Auction 96 Early Printed Books, Chassidut and Kabbalah, Books Printed in Jerusalem, Letters and Manuscripts
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Title page illustrated with fine woodcut frame for each part. Fine original binding, leather-coated wood, with depictions of characters and other decorations.
Ownership inscriptions on title page: "Shimon son of Yosef, relative [?] of R. Yaakov Oppenburg, purchased", "Yaakov son of Yehudah…", "Shlomo son of R. Shmuel Block of Heigerloch". Other inscriptions.
Two parts in one volume. Levush HaButz VeArgaman: 108 leaves. Levush Ir Shushan: 192 leaves. Approx. 31 cm. Somewhat dark paper, fair condition. Many stains, including large stains to several leaves. Heavy wear. Heavy worming to some leaves, affecting text. Tears, including open tears (including to title page of Ir Shushan), affecting text. Early binding, leather-coated wood, with decorations and remains of clasps. Wear and damage to binding.
Maavar Yabok, laws concerning death and bereavement, confessions and prayers, ethical and kabbalistic matters, by the kabbalist R. Aaron Berechiah of Modena. Mantua: Yehudah Shmuel of Perugia, [1626]. First edition.
Divided into four sections: Siftei Tzedek, Sefat Emet, Siftei Renanot and Anan HaKetoret (the fourth section is comprised of three parts: Seder Pitum HaKetoret, Korban Taanit and Minchat Aharon).
On verso of title page, inscription in Italian, dedication in the merit of a deceased person. On margins of leaves 39 and 43, lengthy additions in square Italian script (partially trimmed).
The author, R. Aharon Berechiah of Modena, author of Maavar Yabok (d. 1639), leading kabbalist and spiritual leader in Italy. Disciple of the renowned kabbalist R. Menachem Azariah (Rama) of Fano and R. Yisrael Sarug. He is renowned for instituting prayers and customs accepted throughout the Jewish world and for his book Maavar Yabok, a classic work reprinted in dozens of editions and quoted extensively in books of halachah and customs.
40 leaves, 41-55 pages, 57-84 leaves; 1-146, 149-162, 155-172 leaves. Leaf 16 of first sequence is blank. 19 cm. Fair condition. Many stains, including dark dampstains and traces of former dampness, with many mold stains. Wear. Tears and open tears, slightly affecting text, partially repaired with paper. Margins of leaves repaired with paper in several places. Several leaves and gatherings loose and detached. Stamp. Old, worn binding, loose, without spine.
Kenaf Renanim, songs, bakashot and piyyutim for various occasions, with explanations. By R. Yosef Yedidiah son of R. Binyamin Yekutiel Carmi. Venice: Giovanni Caleoni, 1626.
Kenaf Renanim contains supplications and piyyutim to be recited at daybreak on weekdays, Shabbat and festivals. These piyyutim were composed by R. Yosef Yedidiah Carmi, a kabbalist, poet and rabbi in Modena, Italy. Before this book was printed, a fierce polemic broke out against these piyyutim which were being circulated in manuscript among Italian sages. The author's brother-in-law, the famed Kabbalist R. Aharon Berachiah of Modena, author of Maavar Yabok, headed the conflict, opposing the premise of prayers composed by contemporaries, especially those which are not compatible with the Arizal's kabbalistic approach.
Nonetheless, the book received enthusiastic approbations by Italian Torah scholars. In his second introduction to the book, the author writes at length about the background of the polemic and explains the claims of both parties and his rejoinder, including a report that the Rama of Fano was fond of the confession in Kenaf Renanim.
12; 107, [11] leaves. Misfoliation. Fair-good condition. Stains, including dampstains. Wear. Worming to title page and several other leaves, affecting text. Tears and open tears, including small tear to title page, affecting title frame. Loose leaves and gatherings. Inscriptions. Early leather binding, with clasps. Wear and damage to binding.
Two books by R. Yehudah Aryeh of Modena – first and second edition of Galut Yehudah, with first edition of Pi Aryeh.
• Galut Yehudah, Hebrew-Italian dictionary of Tanach and Pirkei Avot, by R. Yehudah Aryeh of Modena. Venice: Giacomo Sarzina, 1612. First edition.
[10], 9-40; 42-43, 46-62, 64-106, [103]-112, [2] leaves. 18.5 cm. Good-fair condition. Stains, including ink stains to title page. Marginal worming to several leaves. Small open tear to title page, repaired with paper. Close trimming, affecting upper part of title frame. Old, worn binding, detached.
• Galut Yehuda, Padua: Giulio Crivellari, 1640. Includes at the end: Pi Aryeh (with divisional title page), additions to the dictionary and explanations of words used by rabbis, commentators and other authors, by R. Yehudah Aryeh of Modena. Venice: Gioanni Calleoni, 1640. Second edition of Galut Yehudah, and first edition of Pi Aryeh.
Inscriptions, including ownership inscriptions and signatures in various places.
Censor's signature on title page.
[8], 9-40, 42-43, 46-62, 64-114; 14, [3] leaves. Galut Yehudah lacking two leaves after title page. Last three leaves of Galut Yehudah, with index of names, bound at end of volume (after Pi Yehudah). 18.5 cm. Fair-good condition. Many stains, including dampstains. Wear. Tears, including open tears, affecting text on several leaves. Worming, slightly affecting text on several leaves, repaired with paper. Old binding, damaged (large tears and detached spine).
Tikkun Leil Shavuot and Hoshana Rabba, based on the prayer service in Shnei Luchot HaBrit (Shlah), with kavanot of Holy Names from the Arizal. Slavita (Slavuta): R. Shmuel Avraham Shapiro son of the Rabbi of Slavita, 1827.
Some words on title page printed in red ink.
[2], 165 leaves. 21.5 cm. Bluish paper. Most leaves in good-fair condition. Stains, including dampstains. Wear. Small marginal tears to title page and several other leaves. Open tear to last leaf, affecting text. Early leather binding, mostly missing (only back part remains).
Another edition was printed concurrently by the same printer, with [2], 135 leaves. Copies of the present edition are known to have slight variants in the censor's name and a few typographical differences (see Bibliography of the Hebrew Book, entry 000303939).
Chok LeYisrael, daily study in Torah, Neviim, Ketuvim, Mishnah, Gemara and Kabbalah, based on the Arizal's study routine, with Yosef LaChok by the Chida. Zhitomir: Chanina Lipa and Yehoshua Heshel Shapiro, 1865. Complete five-volume set.
Two title pages for each volume (except for the Devarim volume, which is missing the first title page). Some words on first title pages printed in red ink.
Signatures and inscriptions of "Yosef Motetz of Bila Tserkva". Stamps of "Aharon Shlomo Lieberman, Jerusalem". Ownership inscriptions in various places. Study routine and family inscriptions.
Five volumes. Bereshit: 5, 5-252, 257-259 leaves. Shemot: 244 leaves. Vayikra: 239 leaves. Bamidbar: 226 leaves. Devarim: 2-246 leaves. Missing first title page. 19.5-20 cm. Overall good-fair condition. Some leaves in several places in fair condition. Stains, including dampstains. Wear. Tears, including open tears in several places, affecting text, partially repaired with paper. Part of margins of title page and other leaves repaired with paper. Stamps and handwritten inscriptions. Old, uniform bindings, with leather spines. Heavy wear and damage to bindings.
Vayikra and Devarim volumes not recorded in Bibliography of the Hebrew Book. Bereshit recorded based only on photocopy of title page.
The Significance and Segulah of Reciting Chok LeYisrael Daily
The custom of reciting passages daily from the Bible, Mishnah, Talmud and Zohar was established by the Arizal, who observed this custom himself. The order printed in Chok LeYisrael is for the most part based on the writings of the Arizal in various places. The Chida added to this regimen daily halachic passages, taken from the Rambam's Mishneh Torah and Shulchan Aruch, as well as passages from ethical books. The Chida's additions are called Yosef LaChok. The purpose of the Chok LeYisrael order of study, as explained in the writings of the Arizal, is both for the perfection and tikkun of the soul, nourishing it through the study of the various parts of the Torah, and for effecting tikkunim and yichudim in the upper spheres.
Many prominent Chassidic leaders, and especially the Tzaddikim of the Chernobyl dynasty, spoke in sublime terms of the segulah of the Chok LeYisrael study regimen, and attested that it provides a tikkun for sins in matters of holiness. Rebbe Yisrael Dov of Vilednik writes in his book She'erit Yisrael (Shaar HaShovavim, homily I) that studying Chok LeYisrael serves as Tikkun HaBrit, "as I received from my master [Rebbe Mordechai of Chernobyl], that true tikkun is achieved by attaching oneself to both the Written and Oral Law, through Chok LeYisrael… and therefore in these times with the approach of the Messiah, the Yosef LaChok book has been published, authored by the Chida, disciple of R. Chaim ibn Attar the Or HaChaim, who embodies the lights of both Mashiach ben David and Mashiach ben Yosef, akin to the kabbalistic concept of an all-encompassing Tzaddik capable of effecting a tikkun for the imperfections of the entire Jewish people".
Rebbe Avraham of Trisk, son of Rebbe Mordechai of Chernobyl, writes: "And following the prayers, one should recite Chok LeYisrael, every single day unfailingly… and through this he causes G-d to be filled with mercy for the Jewish people" (Magen Avraham, 96a).
Great rabbis of previous generations have spoken of great segulot attained by reciting Chok LeYisrael. Some wrote that it is also a segulah for livelihood (the Rebbe of Shinova is said to have based this on the statement of the Talmud, "Chok means sustenance"). R. Yaakov Rokeach, in his foreword Maaseh Rokeach to Chok LeYisrael, wrote: "It is a mitzvah for every Jew to buy himself a Chok LeYisrael, to read from it every day…".
Mivchar HaPeninim, sayings of the ancient philosophers with commentary. Zhitomir: Aryeh Leib Shapiro, grandson of the Rabbi of Slavita, 1858.
Bound with: Maalot HaTorah by R. Avraham brother of the Vilna Gaon. [Königsberg (Kaliningrad): Gruber and Langrien, 1858]. Missing title page and last leaf.
Mivchar HaPeninim: 65 pages. Maalot HaTorah: [2], 4-24 leaves. Missing title page and last leaf. Approx. 16 cm. Fair-good condition. Stains, including dampstains to title page and additional leaves. Marginal worming to last leaves in second book. Uneven trimming in Mivchar HaPeninim (gatherings bound at different heights). Stamp. Early binding, worn and damaged, with most of spine missing.
Responsa Mayim Chaim, two parts, by R. Chaim HaKohen Rappaport, Rabbi of Ostroh. Zhitomir: R. Chanina Lipa and R. Yehoshua Heshel Shapiro, grandsons of the Rabbi of Slavita, 1857. First edition. With approbations of Rebbe Mordechai of Chernobyl and the Sar Shalom of Belz.
In Part I, section 27, there is a letter from Mezhibuzh sent to R. Meir (son of R. Yaakov Emden), Rabbi of Konstantin (Konstantynów Łódzki), regarding a kosher issue permitted by the local rabbi but questioned by several prominent members of the community. The signatories to the question include: "Yisrael Baal Shem of Tłuste [Tovste]" – the Baal Shem Tov. R. Meir's lengthy response justifies their concern and disputes the ruling of the Rabbi of Mezhibuzh. The responsum opens with several lines of honorifics and appreciation for the Baal Shem Tov: "chief in Judah and Israel… finder of ailment and cure… extraordinary, celebrated with a high reputation, R. Yisrael…" (the decipherment and interpretation of the lengthy and poetic titles offered at the beginning of this responsum is discussed at length in the scholarly literature).
Both parts of the book are bound together, Part I on Orach Chaim and Yoreh Deah, and Part II on Even HaEzer and Choshen Mishpat. Kuntres Otzrot Chaim is printed at the end of Part II, with novellae on Aggadot and pilpul on the Torah portions by the author and his son the publisher. The book also includes responsa from the author's grandfather and uncles, who were leading Torah scholars. At the beginning of the book is printed a letter by the Ohev Yisrael of Apta agreeing with the author's ruling. The letter is printed with the approbations to the book, as a sort of approbation for the author.
84; 151 pages. Two title pages for each part, and an additional title page for Kuntres Otzrot Chaim bound at the end of the book (total of five title pages). Leaf 3 of Part I is bound after leaf 4. 30.5 cm. Overall good condition. Stains (many stains on first title page). Creases. Stamps of the "Kollel Kovno library" and additional stamps. New binding.
Jerusalem Talmud. Zhitomir: R. Chanina Lipa and R. Yehoshua Heshel Shapiro, 1860-1867. Five parts in four volumes.
Jerusalem Talmud, with the Pnei Moshe, Mareh HaPanim, Korban HaEdah and Sheyarei Korban commentaries. This is the first edition of the Pnei Moshe and Mareh HaPanim commentaries to orders Zeraim-Moed.
The Nezikin volume includes leaves 4-19 of Minchat HaBoker on Tractate Bava Metzia by R. Shlomo Yehudah Aryeh Leib Morgenstern (Warsaw 1883).
Stamp on Nezikin volume: "Belongs to the Kloiz of R. Getzel of Uman". On Nashim volume, stamp of the Berlin Rabbinical Seminary.
Four volumes. Vol. I (Order Zeraim): [5], 14, 14-60; 30; 31; 33; 42; 18; 24; 18; 24, 23-33; 14; 9 leaves. Tractate Kilayim bound after Tractate Challah. Vol. II (Order Moed): [2], 52; 55; 61; [1], 39; 2-31; 17, 17-23; 20; 21; 2-23; 5, 7-32; 20; 17; 34 leaves. Lacking title page of Tractate Eruvin. 34 leaves with Pnei Moshe and Mareh HaPanim on Tractate Shabbat bound at end of volume. Leaf 23 of Tractate Sukkah appears twice. Vol. III (Order Nashim): [2], 79; 45; 64; 34; 56; 51; 41 leaves. Vol IV (Order Nezikin and Tractate Niddah): [2], 33; 2-29; 2-26; 42; 31; 17, 17-26; 6; 15; 9 leaves. Tractate Makkot bound after Tractate Avodah Zarah. 36-39.5 cm. Good to good-fair condition, first leaves of Nezikin volume in fair condition. Stains. Tears, including open tears (tear on title page of Order Nezikin, affecting title frame). Light worming in several places. Old bindings, mostly leather, with damage and tears (spine of one volume partially torn and detached; non-uniform bindings).
Collection of title pages, leaves and parts of books, printed in Slavita, Zhitomir, and in Russia-Poland in the 19th century:
The collection includes: • Or Zarua, Part II, by R. Yitzchak of Vienna. Zhitomir, 1862. • Siddur HaAri Kol Yaakov by R. Yaakov Koppel Lipschitz of Mezeritch, Part II, leaves 179-185 – order of Lulav, Sukkah and Hoshanot. Slavita, [1804]. First edition. • Shulchan Aruch Yoreh Deah, laws of terefot. Zhitomir, 1866. Partial copy.
The collection also includes many title pages of books printed in Slavita and Zhitomir; see Hebrew description for listing.
Over 30 items. Varying size and condition.
Fourteen books printed in Russia and Poland in between 1794-1819, some containing signatures and ownership inscriptions.
14 books. Varying size and condition. Most in new bindings. The books have not been thoroughly examined, and are being sold as is.
See Hebrew description for list of books.
Volume comprising two books by R. Refael Shlomo Laniado, among the great Rabbis of Aleppo:
Beit Dino Shel Shlomo, responsa, by R. Refael Shlomo Laniado. Constantinople: Shmuel Ashkenazi, [1775].
Bound with: Lechem Shlomo, by R. Refael Shlomo Laniado. Constantinople: Shmuel Ashkenazi, [1775].
Index of Beit Dino Shel Shlomo printed in leaves 31-44 of Lechem Shlomo.
Handwritten gloss in Oriental script on p. 33a of Beit Dino Shel Shlomo.
Two books in one volume. Beit Dino Shel Shlomo: [8], 228 leaves. Lechem Shlomo: 44 leaves. 32 cm. Fair-good condition. Stains, including dampstains. Worming, affecting text. Original leather binding, with damage and worming in many places.