Auction No. 117
Chabad, Amulets and Belongings of Tzaddikim, Kabala & Chassidic books, Slavuta and Zhitomir Prints, Manuscripts and Letters from Rabbis
Exhibition:
Wednesday, September 11
Sunday, September 15
From 12:00 - 7:00 PM
Monday, September 16 from 12:00 - 2:00 PM
- Chabad (22) Apply Chabad filter
- Manuscripts & letters. Oriental (17) Apply Manuscripts & letters. Oriental filter
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- Admors’ Pedigree Copies (6) Apply Admors’ Pedigree Copies filter
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- Glosses, signatures & Dedications (6) Apply Glosses, signatures & Dedications filter
- Kabala books (5) Apply Kabala books filter
Collection comprised of [26] copies of the miniature siddur Tefillat HaDerech, in various bindings and printings.
Siddur Tefillat HaDerech, nusach Edot HaMizrach. Comprised of Shacharit prayers for weekdays and Rosh Chodesh, including Hallel and Mussaf. "Shacharit Service for Weekdays and R"Ch. Small Pocket Format, Djerba."
22 copies: Boaz Haddad
4 copies: Idan, Cohen and Tzaban Press.
[1], 199 leaves, 65 mm. Miniature. Overall fine condition.
Seder Zmirot V'Limud - detailed prayer service printed as a book in its own right on the occasion of construction of the synagogue in Siena, Italy. Arranged by the sages, our rabbi and teacher Yedidiah Levi and Rabbi Yitzchak Chaim di Madinah.
The book includes: chapters of psalms, various verses, a detailed service of the seven hakofot, a prayer which grants salvation to kings and heads of state, and many songs composed by members of the community, with their names noted. There are two introductions by community rabbis at the beginning of the book, which include important historical details about the synagogue construction and those who assisted in its construction.
The inauguration ceremony lasted about five days, from Thursday, Erev Rosh Chodesh Sivan 1786, though Friday and Shabbat, with the central event on Saturday night, continuing through Tuesday evening. The synagogue stands to this day.
88 pp., 21 cm. Each page is surrounded by a decorative border. Fine condition. Aging stains. Not bound.
Especially large-format machzor for prayer leaders, in large letters. With the HaPardes commentary, arranged by R. Moshe Shadil bar Avraham, and supplements by R. Chaim Feurst and R. Elchanan Hendel. Important approbations, among them an approbation by the Yave"tz.
Pair of elegant, impressive machzorim, with a comprehensive commentary, laws and customs. Special copperplate title pages. Illustrations of the Zodiac in the prayers for rain and for dew. Printed on thick, deluxe paper.
* Part I: Prayers for weekdays and the Sabbath, Selichot and prayers from Rosh Chodesh Elul to Yom Kippur.
[4], 202, 134 leaves. Like in many other copies, the leaves of errata at the end do not appear. 32 cm. Original simple binding.
* Part II: Prayers for weekdays and the Sabbath, prayers and Selichot from Sukkot to Shabbat Ekev.
[4], 388 leaves. Without the additional last leaf. 33 cm. Original leather binding with clasps (the lower one is torn). Placed in a matching cardboard slipcase.
Overall fine condition.
Machzor, two volumes. Especially large format for prayer leaders, in large letters. Contains prayers for the annual cycle, weekdays, Shabbat and festivals. With elucidations, commentaries and laws. Per the custom in Poland [Ashkenaz text]. Edited and proofread by Rabbi Zanvil Hanover.
* The first volume contains prayers for weekdays, for Shabbat, Selichot for the entire high holiday period, prayers for Rosh HaShanah and for Yom Kippur, with all the liturgical poems and hymns. Contains the special prayers that were customary in the communities of Ashkenaz.
* The second volume contains all of the Shabbat prayers, prayers for the three pilgrimage festivals, Yotzrot for all the Shabbats of the year - according to the customs of Ashkenaz-Poland - Selichot, prayers for Hannukah, Purim, Shabbat HaGadol, 'Ahavah L'Shabbat Ekev', Yotzrot for circumcisions, and all the special prayers that were the customary in the communities of Ashkenaz.
There are two title pages at the beginning of each volume. The first title page contains a copperplate illustration; the name of the artist is printed on the bottom of the illustration. 'Kuntras Minhagim' appears at the end of each volume, with a clarification of the customs of Ashkenaz.
[5] 390 [should be 380], 34 cm; [5] 430 leaves, 32 cm. Height difference between the volumes.
Overall fine condition. Several leaves in part II are restored with damage to text. Different bindings.
![Set of [5] Machzors. London, 1836. Rare Edition](https://winners-files.s3.eu-central-1.amazonaws.com/styles/gallery-small-thumb/s3/117real-public/210174%20%282%29.jpg?itok=5DeaqZIA)
![Set of [5] Machzors. London, 1836. Rare Edition](https://winners-files.s3.eu-central-1.amazonaws.com/styles/gallery-small-thumb/s3/117real-public/210174%20%283%29.jpg?itok=3-47eg5g)
![Set of [5] Machzors. London, 1836. Rare Edition](https://winners-files.s3.eu-central-1.amazonaws.com/styles/gallery-small-thumb/s3/117real-public/210174%20%284%29.jpg?itok=jAYpbbGR)
![Set of [5] Machzors. London, 1836. Rare Edition](https://winners-files.s3.eu-central-1.amazonaws.com/styles/gallery-small-thumb/s3/117real-public/210174%20%285%29.jpg?itok=Eu7s-xZA)
![Set of [5] Machzors. London, 1836. Rare Edition](https://winners-files.s3.eu-central-1.amazonaws.com/styles/gallery-small-thumb/s3/117real-public/210174%20%286%29.jpg?itok=YXTmvKxg)
![Set of [5] Machzors. London, 1836. Rare Edition](https://winners-files.s3.eu-central-1.amazonaws.com/styles/gallery-small-thumb/s3/117real-public/210174%20%287%29.jpg?itok=cq91Tux-)
![Set of [5] Machzors. London, 1836. Rare Edition](https://winners-files.s3.eu-central-1.amazonaws.com/styles/gallery-small-thumb/s3/117real-public/210174.jpg?itok=Uw1SP3PO)
Set of machzors for the entire year, per the custom in Poland, translated into English by David Levi. Printed by David B"K Sender, printer and bookseller. Five parts (of six). English translation on facing pages.
At the beginning of the first volume, there is a portrait picture of Rabbi Shlomo Herschel, Av Beit Din of London. In the rest of the volumes before the title page, there is an illustrated title page from the machzor from 1807 [Niflaot, 1807] with the images of Moshe and Aharon and pictures related to the annual festival featured in each machzor. All parts have double title pages: Hebrew and English.
The edition before us is identical to the 1807 edition, although "An entire new edition" is written on the title page. The Bibliography of the Hebrew Book (entry no. 000184523) notes that only the title pages are new. It also indicates there that they saw only one part of the set in the British Library - the sixth part, for the Shavuot festival. The National Library's collection also only contains the part for Shavuot (which is the one missing from the set before us).
Part I: Rosh HaShanah. [3], 214 leaves.
Part II: Yom Kippur [Aravit and Shacharit]. [3], 208 leaves.
Part III: Yom Kippur [Mussaf, Minchah and Ne'ilah]. [3], 208 leaves.
Part IV: Sukkot. [2], 193 leaves.
Part V: Pesach. [3], 222 leaves.
23 cm. Very fine condition. The volumes are wrapped in plastic wrapping paper for protection, and have not been checked without the wrapping.
Prayer service for the recovery of Empress Maria Theresa, arranged by Rabbi Yechezkel Landau, rabbi of Prague, author of Noda BiYehudah. German.
"Gebeth, welches auf Anverlangen deren Aeltesten, und Gemeindeaeltesten der Prager Judenschaft|. von dem Ober-Rabiner Ezechiel Lande."
Prayers service, chapters of Psalms, "mi sheberach" and the entire prayer service for the empress's recovery, and the thanksgiving prayer for after she recovered from her illness on June 17, 1767.
Maria Theresa's well-known treatment of the Jews in general, and the Jews of Prague in particular, who demonstrated loyalty to the royal house during the wars fought in her time, as well as the special treatment of the city's rabbi in the palace are perfectly expressed in the rare booklet before us. Item of historical significance.
In the book Mofet HaDor (printed in 1903), the author R' Yekutiel Kamlahar writes about the chain of events. He notes that there are only one or two copies in all of Prague, and he has obtained one of them, so he translated the booklet into his book word for word, so that it will be preserved for generations. The rarity of this booklet can been observed from his remarks; even in 1903 it was not to be found in Prague, where it was printed.
[13] pages, 19 cm. Fine condition. Stains. Tiny perforation in the title page without damage to text. Several perforations in the book's leaves, also without damage to text. New binding.
'The order of the service for Shabbat and Jewish festivals' per the custom of the "Kahal Bayit Chadash" in Hamburg. Arranged by Jackel Frankel and Meir Breslau, among the first of the Reform. Hebrew and German.
"Ordnung der Oeffentlichen Andacht fur die Sabbath und Festtage des ganzen Jahres. Nach dem Gebrauche des Neuen Tempel Vereins in Hamburg."
This is the first Reform prayer book in Hebrew; most prayers were omitted or shortened, and a large number of them were printed in German only. Songs in German were also added. The "innovations" in the prayer book include: Complete elimination of the Kabbalat Shabbat prayers, omission of the request for construction of the Beit HaMikdash, reinstitution of the sacrifices and more. The prayer book was published by "Kahal Bayit Chadash" in Hamburg, to be used for prayers in the first Reform temple which was published that year in Hamburg. The prayer book was especially dedicated in honor of Israel Jacobson, who is considered the heralds of Reform.
This "altered" prayer book was at the center of a great controversy that broke out with its printing, and many copies of it were destroyed. The book Eleh Divrei HaBrit [Hamburg, 1819] was published opposing this prayer book and the establishment of the first Reform temple in Hamburg. (It is also listed in this catalog.)
X, 65-108-356, 20 cm. Hebrew title page, German title page and leaf preceding the title page. Printed from left to right. Fine condition. Aging stains. Original binding.
Eleh Divrei HaBrit - letters from rabbinic leaders "To foil a new religion concocted in the hearts of some laymen who are not Torah personalities) to establish their customs not as the law of Moshe and Israel, published by the Beit Din Tzedek of the Hamburg community.
The first signs of the Reform movement in Germany began with instituting "alterations" in prayer arrangements, and prayer in the "temple" in Hamburg. In this context, the Reform omitted the prayers for redemption, brought an organ into the temple, and conducted prayers in German. The Reform based their alterations on Talmudic and rabbinic sources, and published a book entitled Noga Tzedek - Ohr Noga (Dessau 1818), in which their own rabbinic opinions justified arranging the alterations. The "altered siddur" was printed in Hamburg in 1819 right around the time of the establishment of the first temple [it also appears in this catalog].
This book was printed in response; it includes twenty two halachic responsa from rabbinic leaders in Germany, Hungary, Poland and other countries, which bring proofs from halachic and adjudicative literature that the alterations are completely prohibited. Among the geonim of the generation whose responsa appear in the book: Rabbi Ya'akov of Lissa, author of Netivot HaMishpat; Prague rabbis - Rabbi Elazar Fleklash and Rabbi Shmuel Landau, the Chatam Sofer (several letters), Mahara"m Bennet, Rabbi Akiva Eiger, Rabbi Meshulam Zalman HaKohen (Maharaza"ch) of Furth, author of Bigdei Kehunah and more.
The Chatam Sofer initially opposed printing the book, as he reasoned that just raising the issue in debate and conducting the dispute with the people of Reform may strengthen their power and status. Yet after the fact, he agreed with the necessity and influence of the book and wrote: "An anthology of letters from the geonim of our time has been printed in Hamburg, and they called it Divrei HaBrit, and thank G-d it has wrought salvation in the land."
XVI, 131 pp. 22 cm. Quality paper. Very fine condition.
She'elot U'Teshuvot Ma'amar Mordechai by Rabbi Mordechai Halberstadt, Av Beit Din of Düsseldorf. With the approbation of Rabbi Tzvi Hirsch Hurwitz, Av Beit Din of Trebitsch (son of Rabbi Shmelke of Nikolsburg). Rare book.
The book is very rare because the rabbis of Frankfurt at the time decreed that it be burned. This was due to the responsum from the "Pnei Yehoshua" which was printed in the book (leaves 62-65). This responsum deals with a regulation for a passage for Kohanim without concern for death-related impurity [טומאת מת], which the Frankfurt rabbis greatly opposed. The author of Nachal Eshkol relates in his book, Brit Avraham (Frankfurt am Main, 1860): " ... come and I will show you in a book called Shu"t Ma'amar Mordechai by the rabbi, the gaon ... in Brünn 1789 ... and two are not found in the entire city around it, and I am of the opinion that the rabbis of Frankfurt am Main burned it because they found reason to oppose it in this responsum. Siman 56 has one responsum printed, which is from the gaon, the author of Pnei Yehoshua, and it is not as written in the indices of the Mahari"ch, which permits a "brandvier" as a break for kohanim and to not be concerned for the duct under the earth and the Frankfurt Beit Din did not agree with this.
In responsum 30, the author proves that halachic manuscipts of the laws of treifahs that were widespread in the lands of Ashkenaz in the name of the Shla"h, the author of Kli Yakar and other rabbinical leaders of the generations, are fraudulent, and the defrauder is the renowned informer, known as Chrischi. There is material about this affair included with this lot.
Rabbi Mordechai Halberstadt [1685-1769] was the Av Beit Din of Düsseldorf and one of the rabbinical leaders of Ashkenaz. He served as Av Beit Din in several important communities in Ashkenaz: Halberstadt, Reiseheim, Darmstadt, and finally, in Düsseldorf, by which he was known. He was considered "the elder instructor" in Ashkenaz in the final years of his life. The approbations in the book before us and in the publisher's foreword discuss the author's great powers of instruction.
[6], 2-104 leaves. 19 cm. Rabbinic owners' signatures from the time of the printing; fine condition. Aging stains. Cropped margins. New binding.
Heaven forfend ... how was it pleasing to his heart to fabricate a lie from his heart ... I hereby accept upon myself excommunication if I ever saw his manuscript ... which according to his words above, he gave me his composition to read."
Mevin Chidot is a commentary on the mesorah by Rabbi Yosef son of David of Heilbronn. First edition.
Extensive commentary on the mesorah on chamishah chumshei Torah, with an introduction about the mesorah. Ashkenazic and Sephardic rabbis of Amsterdam gave approbations for this book.
Rabbi Asher Anshel Wirmash printed a book called Syag LaTorah in 1366 [one year after the book before us] and in his introduction there, he writes that the manuscript of his composition was in the possession of Rabbi Yosef ben David, so that he would read it, but he copied it and printed it, and claimed it as his own. Rabbi Yosef ben David did not dip his hand in the plate, and published two sharp leaflets, in which he swears that he never saw the book's manuscript. (Refer to Rosenthal, Yodea Sefer pp. 179).
[11] 93, 20 cm. Bookplate. Signatures.
Fine condition. Aging stains. Simple binding.
Lechem Shamayim, commentary on mishnayot Zera'im and Moed, first part, by Rabbi Ya'akov Emden [the Yave"tz].
A large diagram of the alter, with explanations, is printed on the back of the title page. The compilation "Binyan Beit HaBechirah" is printed on the last leaves.
Lechem Shamayim is the Yave"tz's first book, one of dozens of books he authored. It is common knowledge that the Yave"tz established his own printing house in Altona, where he printed his books. However, the book before us was printed before the author established his own printing house.
Complete copy, with leaves of errata at the end. All the Yave"tz's books are highly sought after and uncommon.
[1], 118, 120-122 leaves, 31 cm. Y. Raphael, "Kitvei Rabbi Ya'akov Emeden," in Areshet 3, no. 1.
Moderate-fine condition. Professional restoration to the margins of the title page and the book's leaves, without damage to text. New parchment binding.
Compilation of responsa and legal novellae on Even HaEzer by Rabbi Moshe Chagiz. [Hamburg, 1719]
'HaKemach' is an abbreviation for "HaKatan Moshe Chagiz." The author was one of the great Sephardic sages of his generation. He was born in Jerusalem and was an emissary to European countries for many years. He lived in Amsterdam and Hamburg for extended periods and assisted the Chacham Tzvi and his son the Ya"avetz in their battle against remnants of the Sabbateans.
Interesting bibliographic phenomenon: On the book's title page, the year detail is written, and according to the customary calculation, it works out to 1711. However, there are a number of signs that it was printed a little later, and many bibliographers were misled by this. The book was actually printed in 1719. When the small letters that are between the large letters are also included in the calculation [and not just the large letters, as is customary], it does work out to 1719.
[4], 221, [3] leaves, 15 cm.
Very fine condition except for the slightly detached original binding.