Chamishah Sefarim Niftachim. Five books bound together, with separate title pages: Torat Chatat by the Ram"a; Minchat Yaakov, Torat HaMinchah V'HaShelamim; Solet LeMinchah; Vikuach Mayim Chaim by the Mahara"l's brother; and Torat Moshe by Rabbi Yosef Shaul Notenhausen.

On the page preceding the title page, there is a handwritten notation in the gaon Rabbi Shmuel Jaffe Margaliot's handwriting that the book belonged to his father: "שייך לאאמו"ר להגמהר"י מרגלי' יפה אבדק"ק ראג"ד." With the gaon Rabbi Shmuel Jaffe Margaliot's owner's stamp.

Rabbi Shmuel Jaffe Margaliot Schlesinger [1881-1938] was born to his father Rabbi Moshe Leib Yosef Jaffe Margaliot Schlesinger, rabbi of Rogendorf, author of Mili D'Avot. He was rabbinically ordained by his grandfather Yaakov Koppel Reich of Budapest. He served as Av Beit Din of Aranyosmaróth starting in 1907. He was a disciple of the authors of Shevet Sofer and Da'at Sofer.

62; 33; [7] leaves. 28 cm.

Fine condition. Wear on binding.

* Mishnah Berurah Part I. Onterhandler Press, Warsaw, 1896. [The title page lists the year of publication as 1884, but the page after it has the authorization from the censor dated 1896.] The word "מוגה" is handwritten in pencil by the author twice(!) on the leaf before the title page and on the flyleaf.

* Mishnah Berurah Part III. Strerotipi Press, Pietrkov, 1907. The word "מוגה" is written on the leaf before the title page. Does not appear in the National Library nor in the Vinograd CD.

The "Chafetz Chaim," out of concern for theft or fraud, would meticulously check for printing errors in all books to be sold. Each checked book would be marked "מוגה." Many of these notations have disappeared over the years due to re-binding or erasures.

Overall fine condition. Original bindings.

Stamps on the title page: Rabbi Moshe Finkel, son of Rabbi Natan Tzvi Finkel, the 'Alter of Slabodka,' a rabbi at the Slabodka and Hebron yeshivahs,.

The Gaon Rabbi Yitzchak Blazer [1837-1907] was one of the first members of the Mussar movement, one of the greatest disciples of Rabbi Yisrael of Salant. He served as a rabbi in Petersburg and later returned to Kovno and founded Mussar institutions there. Afterwards, he was a partner in the establishment of the Novhardok Yeshivah and used to visit the large Mussar yeshivahs of Litaf Kelm, Novhardok and Slabodka and guide the students there in the Mussar doctrine. Towards the end of his life, he immigrated to the Land of Israel and lived in the Mussrara neighborhood, where he passed away.

The Gaon Rabbi Natan Tzvi Finkel, the 'Alter of Slabodka' [1849-1927], was the founder of the Knesset Yisrael yeshivah in Slabodka and in Hebron and one of the leaders of the Mussar Movement in Eastern Europe. He was one of the leading rosh yeshivahs in Lithuania and in the Land of Israel.

In 1897, a dispute erupted in Slabodka between the supporters of the Mussar doctrine and those opposing it. Against the backdrop of this dispute, Rabbi Finkel left the yeshivah and established, together with several disciples, another yeshivah in Slabodka. The dispute was a bitter one and was even deliberated by the local Beit Din.

There are many handwritten comments inside the book by the 'Alter of Slabodka' or one of his disciples. The comments in the book reflect the heated disagreement between the two doctrines of Mussar: while the gaon Rabbi Yitzchak Blazer supported the Novhardok method of 'The insignificance of man' and serving G-d by fearing punishment, the Alter of Slabodka supported the method of 'The significance of man' and serving G-d from awe, which was expressed by the modern attire of his disciples.

The She'erit Yisrael compilation by the gaon Rabbi Yisrael Kolmishki is bound at the end of the book; it is homilies and commentary on various sayings of the Sages. Vilna, (1904). 

184, 48 pages, 23 cm. 

Fine condition. Aging stains and faded leaves, not quite detached binding.