Maaseh Rav, practices of the Gaon of Vilna, by R. Yissachar Ber, posek in Vilna. Vilna and Grodno: Menachem Mann son of Baruch and Simchah Simmel son of Menachem Nachum, [1832]. First edition.
Originally printed with two title pages. The present copy lacks the first title page.
First edition of one of the most important books regarding the customs of the Gaon of Vilna. The book records the customs and rulings of the Gaon of Vilna, based on the personal testimonies of his disciples.

[1], 67 pages. Missing first title page. Approx. 20 cm. Overall good condition. Stains. Light wear. Old binding.

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

Collection of Shulchan Aruch books, with commentary by the Gaon of Vilna:

• Ashlei Ravrevei, Shulchan Aruch Yoreh Deah, with Be'er HaGola and commentary by the Gaon of Vilna. Grodno: Yechezkel son of Moshe, Simchah Simmel son of Menachem Nachum and Simchah Simmel son of Yechezkel, 1806. Some letters on the title page in red ink. First edition of the commentary by the Gaon of Vilna.
With foreword by R. Menachem Mendel of Shklov, disciple of the Gaon of Vilna.
On title page (and p. 18a), ownership inscription in Oriental script of R. "Yosef Chalfon Atiya" [of Damascus, held a yeshiva in his house and owned a large library. He bought the library of R. Yisrael Moshe Chazan, when the library was transferred to the possession of R. Shlomo Eliezer Alfandari].
One gloss in Oriental script (p. 158a).
23, [1], 24-176 leaves. 33.5 cm. Fair-good condition. Stains, including dampstains. Worming, affecting text. Tears and open tears to title page and additional pages, slightly affecting text, repaired with pieces of paper. Close trimming on the border of the text in several places, affecting text. Old binding, damaged.

• Apei Ravrevei, Shulchan Aruch Even HaEzer. Vilna and Grodno: Menachem Man son of Baruch and Simchah Simmel son of Menachem Nachum, [1819]. Some letters on the title page in red ink.

The printing of Shulchan Aruch Even HaEzer with the commentary of the Gaon of Vilna began in 1812-1819, yet was interrupted shortly thereafter, due to Napoleon's invasion of Russia that year. The printers only managed to print sections 1-25 (and the beginning of section 26), without the title page. In 1819, the printing resumed, and sections 26-178, the title page and forewords were printed and bound with the incomplete copies printed in 1812. There is a significant difference between the two printings. The part printed in 1812 contains only the commentary of the Gaon of Vilna with the text of the Shulchan Aruch, while the Chelkat Mechokek and Beit Shmuel commentaries were to be printed as an addendum at the end of the book. In the part printed in 1819 however, the Chelkat Mechokek and Beit Shmuel commentaries were returned to their place on each page. In 1819, complementary leaves with the above commentaries pertaining to sections 1-25 were printed (since these sections were originally printed without the commentaries). Concurrently, in 1819, a complete edition of Even HaEzer was printed, in which even sections 1-25 were printed in the new format (with the Chelkat Mechokek and Beit Shmuel commentaries on each page). The present copy belongs to the first, exceptionally rare, edition (combining the 1812 and 1819 editions).

Signature on title page. Stamps of R. "Shlomo son of R. Sh. Kleinplatz, Rabbi of Malkin".

24, 23-55; 188 leaves. 35.5 cm. Good-fair condition. Stains, including dampstains (traces of mold?). Light wear. Marginal tears and open tears, not affecting text, partially repaired with tape. Original binding, with tears and damage.

• Maginei Eretz, Shulchan Aruch Orach Chaim, with Magen David (Turei Zahav) and Magen Avraham, commentary by the Gaon of Vilna and novellae by R. Akiva Eiger Parts I-II. Johannisburg: Georg Stein, 1862. First edition of the Torah novellae by R. Akiva Eiger. Two volumes, one for each part. The present volumes are additionally bound with a title cover (undocumented in the Bibliography of the Hebrew Book).

Part I (sections 1-428): [5], 318 leaves; Part II (sections 429-697): [3], 217, [1] leaves. 38.5 cm. Fair-good condition. Stains, including dampstains. Wear, tears and open tears, especially to first and last leaves (affecting frame of title cover of Part I), partially repaired with pieces of paper. Stamps. Old bindings, worn and torn. Binding of Part I disconnected and missing spine.

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

Printed booklet, "Letter sent from the Ashkenazi rabbis in Eretz Israel, to the sons of Moshe Rabbenu and the Ten Tribes", by R. Yisrael of Shklow, head of the Ashkenazi community in Safed. [Amsterdam: printer not indicated, 1830].
Bound with original color paper wrapper.

In 1830, R. Baruch son of R. Shmuel was sent as the emissary of the Prushim community of Safed. Apart from raising funds, he was given another mission – to locate the Ten Lost Tribes in the desert on the border of Yemen. He was therefore provided with a special letter from R. Yisrael of Shklow, leader of the Prushim in Safed, signed also by the other leaders of the Prushim and Chassidim in Jerusalem and Safed. A copy of the letter was sent to the "Pekidim and Amarkalim", heads of the center for fundraising for Eretz Israel in Amsterdam, where, having made a great impact, the letter was printed and distributed. R. Baruch reached Sanaa in Av 1833, where he was executed on charge of espionage.

4 leaves. Printed without a title page. 19 cm. Good condition. Stains. Original colored paper wrapper.

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

Ketubah for the marriage of Moshe son of Yehudah (Moisés Bensabat) Amzalak with the bride Orovida daughter of Yaakov Sikira. Lisbon, Tamuz 1924.
Ketubah on large sheet of parchment, in semi-cursive Sephardic script, decorated with colors (brown, gold, green, red, yellow and blue).

Like other Ketubot documented from Lisbon, its decorations recall the Ketubot from Gibraltar: headed by a large crown (the crown of the Spanish kingdom), decorated with gold, surrounded by blessings. The text of the Ketubah is surrounded by a styled frame, decorated with flowers and ribbons: its bottom part is styled after a scroll, with branches, stalks and flower bouquets extending from it. In the center of the text, the word "Chai" is enlarged. In the bottom-right corner appears the signature of the artist: "D. M. Benabu. Gibraltar"; apparently the Ketubah was made in Gibraltar for a wedding held in Lisbon.
The text of the Ketubah follows the customs of the Jews expelled from Spain.
On the margins of the Ketubah is the signature of the groom, Moisés Bensabat Amzalak.

The groom, Prof. Moisés Bensabat Amzalak (1892-1978), was a prominent figure in Portugal, and president of the Jewish community in the country for over 50 years. Amzalak was a world-famous economist, and headed the Portuguese Academy of Sciences. He served as the chief editor of academic journals, and published dozens of books and hundreds of articles in economy and various other topics, including history, Jewish thought and culture, literature, music and more. He served in various leading government offices in Portugal, and drafted the country's financial laws. During World War II he persuaded the Portuguese dictator to take in Jewish refugees from Europe, thus saving tens of thousands of Jews from the Holocaust.

60x70 cm. Good condition. Stains. Some creases.

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