Auction No. 102
Holy books, Chassidut, Manuscripts, Rabbinical & Admors' letters, Eretz Yisrael & Zionism, Americana, Judiaca & Prof. Albert Einstein
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The works of the sage and kabbalist Rabbi Yosef Shlomo Delmedigo, compiled by Rabbi Shmuel Ashkenazi. Bassialia [actually: Hanau], [1629-1631]. All the parts printed. First edition with the rare leaf.
Specifications: [1], 10; 110; [8], 208, [1] folded leaf, 18 cm.
Background: The book was printed soon after the passing of the author, sage, doctor and kabbalist Rabbi Yosef Shlomo of Kandia also known as HaYashar of Kandia. Most of the works are connected to kabbalistic matters: the book contains two main books: a general title page, partially in Latin. Title page for Bechinat HaDat, title page for Metzaref L'Chochma and Novelot Chochma [part one], and a title page for part of Novelot Chochma and Novelot Orah.
The complete book before us contains: Bechinat HaDat, Metzaref L'Chochma, Shivchei HaAri, Olam Katan, Olam B'Tikkun, Shever Yosef, Kabbalat Mahari Sarug, Iggeret HaRamban L'Hitnatzlut Sefer HaMoreh, Ketavim, Iggeret Teiman, Ma'amar Techiyat HaMeitim. And at the end of part two: Otiot L'Rabbeinu Sa'adyah, Koach Hashem.
Unique Features: Between page 195 and 196 is a folded leaf: pictures to understand the worlds and the faces. At the top of the leaf: Olam HaAtzilut; Atika Kadisha, Abba, Imma, Zo"n, Olam HaBeriah. This leaf is rare, refer to Rosenthal Yodeah Sefer page 257 who wrote that his copy does not have this leaf. However, in the copy before us, as in most known copies, does not have the leaf with Luach HaMalbush etc.
A few handwritten comments.
Condition: Fine. Aging stains. Old semi-leather binding.
Commentary on the Five Megillot in the 'Pardes' approach, by Rabbi Yosef son of Rabbi Dov Ber, Rabbi of Liškiava. [Sklow], 1797.
Specifications: 46, 30 leaves, 32 cm. First edition.
Unique Features: With the text of the Five Megillot. The author was a kabbalist and most of the work is kabbalistic. General approbation with the names of many rabbis who gave their approbations to another one of the author's books, Ateret Yosef, on the title page. Approbations given to this book are on the rear side of the title page. Additional title-type page for the books of Ruth, Esther and Eicha.
Uncommon book.
Condition: Moderate-fine. Aging stains. Blemishes on the title page. Simple binding.
Early kabbalistic work about name combinations and vowels, by Rabbi Avraham of Rimon HaSefaradi. Amsterdam, 1648.
Specifications: 40 leaves, 18.5 cm. First edition.
Background: First edition of a kabbalistic book by one of the Rishonim who was a student of the Ramban. On the title page it is written that the Ari praised the author extensively, as well as the attribution of the book to the author. It is known that the great chassidic teachers saw this book as extremely significant, and the Ba'al Shem Tov himself is quoted as having used this book in his teachings.
Unique Features: Leaves 18-19 contain the first place that the segulah of the ninth hour of the ninth day of the ninth month - 9th Kislev is brought, a segulah which has become very prevalent in recent years.
Condition: Fine. Professional restoration in the margins of the title page. Aging stains. Minimal worming holes. New binding.
The Five Books of the Torah with translations and with the commentary 'Ketoret HaSamim' on the translations in the kabbalistic approach, by Rabbi Mordechai son of Rabbi Naftali Hirsch of Kuzmir. Amsterdam, 1671. Rare book printed over several years.
Specifications: 92; 77 leaves. 28 cm. Only edition.
Background: The Five Books of the Torah with Targum Yonatan and Targum Yerushalmi, with a commentary on the two translations and on Targum Onkelos. The Torah was printed in tiny vowelized letters with cantillation, the translations in block letters without vowels, and the commentary is printed on the bottom part of the leaf. The author, who is known as 'The Leader of the Darshanim', prepared the book for print and received many approbations at the beginning of the printing in 1647 from the great rabbis of his generation, including Rabbi Yeshaya Horowitz - the Shelah, the Council of Four Lands and many more. The date of printing on the title page is 1671, and on the colophon on page 92: 1677. The author passed away during the printing, and the printer, Uri Feivish HaLevi of Amsterdam writes about the great efforts he exerted to print the book after the author's death. The book was proofread by Yekutiel Blitz, the famous proofreader from Amsterdam. The author wrote an elegy on the martyrs of the 1648 massacres.
Unique Features: Extraordinarily rare book.
Condition: Moderate-fine. Minimal reinforcements and tears without lack. Tear on the last leaf with damage to a number of words. Aging stains. New binding.
Commentary on the book of the Zohar on Vayikra, edited by Rabbi Avraham Azoulay. Salonica, 1842. Especially rare book.
Specifications: [2] 114 leaves, 28 cm. Printing was not completed. Large kabbalistic sketch.
Content: Commentary on the book of the Zohar which is a summary of the words of Rabbi Moshe Cordovero - the Ramak, and Rabbi Chaim Vital. Written by the famous kabbalist Rabbi Avraham Azoulay [1570-1645] who immigrated to Israel and settled in Hebron. Author of Chessed L'Avraham, the great grandfather of Rabbi Yosef Chaim Azoulay - the Chida. It is written in the introduction that the manuscript was in the possession of Rabbi Nissim Zarchia Azoulay from Safed, who tried to print it but passed away before the printing. Rabbi Nissim Zarchia Azoulay was the Chida's grandson, who immigrated to Israel, settled in Safed and was killed in the earthquake of 1837.
Unique Features: Due to lack of funds, only the work on the book of Vayikra was printed, but the printing was not completed, and the copy before us contains all that was printed. Additionally, many of the copies were burned in a fire in Salonica.
Gerhsom Scholem wrote about the book: Extremely unusually rare. To the best of our knowledge, the book has not been up for auction in recent decades.
Condition: Very fine. Minimal aging stains. Original reinforced binding.
Sefer Karnayim with the commentary Dan Yadin by Rabbi Shimshon of Ostropol, and with the commentary 'Parshat Eliezer' by Rabbi Eliezer Fischel [of Strzyżów]. Zhitomir, [1805].
Specifications: [1], 50 leaves, 20 cm. Kabbalistic diagram on the last leaf.
Unique Features: Rare book, especially complete. The kabbalah researcher, Gershom Scholem, wrote: This edition is extremely rare and I have not seen complete copies for 20 years.
The first edition of the commentary of the kabbalist and preacher Rabbi Eliezer Fischel of Strzyżów [1740-1811]. For information about him, refer to: Wunder, Galicia, a, 211-212.
Condition: Fine. Aging stains. Minimal worming holes. Simple binding.
Sefer Karnayim. Kabbalistic book with the commentary Dan Yadin by Rabbi Shimshon of Ostropol. Amsterdam, 1765.
Specifications: [3] 25 leaves, 19 cm. The colophon mentions the workers: Shimon son of Gedaliah from the family of Avraham Avinu, Yaakov son of Gedaliah from the family of Avraham Avinu and Yosef son of Yitzchak from the family of Avraham Avinu, all converts from Amsterdam.
Background: Second edition with additions. Approbation of Rabbi Shaul of Amsterdam, which was given to this edition. With Likutei Shoshanim which was later printed on its own.
Condition: Very fine. Not bound.
Or Yisrael. Kabbalah by Rabbi Yisrael Yaffe Rabbi of Shklov. Frankfurt on the Oder. 1702.
Specifications: [1] 7, 187 leaves, 32 cm. Sketches. With the rare leaf. Only edition.
Background: Large kabbalistic work. The first part is on aggadot and Tehillim, the second part is on the entire Orach Chaim section of the Shulchan Aruch. With many approbations. Especially magnificent woodcut on the title page, with the artist's signature. It was claimed that parts of the book have Sabbatean leanings. Some people destroyed the book, so it is rare.
Unique Features: In most copies of the book, page 7 is missing [after the author's foreword]. This leaf contains the approbation of Rabbi Naftali Katz, which was given two weeks after the printing was completed, with the date 27 Tishrei [October 15], 1702. The author writes that he is adding an extra leaf after the completion of printing in honor of the approbation, and also adds his own Torah thought afterwards.
Condition: Moderate-fine. Minimal worming holes and aging stains. Tear with lack of text on page 22. New binding.
Explanation of words of the Zohar, with something of a short commentary, by Rabbi Yissachar Ber son of Moshe Petachyah of Kremnitz. Prague, [1610]. First Edition. Especially rare book.
Specifications: 44 leaves, 19 cm. Ginzei Yisrael 1080.
Unique Features: The author was a well-known kabbalist who wrote a number of known works on kabbalah, among them, Mekor Chochmah, Yesh Sachar. The book was printed during the lifetime of the author, with an introduction by him, and with a poem he wrote and an explanation for the poem. These explanations were later printed as well in a number of editions of the Zohar.
On leaf 4: Poem and praise for the Rashb"i brought from the Holy Land, which is the song Bar Yochai by Rabbi Shimon Lavi, which was printed here long before it was printed in his book Ketem Paz.
Condition: Leather binding. Very fine condition.
Works on kabbalah, with wording for amulets, by Rabbi Yehuda Leibush Rapaport. Lemberg, 1855.
Specifications: [2], 44, 47-58 leaves, 22 cm. Thick paper.
Unique Features: Some of the works were printed here for the first time. On the title page: Part One, but no more were printed. With kabbalistic diagrams and photographs of amulets. A large picture of an amulet against plague from the Ari is on page 32.
Copy on thick, pleasant paper, unlike most of the copies, as noted by Gershom Shalom.
Condition: Very fine.
Et HaZamir. Piyutim for weekdays and festivals, according to kabbalah, by the kabbalist Rabbi Binyamin HaCohen of Reggio [the Ravach]. Venice, 1707.
Specifications: 24 leaves, 16 cm. First edition.
Unique Features: 26 piyutim according to the numerical value of G-d's name, with a kabbalistic approach. The piyutim are in vowelized letters, with a magnificent title page.
Background: The author Rabbi Binyamin HaCohen Vitali of Reggio, also known as the Ravach, was one of the foremost Italian kabbalists and primary disciple of Rabbi Moshe Zakut - the Remaz. The book was brought to print by his son-in-law Rabbi Yeshayahu Bassan, with a foreword and conclusion by him. Rabbi Yeshayahu Bassan was also a disciple of the Remaz, and was the Ramchal's father-in-law.
Condition: Fine-very fine. Aging stains. Old cardboard binding.