Auction No. 102
Holy books, Chassidut, Manuscripts, Rabbinical & Admors' letters, Eretz Yisrael & Zionism, Americana, Judiaca & Prof. Albert Einstein
- (-) Remove Books By The Vilna Gaon & His Disciples filter Books By The Vilna Gaon & His Disciples
- (-) Remove Books By The Vilna Gaon & His Disciples filter Books By The Vilna Gaon & His Disciples
Api Ravrevi. Shulchan Aruch, Even HaEzer with the Beit Shmuel and Chelkat Michokek with Biur HaGra. Vilna and Grodno. [1819].
Specifications: [4] pages, 5-61; [188] leaves. 33 cm. Part of it is printed on blue paper.
Background: The Biur HaGra on Shulchan Aruch, Even HaEzer was first printed seven years before this work. However, only a small section was printed, through siman 25, and it was printed without the other commentaries. Printing was terminated because of the Napoleonic Wars. When the printing was restarted, the Biur HaGra was printed with additional commentaries, from the beginning of Shulchan Aruch through the end. It was printed in a format that allowed those who owned what was previously printed to complete the work. There are variants of this edition. This copy is the third type, listed in Otzar Sifrei HaGra by Yeshayahu Vinograd, 755. Refer to: Ch. Leiberman, Ohel Rach"l, New York, 1981. p. 389-400.
Condition: Fine-very fine. Minimal holes in the white margins. Old faded binding.
* Aderet Eliyahu. The Vilna Gaon's commentary on the Torah. Halberstadt [1859-1860].
[1], 128 leaves. The commentary was printed for the first time in the Mikraot Gedolot printed in Dubrowno in 1804, and was printed here as a book on its own for the first time. Vinograd, Sifrei HaGra 2.
* Yahel Or - Hadrat Kodesh, commentary on the Zohar, the heichalot and the ra'ayah mehaymana, as well as on the Zohar Chadash, by the Vilna Gaon. Vilna, 1882, first edition.
[4], 60; 80; 74 pages. Without Nefesh David. Ownership stamps. Vinograd, Sifrei HaGra 677.
* Toldot Adam. Biography of Rabbi Shlomo Zalman son of Rabbi Yitzchak of Vilna [brother of Rabbi Chaim of Volozhin], including words of mussar and Torah novellae. Warsaw, 1857.
87 leaves. Vinograd, Sifrei HaGra 1513.
* Dvar Eliyahu. Commentary on the book of Iyov by Rabbi Eliyahu of Vilna - the Vilna Gaon. Warsaw, 1857. Vinograd, Sifrei HaGra 112.
* Se'arat Eliyahu. Biography of the Vilna Gaon, stories and facts and unknown Torah thoughts from him, written by Rabbi Avraham son of the Vilna Gaon. Printed for the first time from his manuscript. Contains a 'letter' from Rabbi Yehuda Epstein, student of Rabbi Chaim of Volozhin, with unknown teachings from the Vilna Gaon which he heard from his teacher Rabbi Chaim. Warsaw 1877.
54 pages, last page is missing. Vinograd, Sifrei HaGra 1360.
Fine overall condition.
Kidmot Sefer HaZoher, proofs that the Zohar was written by Rabbi Shimon Bar Yochai and his colleagues, by Rabbi David Luria, with the book Kinah L'David which tells of Rabbi David Luria. [Königsberg] 1856. First Edition. Rare book.
Specifications: [2] 36; 8 leaves, dedicated title page for Kinah L'David, 21 cm.
Background: First edition of the important work written against those who held that Rabbi Moshe di Leon is the author of the Zohar. The book was written by Rabbi David Luria [the RD"L] who was one of the leaders of his generation, and was printed by his relative, the grandson of his uncle, Rabbi Shmuel Luria. With Kaneh L'David, the book about the author by Rabbi Yechiel Heller, renowned rabbi of Suvalkai. The last page is title-like, printed with the name of the printer, Shmuel Luria.
Rabbi Shmuel Luria writes that the author requested that he advance the printing of this book before the printing of his other books due to its necessity. He also writes that this edition sold out quickly as many jumped at it.
Condition: Fine. Aging stains. Dismantled binding.
Controversy and evidence regarding the authenticity of the Zohar, by [Rabbi Yitzchak Chaver]. [Kingsburgh or Johannesburg? 1855].
Specifications: [1] 64, 64-78 leaves, 18 cm. First edition.
Contents: Polemic book printed with neither the name of the author nor the location of printing. "As printed in Amsterdam" is written on the title page.
Unique features: The GR"A's compilation on tzimtzum is printed on page 63. The 1848 incident of the dybbuk of Stalawitz, which is next to Novarhodok, is printed on page 35. This story was printed as a booklet in 1908 with the name Maaseh Norah, which was hinted to in Magen V'Tzinah by the kabbalistic genius Rabbi Yitzchak Eizik [Chaver] z"l. Important, uncommon book.
Background: The author is the gaon and kabbalist Rabbi Yitzchak Eizik Chaver, who defends the authenticity of the Zohar and came out against the book Ari Nohem. With a booklet of explanation of the foundations of kabbalah by Rabbi Moshe Chaim Luzzato. The author was a student of Menachem Mendel of Shklov, a student of the Vilna Gaon - the GR"A, and in the introduction he writes that his words are as he received them from his rabbi, who received them from the GR"A.
Condition: Fine. Aging stains. Partial old leather binding.
Sefer Yetzira with the commentaries of the Raavad, Rabbi Sa'adya Gaon, the Ramban, HaRokeach, Rabbi Moshe Butril and with the commentary of the Vilna Gaon, brought to print by his student Rabbi Menachem Mendel of Shklov. First edition. Grodno, 1806.
Specifications: [2], 42, [30] leaves. 20 cm. Kabbalistic charts and diagrams. Vinograd, Otzar Sifrei HaGra 682.
Unique Features: The Vilna Gaon's first book of kabbalah printed. Brought to print by his well known disciple Rabbi Menachem Mendel of Shklov, who later immigrated to the Land of Israel and settled in Safed, and afterwards established the Ashkenazic settlement in Jerusalem. Handwritten kabbalistic comments.
Condition: Moderate. Tears on the first two leaves and the last four leaves with damage to text. Worming holes and stains. New binding.
* Seder Zemanim. A work about the time bound laws and commandments, by Rabbi Yitzchak Isaac [Chaver] from Tykocin, with additions from his son Rabbi Yosef. Warsaw, 1844.
Specifications: 36 leaves, 19 cm. First edition.
Background: The author Rabbi Yitzchak Isaac Chaver, a disciple of Rabbi Menachem Mendel of Shklov, the disciple of the Vilna Gaon. He quotes the Vilna Gaon extensively in this work, referring to him as "Rabbenu HaGadol," and discusses his teachings. He served as rabbi of several congregations in Lithuania, and wrote the books Beit Yitzchak, Yad Mitzrayim, the responsa Binyan Olam and more.
* Sha'ar Yosef. Homilies on prayer and more, by Rabbi Yosef son of Rabbi Yitzchak Isaac [Chaver], [Johannesburg], 1852.
Specifications: 66 leaves, 21 cm.
Unique Features: Only edition. Two parts, a title page for each part. With the second part, Matteh Yosef - Chotam Tochnit, sermons for the festivals.
Background: The author is the son of Rabbi Yitzchak Isaac of Tykocin, he served as rabbi of several congregations and was a famous preacher. He also wrote Zeroa Netuya on the Pesach Haggadah and other books.
Condition: Very fine, minimal aging stains. Both books are not bound.
Tractate Sofrim with the glosses of Rabbi Eliyahu of Vilna [the Vilna Gaon] and with Mikra Sofrim and Itur Sofrim by Rabbi Yitzchak Eliyahu Landau of Vilna. Suwalki, 1862. Special copy.
Specifications: [2], 40 leaves, 35 cm. Two title pages. Vinograd, Sifrei HaGra 367.
Content: Tractate Sofrim with the commentary Mikra Sofrim, to explain the simple meaning of the articles. And Itur Sofrim, to explain the novellae.
Unique Features: Bibliographically unknown additional title-page cover, printed on pink paper, before the title page, on which it is written that the book was printed in Warsaw (!). Likewise, an additional pink leaf with the printer's comments is at the end of the book. Several handwritten glosses.
Condition: Very fine. Simple binding.
Pe'at HaShulchan. Laws of Eretz Yisrael. Compiled from the literature of the Tanaim and Rishonim. Based on the Seder Zeraim of the Vilna Gaon and his method in halachah. By Rabbi Yisrael of Sklow. Safed, at the press of Yisrael Beck. [1836], first edition.
Specifications: [5], 2-109, [1] leaf. 29.5 cm.
Approbations from the rabbis of Jerusalem, Safed, Tiberias, Damascus, and Baghdad. Approbation from Rabbi Moshe Sofer of Pressburg, Rabbi Avraham Avli Posvoler, Av Beit Din of Vilna, and others.
The work opens with Rabbi Yisrael of Sklow's historic introduction: a biography of his rabbi, the Vilna Gaon. He relates the tragic story of the perushim's immigration to Eretz Yisrael after the passing of the Vilna Gaon and the terrible travails they underwent. This introduction is the basis for the historical documentation of the Vilna Gaon and the immigration of the perushim.
This was one of the first seven works printed by Rabbi Yisrael Beck in Eretz Yisrael (Safed). Printing took over three years, from 1833 through 1836, because of the riots and plunder in Safed in 1834. In his introduction, Rabbi Yisrael of Sklow details the events and tells about the destruction of the press by the rebels.
Refer to: Shoshana HaLevi, Sifrei Yerushalayim HaRishonim. 1976, p 19, comment 28; Shoshana Halevi, Reishito shel HaDefus, Parshiot Bereishit, 1989, p. 54; Meir Binayahu, Beit Defuso shel Yisrael Beck B'Tzefat, 1966 p. 275.
Condition: Simple binding. The margins of the title page and first and last few pages have been professionally repaired, without loss of text. Aging stains. Fine condition.