* Talmud Yerushalmi, Tractate Shekalim with the commentary of Rabbi Eliyahu of Fulda and the Avodat Gershoni commentary authored by Rabbi Gershon. Ashkenaz [end of the 18th century], autograph, not printed.
Specifications: 85 leaves, 32 cm. Uniquely attractive and organized manuscript. The text of the Talmud Yerushalmi is copied in print at the center of the leaf. It is surrounded by the commentaries of Rabbi Eliyahu of Fulda and the Avodat HaGershoni by Rabbi Gershon in Rashi letters.
* Tractate Semachot with the Tiferet HaGershoni commenatry and the Levush Ha’argaman, by Rabbi Gershon. Ashkenazic handwriting. End of the 18th – beginning of the 19th century. Specifications: 33 leaves, 32 cm. Especially, pretty organized manuscript. The text of the tractate appears at center of the leaf in block letters, surrounded by the two commentaries in Rashi letters.
Unique features: A paper pocket has been taped to the binding. It contains an original approbation from [1835] written and signed by Rabbi Dov Berish.
Background: These two works were apparently written by the author, Rabbi Gershon. This is the organized version, prepared for print, with titles, large initial letters and marginal notations. After the author’s death, his son, Rabbi Dovid, planned on printing his works as a merit for his soul. He went so far as to make an effort to attain an approbation from Rabbi Dov Berish Ashkenazi, great-grandson of the Chacham Zvi, Av Beit Din in Slonim and then Lublin. He succeeded in attaining this prestigious approbation for both these works, however, to the best of our knowledge, this work was never printed.
The writer of this approbation, HaRav Dov Berish Ashkenazi [1803-1854] was the great-grandson of the Chacham Zvi. He was Av Beit Din in Slonim and then Lublin. He authored Shaarei Yerushalmi on a few tracates on the Talmud Yerushalmi, which was printed in Warsaw, 1866, and then in printed editions of the Talmud Yerushalmi. He also authored the noted two-section Noda B’Shearim [Warsaw 1859-1864]. He passed away at around fifty, and his brothers printed his works. He was an exceptionally astute scholar. The sharpness of his Torah thoughts is indicated by the fact that the responsa of Rabbi Akiva Eiger printed in Warsaw 1876 include his comments and novellae on the responsa alongside that of Rabbi Shlomo Eiger, Rabbi Akiva Eiger’s son. These comments were also included in later editions. Refer to: Nissenbaum, L’koros HaYehudim B’Lublin , Lublin, 1900, p. 126-127.
Condition: Very fine. Aging stains. Original marbleized paper binding.