Auction No. 102
Holy books, Chassidut, Manuscripts, Rabbinical & Admors' letters, Eretz Yisrael & Zionism, Americana, Judiaca & Prof. Albert Einstein
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Large collection of notices, posters and various publications, Safed, 1918-1926, most regarding the elections for the Safed City Committee.
Specifications: Many dozens of historical documents, among them letters with signatures and stamps.
Background: After the British conquered the Land of Israel in 1919, a revival developed throughout Israel to establish city committees to represent the entire Jewish community, which had not previously existed, and a polemic in favor of and opposing the elections began, at the center of which was the question of women's right to vote and to be elected.
Content: Notices from the 'Elections Committee' about the right and obligation to vote and make an impact, a complete voters' registry, lists of candidates from the various parties. Notice from Rabbi Avraham Yitzchak Kook forbidding participation in the elections "until the law sending women to be elected" is cancelled, immediately followed by a denial by the 'Mizrachi', and another poster from the members of the Mizrachi (!) in Safed calling to boycott the elections due to the participation of women. Joint notice from the Ashkenazic and Sephardic Beit Dins forbidding the elections, as well as a notice calling the residents of Safed to "Use all of your influence with wives, daughters and sisters not to support lists with female candidates, because female candidacy a. causes disgrace to the the Safed community and b. offends their husbands, parents etc., and those who permit themselves to take part in the elections despite the spirit of the Ultra Orthodox, should at least only support the lists in which the candidates are male."
In addition, a collection of notices from 1919 to the heads of Arab villages calling for them to give in all weapons and other items which belonged to the Turks to the military government, for which they will be rewarded with 50 grush, in addition, informers will be rewarded and are guaranteed confidentiality and evaders will be punished severely, and even exiled to Egypt. Marriage registration certificates in captured enemy territory and more.
Condition: Very fine.
Collection of printed documents of 'Maran HaChafetz Chaim - Rabbi Yisrael Meir HaCohen of Radin'. Lithuania - England - New York. 1898-1954. Breathtaking and moving.
Specifications: Some 19 different items, among them posters, booklets and various documents from the lifetime and following the death of the 'Chafetz Chaim,' including receipts from the 'Chafetz Chaim' yeshiva in Radin, one of which is stamped with the stamp of the Chafetz Chaim himself (as opposed to the other receipts from the yeshiva which are stamped with the yeshiva's stamp), with printed blessings in Yiddish, wishing blessing and success in all matters.
Content: Articles, recommendations, advertisements about his books and a number of public declarations to the entire Jewish diaspora about current events, some of them were published in the books Iggerot Chafetz Chaim and other books and some were never published. An additional part of the collection is connected to the Radin yeshiva, which was an integral part of the Chafetz Chaim's life, for example: a letter of recommendation for the yeshiva from the Chafetz Chaim, written in 1931, with an English translation: "Those travelling are my friend Rabbi Moshe Landinsky and my wife's son-in-law Rabbi Hillel Ginsburg." Rabbi Moshe Ladinsky went on this journey at the Chafetz Chaim's request, despite being elderly and deathly ill, and despite being known as such an expert in the entire oral Torah. Despite all this, he travelled only in order to save the yeshiva from collapse. We also have a complete receipt book from this journey, from serial number 14552 to no. 14600, the first 19 receipts were filled out and given to donors but the stubs still exist with the names and addresses of the donors and the sum of their donation filled out, followed by empty receipts stamped with the stamp of the Radin yeshiva. On the stub of receipt no. 14572 are the words "Machzikei HaDat, Hillel." It seems that the writer is the Chafetz Chaim's second wife's son-in-law from her first marriage, Rabbi Hillel Ginsburg, who was one of the Chafetz Chaim's close assistants and one of the directors of the Radin yeshiva. The second writer appears to be Rabbi Moshe Ladinsky, as can be seen from the letter of recommendation.
Unique Features: Despite the fierce battle which the Chafetz Chaim waged against secular studies in yeshivot, before us is the wording of an E-l Maleh Rachamim prayer written by Dr. Chaim Brody of Berlin, who encouraged secular studies in yeshivot, in which he writes: "Our dear one was taken to death, our crown has fallen to the ground, our flock is without a leader, there is no-one to block up the hole in our fence, woe is to us, our despair is as great as the sea!"
Condition: Very fine overall condition.
Printed leaf with a colored illustration and congratulations to a bride and groom from the administration of the Talmud Torah community school in Vienna. Vienna, 01.1934.
Specifications: [1] leaf, paper. 30x22 cm. The name of the event and the names of the engaged couple and the date were written in a scribal handwriting in black and gold with the addition of decorations in red. "The Talmud Torah public school in Vienna extend their heartiest congratulations in the celebration of the engagement of Miss Leah Lavigne to Mr. Robert Fealher." The signature of Rabbi Yoel Golan [?] appears at the bottom of the leaf.
Unique features: The administration of the Talmud Torah in Vienna printed this colored leaf to distribute as a gift to engaged couples. The illustration depicts a canopy looking out towards the sea with a border of cherubs and flowers. To the best of our knowledge, this leaf is unknown bibliographically and is not in the National Library.
Condition: Fine. Aging stains, light wear at the edges, fold mark.
Rare artistic engraving marking the 100th anniversary of the Hachnasat Kalla Society. Gailingen [Southern Germany, near the Swiss border], 1931.
Specifications: [1] leaf, paper. Thick paper. 27x20 cm. Hebrew and German. Black and white. The bride and groom and the one arranging the chuppah were colored by hand.
Unique features: Jewish canopy at center. The upper section features the year that the society was founded [1831] and its 100th anniversary [1931], flanked by the Luchot, and the Hebrew text "On the 100th anniversary of the Hachnasat Kalla Society" and the verse "Kol Sasson V'Kol Simcha ...." On the bottom of the leaf is a German caption describing the festive 100th anniversary celebration; the date Tevet, 1931; the location [Gailingen]; the artist [Yosef Wallersteiner]; and the publishers of the document [Administrative Committee of the Hachnasat Kalla Society].
Not in the National Library.
Yosef Wallersteiner [1911-2001] immigrated to Israel from South Germany. From the end of the 1930s through the 1960s, he and his brothers created metal artwork in their family business "HaKishut Wallersteiner." His expertise was in reliefs. This is one of his earlier works, made while he was still in Germany.
Condition: Fine. Restored light tear in the blank margins. Aging stains.
Colored printed yartzheit board. Joseph Schlessinger printing press. Budapest, early 1930's.
Specifications: [1] leaf, paper, 38x28 cm. Colored printing in gold, green and black.
Description: The name of the deceased and the date of his passing were filled out in stylized handwriting in black and red in the middle of the page. Yehoshia HaCohen, Samuel Pollack, died in 1932, with the dates of his yartzheit according to the Gregorian calendar until 1978. The Gregorian dates on which the yartzheit fell in 1933-1978 were filled out by pen in charts on both sides of the page.
Condition: Fine. Framed in an old frame.
"Mizrach" - leaf in lithographic print, Alsace - 19th century.
Description: [1] paper leaf stuck onto a base: 34x25 cm. In a glass and wood frame: 42x33 cm. Illustrations depicting Biblical scenes: In the center is Yirmiyahu lamenting the destruction of the Temple with Jerusalem in ruins in the background, with angels on the right and left. The scene of the striking of the rock and the wisdom of Solomon is on the right page. The binding of Yitzchak and the blessings of Yaakov are on the left page. An illustration of the Tablets of the Covenant and the verse: "And I dwelled within the People of Israel" are at the top.
Condition: Moderate. Creases and tears in the right and left margins.
Poem on the occasion of the induction of Rabbi Chananya Yom Tov Lipa Mayer [the Admor of Sassov] as Rabbi of Bűdszentmihály. 1931.
Specifications: [1] leaf, 21x34 cm.
Unique Features: Bibliographically unknown. The Bűdszentmihály community in northeast Hungary searched for a rabbi for over a year after the death of Rabbi Shimon Greenfeld, and Rabbi Chananya Yom Tov Lipa was chosen to serve as the rabbi of the community. Before us is a long poem, with the acrostic: Rabbi Chananya Yom Tov Lipa Shlit"a, mazal tov, yechi adoneinu u'moreinu. The poem was written on the occasion of the reception for the rabbi on 23 Shvat 1931. However, he didn't actually served as rabbi and never lived there. Rare historic poster.
Background: Rabbi Chananya Yom Tov Lipa Mayer, born in 1905 to his father the Admor Rabbi Chanoch Henich of Sassov-Kretsky, and disciple of his uncle the Admor of Sighet, author of Atzei Chaim. He married the daughter of his uncle the Admor Rabbi Yoel Teitelbaum of Satmar. He resided next to his father-in-law and served as a rosh yeshiva and dayan. He survived the Holocaust, remarried, and settled in New York. He later immigrated to Israel and established the 'Kiryat Yismach Moshe' in Kiryat Ono. He passed away in 1966. Author of the book Minchat Yom Tov. His son is the current Admor of Sassov.
Current: Fine. Folding marks and slight tears on the upper margins.
To the buyers of the Talmud ... Printed poster from the famous printers the Widow and the Brothers Romm, regarding a change in the division into volumes of their well-known Talmud which was printed between the years 1880-1886. Vilna, 1883.
Specifications: 44x28 cm. Yellow paper.
Background: The well known printers from Vilna, the Romm family, printed the Talmud from the last edition they had printed, which is the complete edition printed in the years 1880-1886 with all of the commentaries. This edition was known as 'the Vilna Talmud,' and is the basis for dozens of editions throughout the world. In the middle of the printing, in 1883, when they printed tractate Yevamot, due to the printing of additional commentators, the printers decided to make a change and add to the number of volumes they had announced at the beginning of the printing in 1880. In the poster before us, they notify the customers who had subscribed in advance to buy the Talmud, and note that it was agreed that changes and additions may occur.
Unique Features: The poster before us was not listed in the Bibliography of the Hebrew Book, and is not found in the National Library. A 44x28 cm sized title page for tractate Yevamot, printed on yellow paper, is added.
Condition: Fine. Slight tears on the fold marks. The posters were stuck onto reinforcing paper.
Prayer to be recited before studying for those supporting him, and after study, by Rabbi Eliyahu of Greiditz. Jerusalem, at the Bak printing press. 1869.
Specifications: [1] leaf, 20x30 cm. S. HaLevi Sifrei Yerushalayim HaRishonim 152.
Content:, Prayer to be recited before studying on behalf of those who support Torah study in the Land of Israel on the top part of the leaf. A prayer to be recited after study, established by the great Rabbi Eliyahu Av Beit Din of Greiditz, in the bottom section. The prayer was printed during his lifetime. Underneath the prayer are references to sources in the Zohar.
Background: Rabbi Eliyahu Gutmacher, tremendous genius, holy man and kabbalist. Primary student of Rabbi Akiva Eiger. Served as rabbi of Pleszew, and then of Greiditz, by whose name he is known. In his later years he became known as a miracle worker, and was referred to as 'Der Greiditzer Tzaddik,' serving as an "Admor" in Germany. The Admor of Gur, author of the 'Sfat Emet' even asked him for a blessing. He passed away in 1875.
Condition: Very fine. Isolated worming hole.