Auction 70 - Judaica - Books, Manuscripts, Rabbinical Letters, Ceremonial Art
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Displaying 253 - 264 of 434
Auction 70 - Judaica - Books, Manuscripts, Rabbinical Letters, Ceremonial Art
March 31, 2020
Opening: $400
Sold for: $1,875
Including buyer's premium
Shulchan Aruch, Even HaEzer and Choshen Mishpat, with the Be'er HaGolah and Be'er Hetev commentaries. Amsterdam, [1815]. Two volumes.
Copy of R. Moshe Landsberg, a dayan of Posen, disciple of R. Akiva Eger. The title pages of both volumes bear his signatures: "Moshe Landsberger". The title page of Even HaEzer features his signature in German as well.
The front endpapers of both volumes, as well as other leaves, contain novellae handwritten by R. Moshe Landsberg.
R. Moshe Landsberg (1801-1884), a dayan of Posen, was one of the most prominent disciples of R. Akiva Eger, and amongst the mainstays of the Orthodox community in Posen. His writings include many teachings which he heard during the lectures of his illustrious teacher. There is a well-known lithograph of R. Akiva Eger, depicted walking in the street accompanied by two dayanim, one of them being R. Moshe. In 1844, he was appointed dayan in Posen. R. Moshe, who enjoyed Torah prominence together with wealth, was not required to undertake a rabbinic position. He owned a lending bank (many of his novellae are recorded on the official bank stationery). He engaged extensively in acts of lovingkindness, be it interest-free loans or hospitality. He was very committed to improving the lot of his destitute brethren in Eretz Israel, and even corresponded with Moses Montefiore on this matter.
Of his writings, Divrei Moshe (his commentary to the book of Tehillim) was published in New York, 2016.
Even HaEzer: 188 leaves. Choshen Mishpat: [4], 356 leaves. 20.5 cm. Stains and wear. New bindings.
Copy of R. Moshe Landsberg, a dayan of Posen, disciple of R. Akiva Eger. The title pages of both volumes bear his signatures: "Moshe Landsberger". The title page of Even HaEzer features his signature in German as well.
The front endpapers of both volumes, as well as other leaves, contain novellae handwritten by R. Moshe Landsberg.
R. Moshe Landsberg (1801-1884), a dayan of Posen, was one of the most prominent disciples of R. Akiva Eger, and amongst the mainstays of the Orthodox community in Posen. His writings include many teachings which he heard during the lectures of his illustrious teacher. There is a well-known lithograph of R. Akiva Eger, depicted walking in the street accompanied by two dayanim, one of them being R. Moshe. In 1844, he was appointed dayan in Posen. R. Moshe, who enjoyed Torah prominence together with wealth, was not required to undertake a rabbinic position. He owned a lending bank (many of his novellae are recorded on the official bank stationery). He engaged extensively in acts of lovingkindness, be it interest-free loans or hospitality. He was very committed to improving the lot of his destitute brethren in Eretz Israel, and even corresponded with Moses Montefiore on this matter.
Of his writings, Divrei Moshe (his commentary to the book of Tehillim) was published in New York, 2016.
Even HaEzer: 188 leaves. Choshen Mishpat: [4], 356 leaves. 20.5 cm. Stains and wear. New bindings.
Category
Books with Handwritten Glosses
Catalogue
Auction 70 - Judaica - Books, Manuscripts, Rabbinical Letters, Ceremonial Art
March 31, 2020
Opening: $300
Unsold
Shulchan Aruch Choshen Mishpat, with Be'er Hetev. [An Amsterdam edition, 18th century].
Incomplete copy. The book contains dozens of glosses in Sephardic script, from an unidentified Torah scholar.
232-240, 242-264, 290-299, 302-311, 313-348, 350-359, 361-383, 386-394 leaves (lacking: title page, leaves at the beginning, middle and end of book). 15 cm. Fair condition. Stains, tears and wear. Dampstains, ink faded. Worming, affecting text in some leaves. Tears affecting text to several leaves. Stitched close to text. Old binding, damaged.
Incomplete copy. The book contains dozens of glosses in Sephardic script, from an unidentified Torah scholar.
232-240, 242-264, 290-299, 302-311, 313-348, 350-359, 361-383, 386-394 leaves (lacking: title page, leaves at the beginning, middle and end of book). 15 cm. Fair condition. Stains, tears and wear. Dampstains, ink faded. Worming, affecting text in some leaves. Tears affecting text to several leaves. Stitched close to text. Old binding, damaged.
Category
Books with Handwritten Glosses
Catalogue
Auction 70 - Judaica - Books, Manuscripts, Rabbinical Letters, Ceremonial Art
March 31, 2020
Opening: $300
Unsold
Sefer HaChinuch. [Frankfurt an der Oder, 1783].
Signatures on the title page and front endpaper: "Chaim Michael Koppenhagen son of R. Eliezer, rabbi of Koło".
In the inscription on the title page, R. Chaim Michael lists his lineage: "This book belongs to me, the undersigned Chaim Michael, son of R. Eliezer Rabbi of Koil (Koło), son of R. Gedalia Rabbi of Copenhagen, grandson of the son-in-law of Maharam Lublin".
The book contains dozens of glosses handwritten by R. Chaim Michael Koppenhagen, some in the body of the book and others on the front and back endpapers.
R. Chaim Michael Koppenhagen, "a resident of Rogasen", author of the booklet Tzefirat Tif'ara (Breslau, 1832) - laws of Tefilin in the Holy Tongue, with German translation. He reprinted it in 1862, with the addition of the laws of tzitzit. The writer mentions this book in one of his glosses here: "And see in my preface to my book Tzefirat Tif'ara… on the topic of tzitzit…".
25, 27-102, 121-129 leaves. 20 cm. Fair-good condition. Stains, dampstains and wear. Large tear to title page, affecting text and border, repaired with paper; missing text on verso of title page completed by hand. Non-original binding.
Signatures on the title page and front endpaper: "Chaim Michael Koppenhagen son of R. Eliezer, rabbi of Koło".
In the inscription on the title page, R. Chaim Michael lists his lineage: "This book belongs to me, the undersigned Chaim Michael, son of R. Eliezer Rabbi of Koil (Koło), son of R. Gedalia Rabbi of Copenhagen, grandson of the son-in-law of Maharam Lublin".
The book contains dozens of glosses handwritten by R. Chaim Michael Koppenhagen, some in the body of the book and others on the front and back endpapers.
R. Chaim Michael Koppenhagen, "a resident of Rogasen", author of the booklet Tzefirat Tif'ara (Breslau, 1832) - laws of Tefilin in the Holy Tongue, with German translation. He reprinted it in 1862, with the addition of the laws of tzitzit. The writer mentions this book in one of his glosses here: "And see in my preface to my book Tzefirat Tif'ara… on the topic of tzitzit…".
25, 27-102, 121-129 leaves. 20 cm. Fair-good condition. Stains, dampstains and wear. Large tear to title page, affecting text and border, repaired with paper; missing text on verso of title page completed by hand. Non-original binding.
Category
Books with Handwritten Glosses
Catalogue
Auction 70 - Judaica - Books, Manuscripts, Rabbinical Letters, Ceremonial Art
March 31, 2020
Opening: $500
Unsold
Ayelet HaShachar, novellae on Tractate Nedarim, by R. Aharon Yehuda Leib Steinman. Bnei Brak, 1994. First edition.
The flyleaf bears the following inscription, handwritten by the author R. Steinman: "The books arrived on 27th Nisan 1994. Aharon Yehuda Leib Steinman, Bnei Brak, 5 Chazon Ish St.".
The book contains several glosses handwritten by R. Steinman. The glosses were recorded on pp. 54, 58, 102 (lengthy gloss) and 197. Minor emendations on pp. 39 and 56.
On the front endpaper, R. Steinman notes three of the places in which he recorded corrections.
On p. 58, R. Steinman encircled a paragraph, commenting: "The entire marked paragraph is a mistake".
This book was printed without a preface. The author's grandsons relate that when the book was published in 1994, R. Steinman had been ill and just undergone surgery, and he did not succeed in writing a preface before the book went to print. After the book was printed, R. Steinman composed his preface, in which he wrote: "In recent years I have been ill, and in His abundant kindness He has saved me, and may this book serve as my token of gratitude to Him for His great kindness". The preface was printed on its own, on a single leaf, which his grandsons photocopied and began pasting into the printed books. After a few minutes of work, Rebbetzin Tamar, the wife of R. Steinman, instructed them in her husband's name to stop pasting the preface into the books, for fear that his words "May this book serve as a token of gratitude" constitute a lie, since at the time of printing, the book had not yet been designated as his token of gratitude (memoirs of his grandson R. Avraham Berlin, in: Kovetz Gilyonot - Memorial Anthology… Marking a Year Since the Passing of Our Teacher, 2019, pp. 82, 132).
R. Steinman named his books Ayelet HaShachar, which is an acronym for his and his wife's names: Aharon Yehuda Leib Tamar.
R. Aharon Yehuda Leib Steinman (1914-2017), a leader of Orthodox Jewry and president of the Moetzet Gedolei HaTorah (rabbinical council) of the Degel HaTorah movement. He was considered the leader of the Lithuanian Torah world during the past twenty years. Born in Brisk, Lithuania, R. Aharon Leib studied in Lithuanian yeshivot, were he was a close disciple of the leading Torah scholars of Brisk - R. Simcha Zelig Rieger (who accorded him his rabbinical ordination), and R. Yitzchak Zev Soloveitchik (the Brisker Rav). For fear of conscription to the Polish army, he fled to Switzerland in the summer 1938, together with his friend, R. Moshe Soloveitchik, where they studied and taught in the Montreux yeshiva. This move on the eve of the Holocaust later proved to have been his providential salvation, and had tremendous impact on the establishment of the Torah world of today.
Upon his immigration to Eretz Israel, he was appointed dean of the Chafetz Chaim yeshiva in Kfar Saba by recommendation of the Chazon Ish, who held him in high esteem and would even stand up in his honor. In 1955, he was appointed by R. Kahaneman as dean of the Ponevezh yeshiva for young boys, and ten years later, he began concurrently serving as head of the Ponevezh Kollel. He later established other Torah institutions, standing at their helm, and spending his entire life disseminating Torah to the multitudes.
In 1989, with the establishment of the Degel HaTorah political party, he was appointed to its rabbinical council by R. Elazar Shach. This increased his influence in the community, especially regarding educational matters. Upon the passing of R. Shach in 2002, he was recognized as his successor in the leadership of the Lithuanian Torah world, alongside R. Yosef Shalom Elyashiv. From his modest apartment on Chazon Ish St. in Bnei Brak, he faithfully led the Torah world, and guided its many institutions with dedication and care. He became the central address for advice and guidance, for individuals as well as institutions and yeshivot, and the challenging problems of the generation were addressed to him. He concerned himself personally with the wellbeing of thousands of individual students as well as many yeshivot and institutions by raising colossal sums from philanthropists worldwide. He passed away on the day before Chanukah 2017, at the age of 104, and his funeral was attended by hundreds of thousands.
206 pages. 23.5 cm. Overall good condition. Original binding.
The flyleaf bears the following inscription, handwritten by the author R. Steinman: "The books arrived on 27th Nisan 1994. Aharon Yehuda Leib Steinman, Bnei Brak, 5 Chazon Ish St.".
The book contains several glosses handwritten by R. Steinman. The glosses were recorded on pp. 54, 58, 102 (lengthy gloss) and 197. Minor emendations on pp. 39 and 56.
On the front endpaper, R. Steinman notes three of the places in which he recorded corrections.
On p. 58, R. Steinman encircled a paragraph, commenting: "The entire marked paragraph is a mistake".
This book was printed without a preface. The author's grandsons relate that when the book was published in 1994, R. Steinman had been ill and just undergone surgery, and he did not succeed in writing a preface before the book went to print. After the book was printed, R. Steinman composed his preface, in which he wrote: "In recent years I have been ill, and in His abundant kindness He has saved me, and may this book serve as my token of gratitude to Him for His great kindness". The preface was printed on its own, on a single leaf, which his grandsons photocopied and began pasting into the printed books. After a few minutes of work, Rebbetzin Tamar, the wife of R. Steinman, instructed them in her husband's name to stop pasting the preface into the books, for fear that his words "May this book serve as a token of gratitude" constitute a lie, since at the time of printing, the book had not yet been designated as his token of gratitude (memoirs of his grandson R. Avraham Berlin, in: Kovetz Gilyonot - Memorial Anthology… Marking a Year Since the Passing of Our Teacher, 2019, pp. 82, 132).
R. Steinman named his books Ayelet HaShachar, which is an acronym for his and his wife's names: Aharon Yehuda Leib Tamar.
R. Aharon Yehuda Leib Steinman (1914-2017), a leader of Orthodox Jewry and president of the Moetzet Gedolei HaTorah (rabbinical council) of the Degel HaTorah movement. He was considered the leader of the Lithuanian Torah world during the past twenty years. Born in Brisk, Lithuania, R. Aharon Leib studied in Lithuanian yeshivot, were he was a close disciple of the leading Torah scholars of Brisk - R. Simcha Zelig Rieger (who accorded him his rabbinical ordination), and R. Yitzchak Zev Soloveitchik (the Brisker Rav). For fear of conscription to the Polish army, he fled to Switzerland in the summer 1938, together with his friend, R. Moshe Soloveitchik, where they studied and taught in the Montreux yeshiva. This move on the eve of the Holocaust later proved to have been his providential salvation, and had tremendous impact on the establishment of the Torah world of today.
Upon his immigration to Eretz Israel, he was appointed dean of the Chafetz Chaim yeshiva in Kfar Saba by recommendation of the Chazon Ish, who held him in high esteem and would even stand up in his honor. In 1955, he was appointed by R. Kahaneman as dean of the Ponevezh yeshiva for young boys, and ten years later, he began concurrently serving as head of the Ponevezh Kollel. He later established other Torah institutions, standing at their helm, and spending his entire life disseminating Torah to the multitudes.
In 1989, with the establishment of the Degel HaTorah political party, he was appointed to its rabbinical council by R. Elazar Shach. This increased his influence in the community, especially regarding educational matters. Upon the passing of R. Shach in 2002, he was recognized as his successor in the leadership of the Lithuanian Torah world, alongside R. Yosef Shalom Elyashiv. From his modest apartment on Chazon Ish St. in Bnei Brak, he faithfully led the Torah world, and guided its many institutions with dedication and care. He became the central address for advice and guidance, for individuals as well as institutions and yeshivot, and the challenging problems of the generation were addressed to him. He concerned himself personally with the wellbeing of thousands of individual students as well as many yeshivot and institutions by raising colossal sums from philanthropists worldwide. He passed away on the day before Chanukah 2017, at the age of 104, and his funeral was attended by hundreds of thousands.
206 pages. 23.5 cm. Overall good condition. Original binding.
Category
Books with Handwritten Glosses
Catalogue
Auction 70 - Judaica - Books, Manuscripts, Rabbinical Letters, Ceremonial Art
March 31, 2020
Opening: $5,000
Unsold
Manuscript, Kavanot Gedolot by R. Chaim Vital - Kavanot of the Arizal following the order of the Shulchan Aruch. [Europe, ca. 18th century].
Complete volume in Ashkenazic script, by two writers. Leaves 1-54 were written by one scribe and another scribe continued from leaf 55 until the end. Marginalia containing many dozens of glosses, corrections, references and additions by several writers (three or four). Many glosses open with "נל"ח" (N.L.Ch. = It seems to me Ch---?). Owner's stamps: "Yisrael Stern, Pressburg". (The handwriting of some of the marginalia resembles marginalia in another Kabbalistic manuscript from Pressburg that was in the possession of the Chatam Sofer - see Kedem Auction 53, item 47).
The composition Kavanot Gedolot was edited in the school of R. Moshe Zacuto in Italy (see: R. Yosef Avivi, Kabbalat HaAri, p. 746). Copyings of this composition are uncommon (Avivi, ibid, records just three manuscript copyings of this composition).
Title on leaf 57 of the second sequence: "Part II of the book Pri Etz Chaim - Part II Shaar HaMitzvot, second chapter…".
[2], 182; 92 leaves. 20 cm. Good-fair condition. Stains and wear. Original leather binding, damaged and worn, with laces for fastening.
Complete volume in Ashkenazic script, by two writers. Leaves 1-54 were written by one scribe and another scribe continued from leaf 55 until the end. Marginalia containing many dozens of glosses, corrections, references and additions by several writers (three or four). Many glosses open with "נל"ח" (N.L.Ch. = It seems to me Ch---?). Owner's stamps: "Yisrael Stern, Pressburg". (The handwriting of some of the marginalia resembles marginalia in another Kabbalistic manuscript from Pressburg that was in the possession of the Chatam Sofer - see Kedem Auction 53, item 47).
The composition Kavanot Gedolot was edited in the school of R. Moshe Zacuto in Italy (see: R. Yosef Avivi, Kabbalat HaAri, p. 746). Copyings of this composition are uncommon (Avivi, ibid, records just three manuscript copyings of this composition).
Title on leaf 57 of the second sequence: "Part II of the book Pri Etz Chaim - Part II Shaar HaMitzvot, second chapter…".
[2], 182; 92 leaves. 20 cm. Good-fair condition. Stains and wear. Original leather binding, damaged and worn, with laces for fastening.
Category
Kabbalah - Manuscripts and Glosses
Catalogue
Auction 70 - Judaica - Books, Manuscripts, Rabbinical Letters, Ceremonial Art
March 31, 2020
Opening: $2,000
Sold for: $4,750
Including buyer's premium
Zohar, Part I, the Book of Bereshit. [Amsterdam, 1715]. With thousands of handwritten glosses in Western script (Morocco, 18th century) - comprehensive composition of kabbalistic glosses to the Zohar.
The thousands of glosses contained in this book consist of the glosses of Moroccan kabbalists to the Zohar. Careful study of these glosses discloses that most appear in the composition Leket Shoshanim (extant in several manuscripts). Some of these glosses also feature in the book Mikdash Melech by R. Shalom Buzaglo. Additionally, the glosses include several original thoughts, opening with: "And it appears to me, מטו"ן…". These glosses were written in the same handwriting as the others. We have not managed to identify this Torah scholar, yet it is apparent that he was a prominent and erudite kabbalist (possible interpretations of the acronym "מטו"ן" are Moshe Toledano or Meir Toledano).
The book is lacking at the beginning, middle and end. 28 leaves were bound at the beginning, containing part of the missing text, handwritten in Western script. The glosses, in Western script, were inserted both in the margins and between the lines, on all leaves (both printed and handwritten) of the book. Most of the glosses were recorded by one writer (the Torah scholar named "מטו"ן" mentioned above). A gloss on p. 156b is from a different writer. There may be additional glosses in a different handwriting.
These glosses comprise the teachings of the Marrakesh school of kabbalists, which included R. Yaakov Maradji, R. Avraham Azoulay (the second), R. Avraham ibn Moussa, R. Shlomo Amar, R. Yeshaya HaKohen, R. Yaakov Pinto, R. Yaakov Gedalia and their disciples. The glosses correspond with the composition Leket Shoshanim, a compilation of glosses by leading Marrakesh kabbalists to the Zohar, arranged by R. Yeshaya HaKohen and R. Yaakov Pinto. Leket Shoshanim was never published, and is extant in several manuscripts, but part of it was included in the renowned book Mikdash Melech (London, 1750-1752) by the kabbalist R. Shalom Buzaglo, who was associated with this school of kabbalists. The nature of the connection between the compositions Leket Shoshanim and Mikdash Melech is as of yet unclear (see: R. Moshe Hillel, Record for the History of the First Generation of Marrakesh Kabbalists, in: Min HaGenazim - Ahavat Shalom, X - 2017, p. 44, footnote 49).
22-55, 58-63, 66-71, 74-79, 81-89, 152-163, 166-167, 169-174, 176-215, 217-223, 225-230 leaves (lacking leaves at beginning, middle and end of book; originally: [7], 251, [1], 11 leaves) + [28] handwritten leaves. Approx. 19 cm. Fair-poor condition. Stains. Many tears, dampness damage and wear, affecting text and handwritten glosses. Detached leaves. Binding detached and damaged.
The thousands of glosses contained in this book consist of the glosses of Moroccan kabbalists to the Zohar. Careful study of these glosses discloses that most appear in the composition Leket Shoshanim (extant in several manuscripts). Some of these glosses also feature in the book Mikdash Melech by R. Shalom Buzaglo. Additionally, the glosses include several original thoughts, opening with: "And it appears to me, מטו"ן…". These glosses were written in the same handwriting as the others. We have not managed to identify this Torah scholar, yet it is apparent that he was a prominent and erudite kabbalist (possible interpretations of the acronym "מטו"ן" are Moshe Toledano or Meir Toledano).
The book is lacking at the beginning, middle and end. 28 leaves were bound at the beginning, containing part of the missing text, handwritten in Western script. The glosses, in Western script, were inserted both in the margins and between the lines, on all leaves (both printed and handwritten) of the book. Most of the glosses were recorded by one writer (the Torah scholar named "מטו"ן" mentioned above). A gloss on p. 156b is from a different writer. There may be additional glosses in a different handwriting.
These glosses comprise the teachings of the Marrakesh school of kabbalists, which included R. Yaakov Maradji, R. Avraham Azoulay (the second), R. Avraham ibn Moussa, R. Shlomo Amar, R. Yeshaya HaKohen, R. Yaakov Pinto, R. Yaakov Gedalia and their disciples. The glosses correspond with the composition Leket Shoshanim, a compilation of glosses by leading Marrakesh kabbalists to the Zohar, arranged by R. Yeshaya HaKohen and R. Yaakov Pinto. Leket Shoshanim was never published, and is extant in several manuscripts, but part of it was included in the renowned book Mikdash Melech (London, 1750-1752) by the kabbalist R. Shalom Buzaglo, who was associated with this school of kabbalists. The nature of the connection between the compositions Leket Shoshanim and Mikdash Melech is as of yet unclear (see: R. Moshe Hillel, Record for the History of the First Generation of Marrakesh Kabbalists, in: Min HaGenazim - Ahavat Shalom, X - 2017, p. 44, footnote 49).
22-55, 58-63, 66-71, 74-79, 81-89, 152-163, 166-167, 169-174, 176-215, 217-223, 225-230 leaves (lacking leaves at beginning, middle and end of book; originally: [7], 251, [1], 11 leaves) + [28] handwritten leaves. Approx. 19 cm. Fair-poor condition. Stains. Many tears, dampness damage and wear, affecting text and handwritten glosses. Detached leaves. Binding detached and damaged.
Category
Kabbalah - Manuscripts and Glosses
Catalogue
Auction 70 - Judaica - Books, Manuscripts, Rabbinical Letters, Ceremonial Art
March 31, 2020
Opening: $2,000
Sold for: $5,500
Including buyer's premium
Manuscript containing segulot, Hashbaot, incantations and amulets - practical Kabbalah notebook of R. Refael Yeshaya Azulai, son of the Chida and rabbi of Ancona. Written in part by a scribe, and partly by R. Refael Yeshaya Azulai. [Ancona, ca. 1820-1824].
Handwritten notebook, mostly in neat Italian scribal-script, and alternately in Sephardic script - the handwriting of R. Refael Yeshaya Azulai, who added segulot, Hashbaot and texts of amulets. The manuscript also contains personal notes, with records of income and expenditures and names of Jews in Ancona, as well as two pages of Torah thoughts. Includes tables, kabbalistic illustrations and Angelic Script.
Additional handwritten leaves, also on practical Kabbalah, are interspersed in the bound notebook, some in R. Yeshaya Azulai's handwriting, and some in scribal-script.
An overall breakdown of the manuscript:
Leaves [1]-[4a]: Texts of amulet for protection in various areas: to remove foreign thoughts, for a storm at sea, for headache and malaria; Hashbaot and incantations "to cause anyone to do your will..." and "against fear".
Leaves [4b]-[8]: Account records and names of people (presumably from Ancona), in Hebrew and Italian, some handwritten by R. Yeshaya Azulai, dated "Tishrei 1821", "Nissan 1822", "Elul 1822" and "Tishrei 1822". P. [7b] contains an amulet "segulah for a thief" with illustrations of angels' seals.
Leaves [9]-[12]: Segulot, Hashbaot and incantations for various matters: "to be loved by all", "to escape from prison", "for increasing a woman's milk supply", "to cause illness or death to an enemy", "to cease menstruation", "against miscarriage", and more. Leaf [10]: Two amulet texts handwritten by R. Yeshaya Azulai. Leaf [11]: List of 12 different segulot "for a difficult labor".
Leaves [13]-[14a]: Three pages of Torah teachings (Halacha and Aggadah) handwritten by R. Yeshaya Azulai.
Leaves [14b]-[16]: Lists of accounts and names, mostly handwritten by R. Yeshaya Azulai. Leaf [14b]: Inscription with calculations, handwritten by R. Yeshaya: "Tishrei 1820, the salary I receive from the community for the whole year is two hundred scudos every six months…".
Leaves [17]-[24]: Segulot, Hashbaot and amulet texts, with tables, kabbalistic combinations of names and angels' seals for various matters, including: "to annul sorcery", "to sell merchandise", "for a thief", "for a store", "to sell and buy", "for difficult labor", "to change a person's mind", and more. Some pages contain accounting records and various other inscriptions, some of which are handwritten by R. Yeshaya Azulai.
P. [18a]: List of book prices, handwritten by R. Yeshaya Azulai (the book LeDavid Emet by his father the Chida is included in the list).
A dispute is recorded on the front endpaper - "Shimshon Pacifico's claim against the widow of Moshe Yitzchak Pesaro…".
The additional leaves interspersed in the manuscript include: a gathering of six written pages containing segulot and cures, She'elat Chalom (dream question), Holy names and amulet texts (numbered, sections 1-33); several leaves from a manuscript on practical Kabbalah; several leaves from a different notebook of segulot, Hashbaot and incantations, with passages in R. Yeshaya Azulai's handwriting.
R. Refael Yeshaya Azulai (1743-1826) was born in Jerusalem, the eldest son of the illustrious R. Chaim Yosef David Azulai - the Chida. A great Torah scholar in his own right, he was a rabbi, posek and leader of Italian Jewry in his times. Some of his halachic responsa were printed in his father's books, who honored and esteemed him and always mentioned him with epithets of love ("my dear son", "my firstborn son, the perfect great chacham", "the light of my eyes", "friend of my soul", etc.). After the death of R. Avraham Yisrael, rabbi of Ancona, in 1785, the community leaders turned to the Chida who hinted that his son R. Refael Yeshaya would be suitable for this position. He served as rabbi of Ancona for many years until his death on 9th Shevat 1823 (he lived 83 years, just like his father). He was greatly honored at his death and was mourned by his community for a long time (for further information see M. Benayahu's book on the Chida, pp. 476-487).
[24] leaves + [8] leaves. Approx. 19 cm. Overall good condition. Stains and wear. Tears and damage. Worming in some places, slightly affecting text. Binding worn.
Handwritten notebook, mostly in neat Italian scribal-script, and alternately in Sephardic script - the handwriting of R. Refael Yeshaya Azulai, who added segulot, Hashbaot and texts of amulets. The manuscript also contains personal notes, with records of income and expenditures and names of Jews in Ancona, as well as two pages of Torah thoughts. Includes tables, kabbalistic illustrations and Angelic Script.
Additional handwritten leaves, also on practical Kabbalah, are interspersed in the bound notebook, some in R. Yeshaya Azulai's handwriting, and some in scribal-script.
An overall breakdown of the manuscript:
Leaves [1]-[4a]: Texts of amulet for protection in various areas: to remove foreign thoughts, for a storm at sea, for headache and malaria; Hashbaot and incantations "to cause anyone to do your will..." and "against fear".
Leaves [4b]-[8]: Account records and names of people (presumably from Ancona), in Hebrew and Italian, some handwritten by R. Yeshaya Azulai, dated "Tishrei 1821", "Nissan 1822", "Elul 1822" and "Tishrei 1822". P. [7b] contains an amulet "segulah for a thief" with illustrations of angels' seals.
Leaves [9]-[12]: Segulot, Hashbaot and incantations for various matters: "to be loved by all", "to escape from prison", "for increasing a woman's milk supply", "to cause illness or death to an enemy", "to cease menstruation", "against miscarriage", and more. Leaf [10]: Two amulet texts handwritten by R. Yeshaya Azulai. Leaf [11]: List of 12 different segulot "for a difficult labor".
Leaves [13]-[14a]: Three pages of Torah teachings (Halacha and Aggadah) handwritten by R. Yeshaya Azulai.
Leaves [14b]-[16]: Lists of accounts and names, mostly handwritten by R. Yeshaya Azulai. Leaf [14b]: Inscription with calculations, handwritten by R. Yeshaya: "Tishrei 1820, the salary I receive from the community for the whole year is two hundred scudos every six months…".
Leaves [17]-[24]: Segulot, Hashbaot and amulet texts, with tables, kabbalistic combinations of names and angels' seals for various matters, including: "to annul sorcery", "to sell merchandise", "for a thief", "for a store", "to sell and buy", "for difficult labor", "to change a person's mind", and more. Some pages contain accounting records and various other inscriptions, some of which are handwritten by R. Yeshaya Azulai.
P. [18a]: List of book prices, handwritten by R. Yeshaya Azulai (the book LeDavid Emet by his father the Chida is included in the list).
A dispute is recorded on the front endpaper - "Shimshon Pacifico's claim against the widow of Moshe Yitzchak Pesaro…".
The additional leaves interspersed in the manuscript include: a gathering of six written pages containing segulot and cures, She'elat Chalom (dream question), Holy names and amulet texts (numbered, sections 1-33); several leaves from a manuscript on practical Kabbalah; several leaves from a different notebook of segulot, Hashbaot and incantations, with passages in R. Yeshaya Azulai's handwriting.
R. Refael Yeshaya Azulai (1743-1826) was born in Jerusalem, the eldest son of the illustrious R. Chaim Yosef David Azulai - the Chida. A great Torah scholar in his own right, he was a rabbi, posek and leader of Italian Jewry in his times. Some of his halachic responsa were printed in his father's books, who honored and esteemed him and always mentioned him with epithets of love ("my dear son", "my firstborn son, the perfect great chacham", "the light of my eyes", "friend of my soul", etc.). After the death of R. Avraham Yisrael, rabbi of Ancona, in 1785, the community leaders turned to the Chida who hinted that his son R. Refael Yeshaya would be suitable for this position. He served as rabbi of Ancona for many years until his death on 9th Shevat 1823 (he lived 83 years, just like his father). He was greatly honored at his death and was mourned by his community for a long time (for further information see M. Benayahu's book on the Chida, pp. 476-487).
[24] leaves + [8] leaves. Approx. 19 cm. Overall good condition. Stains and wear. Tears and damage. Worming in some places, slightly affecting text. Binding worn.
Category
Kabbalah - Manuscripts and Glosses
Catalogue
Auction 70 - Judaica - Books, Manuscripts, Rabbinical Letters, Ceremonial Art
March 31, 2020
Opening: $300
Sold for: $375
Including buyer's premium
Midrash Talpiyot, by R. Eliyahu HaKohen of Izmir (author of Shevet Musar). Czernowitz, 1860.
Ownership inscription and signature on the title page: "For the service of my Creator, from funds of Maaser Ani, what am I, Nissim Ani" - signature of R. Nissim Eini, a Torah scholar and kabbalist of the Beit El Beit Midrash in Jerusalem.
The book contains dozens of glosses handwritten by the kabbalist R. Aharon Refael Chaim Moshe Pereira, author of Me'il Kodesh UBigdei Yesha and other books. Most of the glosses are lengthy and replete with original thoughts, including some kabbalistic matters. R. Aharon closes many of the glosses with his customary expression: "…words of truth and peace". The margins of the book were trimmed, with damage to most of the glosses.
R. Aharon Refael Chaim Moshe Pereira (d. 1887), born in Salonika. In 1848, he immigrated to Eretz Israel and settled in Jerusalem. There, he joined the Beit El yeshiva for kabbalists. His prominence in Torah and kabbalah is disclosed in the many books he composed, including Toldot Aharon UMoshe (Jerusalem 1870), Devar Hashem MiYerushalayim (Jerusalem 1873), Ohev Shalom VeRodef Shalom - Michtam Shalom Yisrael/Yerushalayim (Jerusalem 1879), Me'il Kodesh UBigdei Yesha (Jerusalem 1888), and other works. He was a wondrous man, with a prodigious personality, combining exceptional proficiency and profundity in both hidden and revealed parts of the Torah, together with exceptional devotion to the downtrodden and needy. Just like his namesake Aharon, he loved and pursued peace, and engaged extensively in promoting peace. One of his prominent disciples in Jerusalem was R. Akiva Yosef Schlesinger, who delivered a lengthy eulogy at his funeral (printed in Me'il Kodesh UBigdei Yesha, pp. 47-49).
He placed a special emphasis in his will on publishing his compositions which remained in manuscript, promising to intercede on behalf of anyone who made efforts to publish his works: "…whoever endeavors to bring pleasure to my soul… I too will intercede on their behalf and on behalf of all the members of their household, with all my might from my place in the World to Come, that G-d should recompense their deeds and that their reward should be full in this world and in the World to Come". His disciple R. Schlesinger also related (in the above-mentioned eulogy) that on the eve of his passing, R. Pereira asked him to ensure his book gets published. In his conclusion to the eulogy, R. Schlesinger again mentions the publishing of the books, "…since he already commanded in all his wills… whoever assists in publishing his holy books, he is prepared to pray before G-d from his place on behalf of all those who involve themselves…".
One of his colleagues in the Beit El yeshiva was R. Nissim Eini (d. 1900), a leading Iraqi Torah scholar and kabbalist. He was a close disciple of R. Abdallah Somech. He immigrated to Eretz Israel in 1856 and settled in Jerusalem. He was a close friend of R. Eliyahu Mani, first when they studied together under R. Abdallah Somech, and later in the Beit El yeshiva in Jerusalem. He was renowned as an eminent kabbalist, and toiled extensively over correcting and clarifying the accurate texts of kabbalistic books and works by the Arizal. He edited (together with R. Yitzchak Calamaro) the second edition of the book Divrei Shalom by R. Refael Avraham Shalom Mizrachi (grandson of the Rashash), adding his glosses under the acronym "A.N.I." (=I, Nissim). He would customarily sign: "What am I, Nissim Ani".
[1], 246 leaves. Without leaf of approbations following title page. 23.5 cm. Margins trimmed, affecting many glosses. Good condition. Stains. Old binding.
Ownership inscription and signature on the title page: "For the service of my Creator, from funds of Maaser Ani, what am I, Nissim Ani" - signature of R. Nissim Eini, a Torah scholar and kabbalist of the Beit El Beit Midrash in Jerusalem.
The book contains dozens of glosses handwritten by the kabbalist R. Aharon Refael Chaim Moshe Pereira, author of Me'il Kodesh UBigdei Yesha and other books. Most of the glosses are lengthy and replete with original thoughts, including some kabbalistic matters. R. Aharon closes many of the glosses with his customary expression: "…words of truth and peace". The margins of the book were trimmed, with damage to most of the glosses.
R. Aharon Refael Chaim Moshe Pereira (d. 1887), born in Salonika. In 1848, he immigrated to Eretz Israel and settled in Jerusalem. There, he joined the Beit El yeshiva for kabbalists. His prominence in Torah and kabbalah is disclosed in the many books he composed, including Toldot Aharon UMoshe (Jerusalem 1870), Devar Hashem MiYerushalayim (Jerusalem 1873), Ohev Shalom VeRodef Shalom - Michtam Shalom Yisrael/Yerushalayim (Jerusalem 1879), Me'il Kodesh UBigdei Yesha (Jerusalem 1888), and other works. He was a wondrous man, with a prodigious personality, combining exceptional proficiency and profundity in both hidden and revealed parts of the Torah, together with exceptional devotion to the downtrodden and needy. Just like his namesake Aharon, he loved and pursued peace, and engaged extensively in promoting peace. One of his prominent disciples in Jerusalem was R. Akiva Yosef Schlesinger, who delivered a lengthy eulogy at his funeral (printed in Me'il Kodesh UBigdei Yesha, pp. 47-49).
He placed a special emphasis in his will on publishing his compositions which remained in manuscript, promising to intercede on behalf of anyone who made efforts to publish his works: "…whoever endeavors to bring pleasure to my soul… I too will intercede on their behalf and on behalf of all the members of their household, with all my might from my place in the World to Come, that G-d should recompense their deeds and that their reward should be full in this world and in the World to Come". His disciple R. Schlesinger also related (in the above-mentioned eulogy) that on the eve of his passing, R. Pereira asked him to ensure his book gets published. In his conclusion to the eulogy, R. Schlesinger again mentions the publishing of the books, "…since he already commanded in all his wills… whoever assists in publishing his holy books, he is prepared to pray before G-d from his place on behalf of all those who involve themselves…".
One of his colleagues in the Beit El yeshiva was R. Nissim Eini (d. 1900), a leading Iraqi Torah scholar and kabbalist. He was a close disciple of R. Abdallah Somech. He immigrated to Eretz Israel in 1856 and settled in Jerusalem. He was a close friend of R. Eliyahu Mani, first when they studied together under R. Abdallah Somech, and later in the Beit El yeshiva in Jerusalem. He was renowned as an eminent kabbalist, and toiled extensively over correcting and clarifying the accurate texts of kabbalistic books and works by the Arizal. He edited (together with R. Yitzchak Calamaro) the second edition of the book Divrei Shalom by R. Refael Avraham Shalom Mizrachi (grandson of the Rashash), adding his glosses under the acronym "A.N.I." (=I, Nissim). He would customarily sign: "What am I, Nissim Ani".
[1], 246 leaves. Without leaf of approbations following title page. 23.5 cm. Margins trimmed, affecting many glosses. Good condition. Stains. Old binding.
Category
Kabbalah - Manuscripts and Glosses
Catalogue
Auction 70 - Judaica - Books, Manuscripts, Rabbinical Letters, Ceremonial Art
March 31, 2020
Opening: $300
Sold for: $1,375
Including buyer's premium
Three manuscripts of Practical Kabbalah, in Oriental script:
1. Large-sized manuscript, composition of Practical Kabbalah - zodiac signs, segulot, hashbaot and incantations, angelic script and Angels' seals, kabbalistic diagrams and illustrations, and more. [Yemen? ca. early 20th century]. Approx. 40 written pages. 33 cm. Good condition. Stains. Wear and tears, primarily to margins. Ink fading in several places. Detached leaves. Without binding.
2. Medium-sized manuscript, composition of Practical Kabbalah - zodiac signs, hashbaot, segulot and incantations, angelic script and Angels' seals, kabbalistic diagrams and illustrations, and more. [Yemen? ca. early 20th century]. Approx. 60 written pages. 27 cm. Good condition. Stains. Minor tears. Detached leaves. Without binding.
3. Manuscript, Goral HaChol (Geomancy), in Judeo-Arabic. [Yemen? ca. early 20th century]. Approx. 50 written pages. 22 cm. Good condition. Stains. Worming. Detached leaves. Without binding.
Enclosed:
• Dozens of leaves from a kabbalist presumably proficient in performing Goral HaChol, who practiced in Eretz Israel in the early 20th century. These leaves document the dozens of times he performed Goral HaChol for the men and women who consulted him. For each person, he recorded the querent's name, their father's or mother's name, the matter they were seeking advice on, alongside various dots and dashes he wrote while performing the lot. Approx. 30 written pages. 21-23 cm. Good condition. Stains and wear.
1. Large-sized manuscript, composition of Practical Kabbalah - zodiac signs, segulot, hashbaot and incantations, angelic script and Angels' seals, kabbalistic diagrams and illustrations, and more. [Yemen? ca. early 20th century]. Approx. 40 written pages. 33 cm. Good condition. Stains. Wear and tears, primarily to margins. Ink fading in several places. Detached leaves. Without binding.
2. Medium-sized manuscript, composition of Practical Kabbalah - zodiac signs, hashbaot, segulot and incantations, angelic script and Angels' seals, kabbalistic diagrams and illustrations, and more. [Yemen? ca. early 20th century]. Approx. 60 written pages. 27 cm. Good condition. Stains. Minor tears. Detached leaves. Without binding.
3. Manuscript, Goral HaChol (Geomancy), in Judeo-Arabic. [Yemen? ca. early 20th century]. Approx. 50 written pages. 22 cm. Good condition. Stains. Worming. Detached leaves. Without binding.
Enclosed:
• Dozens of leaves from a kabbalist presumably proficient in performing Goral HaChol, who practiced in Eretz Israel in the early 20th century. These leaves document the dozens of times he performed Goral HaChol for the men and women who consulted him. For each person, he recorded the querent's name, their father's or mother's name, the matter they were seeking advice on, alongside various dots and dashes he wrote while performing the lot. Approx. 30 written pages. 21-23 cm. Good condition. Stains and wear.
Category
Kabbalah - Manuscripts and Glosses
Catalogue
Auction 70 - Judaica - Books, Manuscripts, Rabbinical Letters, Ceremonial Art
March 31, 2020
Opening: $300
Unsold
Several leaf fragments from a "binding's genizah", remnants of early manuscripts:
• Double parchment leaf (two pages on each side), fragment of a manuscript of Torat HaBayit HaKatzar by the Rashba. Semi-cursive Sephardic script. [Ca. 15th century].
• Four paper fragments from a manuscript of the works of kabbalist R. Avraham Abulafia (passages of his compositions Mafte'ach HaShemot and Imrei Shefer). Ashkenazic script. [Ca. 15th century].
4 paper fragments and a parchment leaf. Size and condition vary. Significant tears and damage due to use in binding, affecting text with loss.
• Double parchment leaf (two pages on each side), fragment of a manuscript of Torat HaBayit HaKatzar by the Rashba. Semi-cursive Sephardic script. [Ca. 15th century].
• Four paper fragments from a manuscript of the works of kabbalist R. Avraham Abulafia (passages of his compositions Mafte'ach HaShemot and Imrei Shefer). Ashkenazic script. [Ca. 15th century].
4 paper fragments and a parchment leaf. Size and condition vary. Significant tears and damage due to use in binding, affecting text with loss.
Category
Early Manuscripts - 15th and 16th Centuries
Catalogue
Auction 70 - Judaica - Books, Manuscripts, Rabbinical Letters, Ceremonial Art
March 31, 2020
Opening: $300
Sold for: $750
Including buyer's premium
Varied collection of handwritten leaves and manuscript fragments, including some early manuscripts, in Sephardic, Oriental and Yemenite scripts:
• Leaf fragments from a binding's genizah, with early inscriptions, presumably from Salonika, 16th century. Records of the various communities in the city: "Calabria Chadash", "Calabria Yashan", "Isphania" (Spanish), "Aragon", "Shalom", "Etz Chaim", "Gerush Catalans", and others; with the names of many community members, including "Yosef Taitazak" (perhaps the renowned Maharit, d. 1546, leading Salonika Torah scholar and teacher of the Maharshdam and R. Shlomo Alkabetz), "Yehuda Benveniste", "Yitzchak Baruchiel", "Moshe Gabriel" and others.
• Two additional leaf fragments, with lists of notables, presumably also from Salonika. One of the fragments mentions: "Vidal Cid", "Vidal Gedalia", "Yitzchak Abarbanel", "Yitzchak Penso" and others.
• Five leaf fragments, in early Yemenite script, from an unidentified composition in Judeo-Arabic. [Yemen, 16th century?]. The leaves were repaired with restoration paper.
• Five parchment fragments, from early manuscripts. Two of them contain parts of Pirkei Avot (in Sephardic square script); in the others, the ink has faded almost completely, to the point that the composition is difficult to identify.
• Endpaper of a book, a lengthy note of Torah thoughts in Sephardic script, Ashkenazic and Sephardic inscriptions and signatures.
• Endpaper of a book, inscriptions pertaining to the calculation of the new moon, with an ownership inscription: "Given to Avraham by R. Eli[--?], who resides in the home of R. Chaim Egozi".
• Handwritten leaf, transcript of a Beit Din ruling pertaining to property ownership. [Morocco]. The ruling concludes: "The perfect scholar, superior dayan R. Moshe Benhamou and his veteran disciples R. David Benshetrit, R. Meir De Avila and R. Masoud Benrebbouh…".
• 31 leaves from a siddur, in Yemenite script. Small format. [Yemen].
• Leaves from Anshei Chayil - lithograph of a halachic responsum by R. Yehuda Bibas pertaining to Etrogim. Approx. 3 out of 15 leaves. (Enclosed: offprint of an article by Prof. Meir Benayahu: New Information Regarding R. Yehuda Bibas).
• Other leaves from manuscripts (Halachah, piyyutim and others).
Approx. 50 leaves and leaf fragments. Size and condition vary.
• Leaf fragments from a binding's genizah, with early inscriptions, presumably from Salonika, 16th century. Records of the various communities in the city: "Calabria Chadash", "Calabria Yashan", "Isphania" (Spanish), "Aragon", "Shalom", "Etz Chaim", "Gerush Catalans", and others; with the names of many community members, including "Yosef Taitazak" (perhaps the renowned Maharit, d. 1546, leading Salonika Torah scholar and teacher of the Maharshdam and R. Shlomo Alkabetz), "Yehuda Benveniste", "Yitzchak Baruchiel", "Moshe Gabriel" and others.
• Two additional leaf fragments, with lists of notables, presumably also from Salonika. One of the fragments mentions: "Vidal Cid", "Vidal Gedalia", "Yitzchak Abarbanel", "Yitzchak Penso" and others.
• Five leaf fragments, in early Yemenite script, from an unidentified composition in Judeo-Arabic. [Yemen, 16th century?]. The leaves were repaired with restoration paper.
• Five parchment fragments, from early manuscripts. Two of them contain parts of Pirkei Avot (in Sephardic square script); in the others, the ink has faded almost completely, to the point that the composition is difficult to identify.
• Endpaper of a book, a lengthy note of Torah thoughts in Sephardic script, Ashkenazic and Sephardic inscriptions and signatures.
• Endpaper of a book, inscriptions pertaining to the calculation of the new moon, with an ownership inscription: "Given to Avraham by R. Eli[--?], who resides in the home of R. Chaim Egozi".
• Handwritten leaf, transcript of a Beit Din ruling pertaining to property ownership. [Morocco]. The ruling concludes: "The perfect scholar, superior dayan R. Moshe Benhamou and his veteran disciples R. David Benshetrit, R. Meir De Avila and R. Masoud Benrebbouh…".
• 31 leaves from a siddur, in Yemenite script. Small format. [Yemen].
• Leaves from Anshei Chayil - lithograph of a halachic responsum by R. Yehuda Bibas pertaining to Etrogim. Approx. 3 out of 15 leaves. (Enclosed: offprint of an article by Prof. Meir Benayahu: New Information Regarding R. Yehuda Bibas).
• Other leaves from manuscripts (Halachah, piyyutim and others).
Approx. 50 leaves and leaf fragments. Size and condition vary.
Category
Early Manuscripts - 15th and 16th Centuries
Catalogue
Auction 70 - Judaica - Books, Manuscripts, Rabbinical Letters, Ceremonial Art
March 31, 2020
Opening: $400
Sold for: $1,063
Including buyer's premium
Three handwritten leaves, replacements of passages from the book Responsa Binyamin Ze'ev, Venice 1538, presumably handwritten by the author R. Binyamin Ze'ev son of R. Matitya of Arta.
Three leaves written on both sides, in early Italian script from the 16th century, containing passages from Responsa Binyamin Ze'ev. The contents of these passages correspond with the text of leaves 443, 462 and 564 of the printed edition of the book.
The handwriting on the present leaves is typical of the author, who brought the book to print himself. Upon close comparison (see enclosed material), it appears that this is indeed the handwriting of R. Binyamin Ze'ev son of R. Matitya, who presumably wrote these leaves to complete one of the printed copies in his possession which was missing these leaves.
Responsa Binyamin Ze'ev was brought to print by its author, R. Binyamin Ze'ev son of Matitya of Arta, Greece, one of the greatest halachic authorities of his generation. This was the first book of halachic responsa to be published by its author. The author closely supervised the printing, and singlehandedly proofread the work, as he writes in the colophon at the end of the book.
The book aroused great controversy due to several halachic decisions it contains which some leading Italian rabbis strongly contested, and R. Binyamin Ze'ev was dismissed from his position as rabbi of Arta in its wake. Great importance has been ascribed to this book in halachic literature, though some halachic authorities banned it following the opposition it aroused. It is interesting to quote the words of the Maharshal, his contemporary, who opposed relying on the halachic decisions in the book, and relates to the errors which in his opinion crept into it: "If he is righteous, why did G-d allow an error to come about through him? Was he not the writer, who brought the book to print in person?". The Rema, however, lists the author among the greatest halachic authorities and relies upon his decisions. (About the book, the controversy it aroused and the differences between the copies, see: Meir Benayahu, Introduction to Sefer Binyamin Ze'ev, Jerusalem, 1989).
The author reputedly proofread and corrected some of the copies after the printing. Several copies with his handwritten corrections are known to us (see Kedem Auctions: 57 item 170, 62 item 23 and 65 item 73).
[3] leaves (written on both sides). 21 cm. Good-fair condition. Stains. Marginal wear and tears.
Three leaves written on both sides, in early Italian script from the 16th century, containing passages from Responsa Binyamin Ze'ev. The contents of these passages correspond with the text of leaves 443, 462 and 564 of the printed edition of the book.
The handwriting on the present leaves is typical of the author, who brought the book to print himself. Upon close comparison (see enclosed material), it appears that this is indeed the handwriting of R. Binyamin Ze'ev son of R. Matitya, who presumably wrote these leaves to complete one of the printed copies in his possession which was missing these leaves.
Responsa Binyamin Ze'ev was brought to print by its author, R. Binyamin Ze'ev son of Matitya of Arta, Greece, one of the greatest halachic authorities of his generation. This was the first book of halachic responsa to be published by its author. The author closely supervised the printing, and singlehandedly proofread the work, as he writes in the colophon at the end of the book.
The book aroused great controversy due to several halachic decisions it contains which some leading Italian rabbis strongly contested, and R. Binyamin Ze'ev was dismissed from his position as rabbi of Arta in its wake. Great importance has been ascribed to this book in halachic literature, though some halachic authorities banned it following the opposition it aroused. It is interesting to quote the words of the Maharshal, his contemporary, who opposed relying on the halachic decisions in the book, and relates to the errors which in his opinion crept into it: "If he is righteous, why did G-d allow an error to come about through him? Was he not the writer, who brought the book to print in person?". The Rema, however, lists the author among the greatest halachic authorities and relies upon his decisions. (About the book, the controversy it aroused and the differences between the copies, see: Meir Benayahu, Introduction to Sefer Binyamin Ze'ev, Jerusalem, 1989).
The author reputedly proofread and corrected some of the copies after the printing. Several copies with his handwritten corrections are known to us (see Kedem Auctions: 57 item 170, 62 item 23 and 65 item 73).
[3] leaves (written on both sides). 21 cm. Good-fair condition. Stains. Marginal wear and tears.
Category
Early Manuscripts - 15th and 16th Centuries
Catalogue