaShovavim, which discuss repentance.
Condition: Fine. Aging stains. A few worming holes. Old, original leather binding with a damaged spine.
Volume with three kabbalistic works printed in Korzec:
* Sha'arei Tzedek by Rabbi Yosef Gikatilla . Korzec, 1785.
Specifications: 43 leaves, 18 cm.
* Sefer HaNikud by Rabbi Yosef Gikatilla. [Korzec, 1785?].
Specifications: 12 leaves, 18 cm. Printed without title page. Rare.
* Sod Hashem, kabbala according to the Arizal. [Korzec, 1784].
Specifications: 10 leaves, 18 cm. Printed without title page. Rare.
Unique features: These small works are very rare.
Bound with: Shomer Emunim by Rabbi Yosef Irgas. Zolkiew [1756]. Mispaginated. Kabbalistic glosses in an early Ashkeanzic hand.
Condition: Moderate. Worming holes. Not bound.
A segulah coin given out by the righteous man, the Kabbalist Rabbi Avraham Yechiel Fisch, with his signature.
Specifications: Coin wrapped in paper bearing the signature "Fisch Avraham." 2x4 cm. Nicely framed and matted.
Background: Rabbi Avraham Yechiel Fisch (d. August 25, 1998), "The Holy Floor Layer", was born in the village of Tarnow, Galicia and studied with the Rebbes of Stutchin and Ropshitz. He was miraculously saved during the Holocaust: The house suddenly became dark when the Germans were about to shoot him, and he managed to escape through the window. Holocaust survivors related that anyone who stayed near Rabbi Avraham Fisch was saved. Rabbi Avraham Fisch was a hidden righteous man - "tzaddik nistar" - for most of his life, and concealed himself with the guise of a simple construction worker. Rabbi Avraham belonged to the group of hidden righteous men who studied from the "Holy Shoemaker" - Rabbi Moshe Yaakov Ravikov. Before his death, the Baba Sali revealed to his close disciples that Rabbi Avraham Fisch from Tel Aviv would be his successor in bringing blessings and salvations to the Jewish people. The hidden righteous man, Rabbi Mendel of Bnei Brak testified that Rabbi Avraham was the leader of the 36 hidden righteous men.
Condition: Very fine.