Rabbinische Gutachten über die Beschneidung [Rabbinical opinions on circumcision], compiled by Salomon Abraham Trier [R. Shlomo Zalman son of Avraham Trier]. Frankfurt am Main, 1844. German and Hebrew.
On the flyleaf, a handwritten inscription (in German and Hebrew) by "Dr. Wormser" [R. Shlomo Wormser (1814-1887), son of R. Shmuel Wormser Rabbi of Langen-Schwalbach and grandson of R. Shlomo Zalman Worms Rabbi of Fulda]. He relates that he received the book in 1845 from his teacher, R. Zalman Trier (compiler of the book; ordained Dr. Wormser for the rabbinate in 1834). He writes that R. Trier harshly criticized him for not writing an opinion letter to be published in this book.
In 1843, a Frankfurt-based newspaper published an article calling for the complete abolition of the mitzvah of circumcision, signed "Friends of the Reform". That same year, the Reform pedagogue Joseph Johlson (1777-1851) published a booklet in which he stated that every Jewish institution is entitled to replace circumcision with a different ritual. The group "Friends of the Reform" alleged that circumcision was the cause of crib deaths; due to the group's lobbying, the municipality of Frankfurt agreed to list uncircumcised children as Jews in the population registrars.
The rabbi of Frankfurt, R. Shlomo Zalman Trier (1758-1847), vigorously fought this decision and submitted several petitions to the municipality, stating that by Jewish law an uncircumcised boy cannot be called a Jew.
Simultaneously, R. Trier (together with R. Yissachar Ber Adler and R. Aharon Fuld) began to collect opinion letters from leading rabbis and Jewish intellectuals, on the importance of circumcision. 28 of these letters were printed in the present book. Among the writers: R. Yitzchak Dov HaLevi Bamberger of Würzburg; R. Samson Raphael Hirsch (then Rabbi of Emden); R. Yaakov Ettlinger of Altona, the Aruch LaNer; R. Yaakov Zvi Mecklenburg, author of HaKtav VehaKabbalah; Leopold Zunz of Berlin; Isaak Noah Mannheimer of Vienna and Samuel David Luzzatto (Shadal) of Padua.
XXIV, 240 pages. 19.5 cm. Good condition. Original binding.
Noted on the title page: "Als manuskript gedruckt" [printed as a manuscript]. R. Binyamin Shlomo Hamburger (in his book HaYeshiva HaRama BeFiurda) explains that in order to avoid a public controversy, very few copies of the book were printed and they were never sold by booksellers. R. Hamburger writes that the book is scarce.

PLEASE NOTE: Item descriptions were shortened in translation. For further information, please refer to Hebrew text.

Manuscript, Hazkarat Neshamot pinkas (memorial book) of the burial society of Szeged (Hungary), [1879 onward].
Printed in gold on thick paper at the front of the pinkas: "Chevra Kadisha Gemilut Chassadim – Szeged, Elul 1879".
The pinkas lists hundreds of names of community members, including the rabbis and dayanim (R. Tzvi Bak, R. Yehuda [Leopold] Löw, R. Yosef Klein, R. Yosef Eliezer Bak and R. Elazar Ze'ev Seelenfreund).
With an inscription in memory of Lady Judith Montefiore, wife of Sir Moses Montefiore.
The Montefiores financially supported many charity organizations in Jewish communities worldwide. As a token of appreciation, they were appointed honorary presidents or honorary members of many Jewish organizations, and were mentioned in synagogue prayers.
More than 20 written leaves, and many more empty pages. 20 cm. Good condition. Stains. Tears and wear. Pieces of paper with handwritten corrections on some leaves. Fine velvet binding, with gilt design. Damage to binding.

PLEASE NOTE: Item descriptions were shortened in translation. For further information, please refer to Hebrew text.

Torah scroll in neat script. [Slovakia, second half of the 19th century].
Ink on parchment. Neat Ashkenazic Arizal script. 42 lines per column. Vavei HaAmudim scroll, corresponding with one of the Tikkunei Sofrim published in the second half of the 19th century.
Height of parchment: approx. 52 cm. Height of rollers: 100 cm. Good condition. Stains, including dark stains. Ink faded or crumbled in several places.
Expert report enclosed.

PLEASE NOTE: Item descriptions were shortened in translation. For further information, please refer to Hebrew text.

Manuscript, Psalms and individualized prayers based on the names "Moshe son of Rachel", "Perel Nesel daughter of Esther" and "Shmuel son of Esther". Ashkenazic Stam script, on parchment. [Europe, ca. 19th century].
The manuscript includes: Psalms 22, 121, 20; verses from Psalm 119 spelling out the name "Moshe son of Rachel" (presumably the name of the writer); a prayer requesting G-d's assistance for repentance; verses from Psalm 119 beginning with the letters of the names "Perel Nesel daughter of Esther" and "Shmuel son of Esther"; prayer requesting that G-d grant him children who will live a long life without sin; prayer for Yom Kippur eve (similar to the Tefilla Zaka prayer), and another prayer requesting that his prayers be accepted.
[16] parchment leaves. Approx. 17 cm. Good condition. Stains and wear. New binding.

PLEASE NOTE: Item descriptions were shortened in translation. For further information, please refer to Hebrew text.