Auction No. 098
Holy books, Manuscripts, Rabbinical & Admors letters, Americana & Judiaca
- (-) Remove Inscribed books filter Inscribed books
- (-) Remove Inscribed books filter Inscribed books
Aruch HaShulchan on the Shulchan Aruch Choshen Mishpat, section two, from the laws of business (siman 189) through the laws of injury (siman 427) by Rabbi Yechiel Michel HaLevi Epstein, Av Beit Din of Novardok.
Specifications: 532 pages. 23 cm.
Unique features: Author's handwritten inscription on the back of the title page to Rabbi Baruch Asman of Kiev, author of Sug Chomer Sefer Chad V'Chalak (Vilna, 1882). The title page bears R' Baruch's signature.
Background: Rabbi Yechiel Michel Halevi Epstein, author of Aruch HaShulchan, was born in 1829. He studied Torah in the Volozhin Yeshiva with Reb Itzele of Volozhin, and with Rabbi Eliyahu Goldberg, rabbi of his hometown, Babruysk. In 1874, he took up the position as Av Beit Din in Novardok, where he served until his death in 1908. His magnum opus, this massive Aruch HaShulchan on the four sections of the Shulchan Aruch, was accepted as one of the outstanding works of halachic decision. It is the most comprehensive work ever written on the four sections of the Shulchan Aruch. Rabbi Shlomo Bloch testified that "the countenance of the "Aruch HaShulchan" was like the countenance of a king, a person's wisdom lights up his face" (Yeshurun 15, p. 809).
Condition: Fine-very fine. Brittle paper. Original binding.
Responsa and practical halacha, concluding with compilations of lengthy back-and-forth discussions from the author, Rabbi Moshe Sultan, prominent Constantinople rabbi.
Specifications: [2], 126, 8 [3] leaves. 31 cm. First edition. Wide margins. Printed by his nephew, Rabbi Moshe Sultan.
Unique features: The title page bears the handwritten inscription and signature of Rabbi Moshe Chaim Amarillo (1696-1748), Chief Rabbi of Salonica and one of its leading sages.
The leaves of the work bear a number of lengthy glosses in a Sephardic rabbinical hand. Impressive copy with wide margins. Very rare in such fine condition.
Background: Rabbi Moshe Chaim was the son of Rabbi Shlomo Amarillo, author of Kerem Shlomo. He corresponded with the leading Torah sages of his time and received halachic questions from all over the world. His large printed works included Shu"t Devar Moshe, three sections; Halacha L'Moshe on the Rambam, two sections; and Yad Moshe with sermons and eulogies.
In addition to his own works, he arranged, commented and added references and indexes to noted works that were printed in Salonica, such as the Torat Chaim of the Maharch"ash; Eidut B'Yaakov of Mahar"i de Boton; and Torat Chessed of Rabbi Chasdai HaKohen Pirchiya. In approximately 1729, he took ill and was given the added name "Chaim." Before this illness, he signed his name only "Moshe," like in the inscription before us, and the introduction to Eidut B'Yaaakov which is also found in this catalogue (Matzeivot Saloniki, p. 664-666).
Condition: Very fine-excellent. Simple binding.
Novellae and in-depth studies on Tractate Ketubot by Rabbi Akiva Lehren Steinfeld, great-grandson of Rabbi Akiva of Frankfurt.
Specifications: [1], 87, [4] leaves. 32 cm. Only edition. Wide margins.
Unique features: The last page bears an inscription written and signed by the author: "I sent this book to ..Kalman Marbach...to study Akiva Lehren S. P." - he signs this way on his responsa at the end of the book.
Written on the top of the title page: להרב הגאון אב"ד ור"מ בק"ק קובלענץ ואגפיה, this apparently refers to Rabbi Yaakov Katz, author of Shev Yaakov, who was the rabbi of Koblenz before serving in Frankfurt.
The left side of the title page features the owner signature of Itzik Manheim, perhaps the the groom from the famed "Cleves Get"?
Content: The book ends with a sample from his work on Seder Zeraim and responsa. The last responsum is an in-depth study with Rabbi Eliyahu of Lublin, author of Shu"t Yad Eliyahu.
Background: The author studied at the kloiz of Rabbi Asher Lemli, who was his wife's uncle. He started writing this work at the age of twenty. He passed away on the 16th of Iyar, 1731. The "Yizkor" written in the ledger of the Manhem Kloiz notes his death with an enthusiastic description of his personality (Rabbanei Frankfurt, p. 303).
Condition: Very fine.
Fervent sermons and articles [in Yiddish] to bring the hearts of the Jewish people close to their Father in Heaven, by Rabbi Avraham David Lifshitz, Av Beit Din of Bychów.
Specifications: [2], 16 pages. 19 cm.
Background: The author's sermons were printed in a complete book and were also printed booklet by booklet. This is one booklet out of the collection of his sermons.
Unique Features: Binding cover with an approbation from Rabbi Menachem Mendel Zak, Rabbi of Riga.
Enclosed with the book is a letter which the author attached, in which he writes, 'I was a Rabbi in Russia in the city of Bychów...due to the many persecutions and the great poverty I became ill with heart disease and I now live here...".
Condition: Very fine.
Lot 220
"Mele'ah Ketoret". Pressburg, 1872. Dedication and Signature of the Chatam Sofer's Grandsons
Sermons and eulogies by Rabbi Zussman Eliezer Sofer Av Beit Din of Halas.
Unique Features: The signature of Rabbi Simcha Bunim Ehrenfeld, Av Beit Din of Mattersdorf, author of the books Ma'aneh Simcha, is in the center of the title page. [Refer to: HaChatam Sofer V'Talmidav pages 542 and 544].
In addition, there is a dedication and signature in the handwriting of Rabbi David Zvi Ehrenfeld, son of Rabbi Shmuel Ehrenfeld Av Beit Din of Mattersdorf, son of Rabbi David Zvi Ehrenfeld, son-in-law of the Chatam Sofer. Rabbi David Zvi was a respected Torah scholar and head of the community of Šurany, father-in-law of his nephew Rabbi Shmuel Ehrenfeld Av Beit Din of Mattersdorf-Brooklyn.
Bound with the books Sha'arei Kodesh and Toar Moshe. Pressburg, 1872.
Condition: Moderate-fine. Worming holes, primarily in the margins. Blemished binding.
Responsa, research, novellae by Rabbi Bezalel HaKohen of Vilna.
Specifications: [4], 164 pages. Nice copy in excellent condition.
Unique features: Opens with an added, pink dedication leaf printed in 1871, with the name of the person who received the book handwritten by the author.
Background: Rabbi Bezalel HaKohen of Vilna (1820-1878) was among the Vilna geniuses. As a child, he was already noted for his sharp mind. His brother, Rabbi Shlomo HaKohen of Vilna, testified that when he was only eleven years old, he was already an expert in Seder Moed and Nashimin, in-depth. In the year 1843, he took up the position as Rabbi in Vilna and served there for thirty five years. He received questions and requests for approbations from throughout the Diaspora. His comments on the Talmud were printed in the Vilna Talmud.
Condition: Very fine. Simple binding. Colored edges.
Commentaries and novellae on Sefer Yireim of Rabbi Eliezer of Metz by Rabbi Chaim Daniel Shlomo Pinso.
Specifications: [4], 126 [should say: 124] leaves. 29 cm. Sh. Halevi, Sifrei Yerushalayim HaRishon, 15.
Content: Only section one (Amud HaYirah and Amud HaZemanim). A second section was printed at the same time but is not included here.
Unique features: The title page bears an inscription by the author's son, Rabbi Rachami Yisrael Pinso to Rabbi Yaakov Meir Lehren - leader of the Amsterdam community for over thirty years and owner of a prominent personal library. He was a brother of Rabbis Zvi Hirsh and Akiva Lehren.
Condition: Very fine.
Novellae on tractate Archin by Rabbi Yitzchak Ardit and his son Rabbi Shlomo Ardit.
Specifications: [2], 150, 85 leaves. 29 cm. First edition.
Background: The author was one of the great Rabbis of Izmir, he was both a Torah scholar and a wealthy man. He immigrated to Israel and remained there for a short while before returning to his native city of Izmir, where he died in 1812, at the young age of 54. He did not complete his work, and only reached page 21 in the pages of the tractate. The rest was completed by his son who called his novellae 'Pachot She'b'Archin'. At the end is a booklet called 'Shem Shlomo' from the author's son with novellae and sermons by him and sermons by the author.
Unique Features: On the book's title page is an ownership stamp: It was sent to me as a gift by the author's son, the young one Chai Avraham HaLevi - one of the sages of Izmir, the son of Rabbi Mirkado Sa'adya HaLevi author of the book Neveh Tzedek (Salonika, 1841), where some of his novellae and sermons were published (Encyclopedia L'Chachma Turkia page 205).
Condition: Very fine, apart from a few very tiny worming holes at the beginning of the book. Aging stains. Old binding with a scuffed spine.
* Shibolei HaLeket HaShalem. Vilna, 1886.
Unique Features: Signatures and stamps of Rabbi Mordechai Yitzchak Rabinowitz, Ligum-Salant.
Rabbi Mordechai Yitzchak Rabinowitz, [1856-1920], was a disciple of Rabbi Yisrael Salanter and 'The Gadol of Minsk', he was a Rabbi in Ligum, Salant, Kovna and Memel. Author of the responsa and elucidations Da'at Mordechai [Keidan, 1939], Tomer Devorah and Shemen L'Mincha.
* Degel Reuven, responsa, novellae and elucidations, by Rabbi Reuven Katz. Warsaw, 1923.
Unique Features: A handwritten dedication from the author.
Rabbi Reuven Katz [1880-1964], one of the renowned Lithuanian Rabbis, immigrated to Israel in 1932 and served as Rabbi of Petach Tikva and Rosh Yeshiva of the Lomza yeshiva.
Condition: Fine. Original bindings.
Knesset Chachmei Yisrael. A Torah journal with halachic responsa from the great Rabbis of the generation, edited by Rabbi Avraham Yoel Abelson. Booklets 1-8. Author-editor's dedication, and handwritten glosses.
Unique Features: A rare and important anthology, containing responsa from the great Rabbis of the generation, including: Rabbi Yitzchak Elchonon Spektor of Kovno, Rabbi Noach Yitzchak [son of Rabbi Binyamin] Diskin, Rabbi Yisrael Isser Shapiro, Rabbi Alexander Moshe Lapidot, Rabbi Moshe Shmuel Shapiro of Raguva, Rabbi Yosef Levenstien of Serock, Rabbi Eliyahu Akiva Rabinowitz of Pultawa and many others. The responsa deal with practical halachic questions which arose in various countries.
Specification: all of the editions printed in Odessa are before us, including 'Ohalei Shem' which was printed separately and appended to the booklets as booklet 2. Also includes booklet 6, which was divided into 3 parts.
Background: The author lived in Odessa. After a break, the printing moved to Berdichev and Piotrkow, and another two or three booklets were printed there. Includes a thank you to the famous Rabbi and righteous man, Baron Shimon Wolf Rothschild.
Complete copy with all of the title pages printed on different colored paper. There is a dedication from the author-editor who was a well-known Rabbi and Dayan in Odessa, with his stamp, in two editions. Among the issue's leaves are scholarly comments in tiny handwriting.
Condition: Very fine. Nice new binding.