Auction 82 - Part I - Judaica – Books, Manuscripts, Rabbinical Letters, Ceremonial Art
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Large certificate, in neat scribal script. Signed by the Torah scholars and rabbis of Marrakesh: the head of the Beit Din R. Yaakov Benchaim; and the dayanim R. Avraham Benmoha, R. Yemin Kohen and R. Avraham Zrihen.
Additional authorization signed by R. Shlomo Assabag, also a dayan and rabbi in Marrakesh.
R. Eliyahu Illouz (1860-1929), rabbi of Tiberias, travelled on behalf of the Tiberias community to Morocco in the 1890s, and again in 1899 together with his son, R. Yosef Chaim Illouz (1880-1961), also a leading Torah scholar in Tiberias.
46X37 cm. Fair condition. Stains, including dampstains. Folding marks. Tears to folds and margins, affecting text.
Large parchment sheet with a rounded top. Square and semi-cursive (Rashi) script. Decorated with verses at the top. Some letters are enlarged for emphasis and ornamentation.
The emissary letter describes the financial difficulties of the yeshiva, as well as the salvations and miracles experienced by those who donate in the name of R. Meir Baal HaNess.
At the foot of the certificate there are dozens of calligraphic signatures of rabbis of Tiberias. The signatories include: R. Eliyahu Illouz, R. Elazar Bahloul, R. Eliyahu Benkiki, R. Betzalel Chai Assabag, R. David Reina, R. Chaim HaLevi Bensoussan, R. Yehuda Toledano, R. Yosef Chaim Illouz, R. Yaakov Bukai, R. Yaakov Vaknin, R. Yaakov Chai Zrihen, R. Yaakov Moshe Toledano, R. Yaakov Tzuri, R. Yitzchak Meir HaLevi Bensoussan, R. Machlouf Shetrit, R. Moshe Avraham Hamaoui, R. Moshe Meir Chai Elyakim, R. Nissim Eliyahu Maman, R. Azariah Chaim HaLevi, R. Akiva Chiya Bahloul, R. Shalom Arouah, R. Shlomo Bensamon, R. Shimon Vaknin, and others. Heading the list of signatories is a calligraphic signature-stamp of the rabbi of the city, R. Aharon Alhadef.
The emissary, R. Eliyahu Adahan (1852-1925) was a rabbi in Tiberias. He served for a while as shochet and bodek in Shechem. He travelled as emissary on behalf of the Sephardi Kollelot to Bukhara, Morocco and Algeria.
Large parchment sheet. 69 cm. Good condition. Stains, folding marks and creases. Some signatures faded.
Most of the letters are from the archive of R. Yosef Deutsch of Jerusalem, who travelled to the United States as emissary of Kollel Shomrei HaChomot in the 1920s. A small part are from the archive of Kollel Vilna in Jerusalem.
The collection includes: certificates (in English) signed by the rabbis of Jerusalem, 1918; agreement between R. Yosef Deutsch and the administration of Kollel Shomrei HaChomot, 1923; protocol signed by the heads of the Kollel, 1922; and various letters, contracts and documents.
55 items, including 50 signed letters. Size and condition vary.
Certificate in calligraphic and cursive script (in color), awarded to the student Mordechai Eichler, who successfully passed the test on tractate Bava Metzia with commentaries, signed by R. Amram Yosef Wallenstein and R. Lipa Zalman Weber.
At the foot of the leaf, two lines handwritten, signed and stamped by the Maharitz Dushinsky, with blessings that he should preserve and increase his Torah knowledge.
R. Yosef Tzvi Dushinky - the Maharitz Dushinsky (1868-1949), leading Hungarian Torah scholar and yeshiva dean, and later chief rabbi of the Edah HaCharedit and leader of Orthodox Jewry in Eretz Israel.
[1] double leaf. 27 cm. Good-fair condition. Stains. Tears and wear. Folding marks.
Large collection of certificates reflecting the variety of educational and charitable institutions operating in Eretz Israel (and particularly in Jerusalem) in the first half of the 20th century, as well as their fundraising efforts.
Most leaves are large and elaborately designed - in color or gilt ink, with many decorations, photographs or illustrations, and were sent to donors who supported the institutions. In some cases, an identical design was used by different institutions.
See Hebrew description for a detailed list of the institutions.
55 paper items. Size and condition vary. Overall good condition. Duplicate copies of some items.
Sheet of paper (A3). On the upper part, color lithograph depicting sites in Jerusalem and throughout Eretz Israel, within an architectonic structure. Produced by Jacob Pesach Wigolik and partner.
On the lower part, an additional lithograph, with blessings in Hebrew and German for donors, from R. Mordechai Kohn Glauberman (d. Tevet 1930. His daughter married the renowned maggid R. Ben Tzion Yadler).
30X47 cm. Overall good condition. Tears, folding marks and stains. Tears professionally restored.
Various printed polemic proclamations; proclamations regarding observance of Shabbat and modesty; proclamations regarding kashrut, shechitah and etrogim; proclamations relating to various polemics on communal and private matters; proclamations regarding the breakaway from the Jewish National Council; announcements about sermons and eulogies, Torah scroll inaugurations, various gatherings and national ceremonies; letters and appeals from public institutions (including leaves with the prayer for candle lighting and other prayers); commercial posters; proclamations regarding elections for various organizations and councils; proclamations issued by Agudath Israel and other parties (including proclamations from the early days of Neturei Karta), and more.
The printed proclamations include announcements in the name of leading rabbis in Eretz Israel: R. Yosef Chaim Sonnenfeld, R. Avraham Yitzchak HaKohen Kook, R. Yosef Tzvi Dushinsky, R. Tzvi Pesach Frank, R. Shimshon Aharon Polonsky and others.
Approx. 400 printed items. Size varies, overall good condition. Duplicate copies of some items.
Personal notebook handwritten by R. Aryeh Levin, the Tzaddik of Jerusalem, including his dream diary and various notes. [Jerusalem, 1930s to ca. 1960s].
The notebook, entirely handwritten by R. Aryeh Levin (in tiny script), comprises records of his dreams (11 pages - most of the notebook) and notes on other topics.
The earliest dream is dated 1928, yet it seems that the dreams were recorded in this notebook after 1936. In some of his dreams, R. Aryeh met Torah leaders such as R. Avraham Yitzchak HaKohen Kook, R. Yosef Chaim Sonnenfeld, the Chazon Ish, R. Tzvi Pesach Frank, R. Isser Zalman Meltzer and R. Yechiel Michel Tucazinsky.
R. Aryeh Levin records a terrifying dream he had on Chanukah 1927, following which he undertook a Taanit Chalom (fast following a bad dream). Later in the day, he met R. Avraham Yitzchak HaKohen Kook and related the dream to him. The latter interpreted it positively and blessed him. When parting, R. Aryeh Levin tripped, breaking his new glasses. Rav Kook took it as a good sign and instructed him to break his fast and rejoice.
Most of the dreams pertain to funerals, eulogies, or meeting the deceased. He once dreamt that he met Rav Kook on Erev Yom Kippur (after the latter's passing) at a rabbinical conference in the great synagogue of Zichron Moshe, and was awed by his glowing countenance. When Rav Kook reminded him that there is a commandment to eat on this day, he answered that he was fully satiated just from seeing his holy appearance. Rav Kook responded in laughter that he must nevertheless eat since the requirement of eating on Erev Yom Kippur cannot be fulfilled through this pleasure.
The rest of the notebook contains various notes handwritten by R. Aryeh: dates of yahrzeits, addresses of acquaintances throughout the world, records of charity funds he was given to distribute, including money he received from R. Yechiel Michel Tucazinsky for the shoe repair fund for schoolboys (see below). Notebook, [13] leaves (approx. 20 written pages).
16 cm. Good condition. Stains. First and final leaves detached.
The Schoolboys' Tattered Shoes
A list with the names of many children who received money for shoe repairs is found on p. [13] of the present notebook, under the title: "Received from R. Yechiel Michel Tucazinsky, 5th Kislev 1939, for the shoe repair fund for schoolboys".
R. Aryeh Levin served as educational supervisor in the Etz Chaim boys' school in Jerusalem. Several stories have been recorded, portraying R. Aryeh Levin's great sensitivity to the suffering of the impoverished children under his care, and his concern for their torn shoes. He would notice how some children arrived to school hungry, in ragged trousers or with tattered shoes. He would discreetly hand them some money to buy shoes, sometimes in guise of a prize for their scholastic success, so as not to embarrass the parents.
The present notebook discloses that these were not isolated incidents of sensitivity and financial assistance to the schoolboys, rather an official fund dedicated to this cause, managed caringly and discretely by the Tzaddik of Jerusalem, R. Aryeh Levin.
Long lists, signed by the sellers or their representatives. Detailed lists of the sellers, the types of items being sold and their precise location are found on the verso of the leaves or in separate notes. Most lists are organized according to neighborhoods (Rehavia, Katamon, Machane Yehuda, Bayit VeGan, Geula, Beit Yisrael, Talpiot, Nachalat Shiva, Givat Shaul, and others). Including records of sale of chametz for neighboring kibbutzim, hospitals and old age homes, institutions and immigration centers, and grocery stores in the transit camps in the Jerusalem corridor (Lifta, Shaar HaGai, Eshtaol and others).
Document recording the sale of the Chametz to the non-Jew "Mustafa Ibrahim Halil, Mukhtar of Beit Safafa", signed by R. Tzvi Pesach Frank, R. Yosef Gershon Horowitz and R. Eli' Re'em.
The hundreds of signatures include many signatures of prominent rabbis and figures, including signatures and inscriptions of: R. Shmuel Yitzchak Hillman, Shai Agnon, R. Elazar Menachem Man Shach (later dean of the Ponovezh yeshiva), R. Shlomo Yosef Zevin, R. Avraham Yitzchak Zalaznik (later dean of the Etz Chaim yeshiva), R. Shlomo Borenstein in the name of R. Chanoch Borenstein (rebbes of Sochatchov in Bayit VeGan), R. Aryeh Levin, R. Simcha Ziskind Broide (later dean of the Hebron yeshiva), R. Betzalel Zolty (later chief rabbi of Jerusalem), and hundreds more (see Hebrew description for more details).
Separate leaf from the Yemenite Beit Din, with 39 signatures.
Approx. 100 leaves. Size and condition vary.
The folder contains various letters and documents (mostly typewritten, with handwritten additions, emendations and signatures), including: letters to and from the society, copies of the society's regulations (in Hebrew and English), protocols of meetings, documents related to the elections for the presidency of the society, and more.
The protocol from Tammuz 1970, recording the election of R. Yehuda Tzadka (dean of the Porat Yosef yeshiva) as president of the society and Chacham Yaakov Ovadia Yosef (father of R. Ovadia Yosef) as vice-president, is signed by all the elected members of the board, including R. Yehuda Tzadka and Chacham Yaakov Ovadia Yosef. Their signatures appear on other documents as well.
A document from 1969 (three typewritten leaves, with many handwritten emendations) is signed by the leading Sephardi rabbis and deans of the Porat Yosef yeshiva - R. Yehuda Tzadka, R. Shabtai Aton, R. Mansour Benshimon and R. Yosef Sharbani.
28 documents (44 leaves, of which 18 leaves in English). Size varies. Overall good condition. Stains, wear and folding marks. The documents are placed in a card folder, inscribed: "Elections 1970 - General Society Ose Hesed".
Fine title page border.
Printed based on the Izmir 1865 edition, with a few omissions and additions.
Ownership inscriptions of "Moshe Peretz" inside the front board. His name is also lettered on the front board.
[4], 60 leaves. 16 cm. Good condition. Minor stains. Tears to several leaves. Open tear to leaf 50, affecting text (undamaged leaf 50 enclosed, from a different copy). Minor worming. Damage to text on final leaf, due to binding. Handwritten inscriptions. Old binding, with owner's name lettered on front. Damage to binding.
14 leaves. 16 cm. Good condition. Stains. Minor wear. Minor tears, including open tear to one leaf, not affecting text. New binding.