Auction 42 - Rare and Important Items
Displaying 25 - 36 of 112
Auction 42 - Rare and Important Items
November 25, 2014
Opening: $14,000
Unsold
Mikdash Melech, explanation on the Zohar – Part 3 of Vayikra, by the Mekubal Rabbi Shalom Buzaglo. Amsterdam, [1750]. First edition.
• On the leaves before the title page are four closely-written pages, by Rabbi Moshe Shlomo of Tulchyn, disciple of the Vilna Gaon, with a Kabbalistic commentary on the Zohar. One segment is signed with the initials: NLMS. In one place he writes, "See the manuscript of my teacher the Chassid Rabbi Eliyahu of Vilna on his explanation to …". • The book has more than 30 glosses in his own handwriting [two are signed NLMS]. The manuscript and the glosses have never been printed.
The Mekubal Rabbi Moshe Shlomo of Tulchyn, one of the leading disciples of the Vilna Gaon who assisted in editing his kabbalistic writings, served as a magid and rabbi in Vilna. In the list of the Vilna Gaon's disciples recorded by his sons [in the introduction to the Vilna Gaon's commentary on Orach Chaim], they write; "and the fifth [of the Vilna Gaon's disciples] is the famous Rabbi Shlomo of Tulchyn … The great love he had for him was known and he taught him the Zohar and Sefer HaYetzira, and difficulties he found in the Ari's disciples' writing, he explained to the best of his ability and knowledge…". Rabbi Avraham Danzig, author of the Chayei Adam wrote of Rabbi Shlomo; "the great and holy ascetic Chassid the Mekubal Rabbi Moshe Shlomo who was Rabbi here in our community…who spent all his days studying the Torah and fulfilling mitzvoth and fasting and abstaining…He was well-versed in kabbalah and served as Rabbi of our community… all his life, he was occupied with Torah study, G-d's service and fasting…He was so great in the knowledge of the hidden Torah that my mechutan Rabbi Eliyahu testified that he is fitting to receive Torah secrets". Rabbi Moshe Shlomo was an outstanding tsaddik and mekubal and even before he arrived in Vilna, his knowledge of kabbalah was great. Later he merited studying from the Vilna Gaon and became his close disciple in these lofty matters and was worthy of receiving many teachings until Rabbi Shmuel Luria who published his book Sha’ar HaShirim (Warsaw 1890), called him the “disciple companion of the Vilna Gaon in Kabbalah”. Besides being one of the Vilna Gaon’s close disciples, he played an important role in spreading his philosophy, he copied the Gaon’s writings on kabbalah from the Gaon’s own handwriting, edited them and added his glosses. There is almost no work of the Vilna Gaon which is not embellished by his glosses. His glosses on the Gaon’s commentary on Sifra D’Tzniuta and on the Gaon’s explanations on the Zohar and on Tikunei HaZohar and on his commentary to Sefer HaYetzira are all well-known. At times, he expands and expounds the thoughts according to what he had heard from his rabbi verbally. Some of the explanations and thoughts he heard from the Gaon were preserved for generations only due to his copies and several of the Vilna Gaon’s kabbalistic writings were printed from the writings Rabbi Shlomo edited. He died during the life of his teacher and the Gaon’s sons said that after Rabbi Shlomo’s death, the Vilna Gaon was sorry that he did not teach him more secrets and hidden aspects of the Torah. He said, “Why did I hide hidden thoughts from him, did he not fear G-d from his youth with all his might…”. The date of his death and his burial place are unknown. See attached material [which also includes his book Sha’ar HaShirim].
[1], 183 leaves (missing first title page and the following leaf) + 3 leaves [4 pages] of the manuscript. 20 cm. Fair-good condition. Spotting and wear. Worm marks. Detached signatures and leaves. Ancient leather binding, damaged and worn.
• On the leaves before the title page are four closely-written pages, by Rabbi Moshe Shlomo of Tulchyn, disciple of the Vilna Gaon, with a Kabbalistic commentary on the Zohar. One segment is signed with the initials: NLMS. In one place he writes, "See the manuscript of my teacher the Chassid Rabbi Eliyahu of Vilna on his explanation to …". • The book has more than 30 glosses in his own handwriting [two are signed NLMS]. The manuscript and the glosses have never been printed.
The Mekubal Rabbi Moshe Shlomo of Tulchyn, one of the leading disciples of the Vilna Gaon who assisted in editing his kabbalistic writings, served as a magid and rabbi in Vilna. In the list of the Vilna Gaon's disciples recorded by his sons [in the introduction to the Vilna Gaon's commentary on Orach Chaim], they write; "and the fifth [of the Vilna Gaon's disciples] is the famous Rabbi Shlomo of Tulchyn … The great love he had for him was known and he taught him the Zohar and Sefer HaYetzira, and difficulties he found in the Ari's disciples' writing, he explained to the best of his ability and knowledge…". Rabbi Avraham Danzig, author of the Chayei Adam wrote of Rabbi Shlomo; "the great and holy ascetic Chassid the Mekubal Rabbi Moshe Shlomo who was Rabbi here in our community…who spent all his days studying the Torah and fulfilling mitzvoth and fasting and abstaining…He was well-versed in kabbalah and served as Rabbi of our community… all his life, he was occupied with Torah study, G-d's service and fasting…He was so great in the knowledge of the hidden Torah that my mechutan Rabbi Eliyahu testified that he is fitting to receive Torah secrets". Rabbi Moshe Shlomo was an outstanding tsaddik and mekubal and even before he arrived in Vilna, his knowledge of kabbalah was great. Later he merited studying from the Vilna Gaon and became his close disciple in these lofty matters and was worthy of receiving many teachings until Rabbi Shmuel Luria who published his book Sha’ar HaShirim (Warsaw 1890), called him the “disciple companion of the Vilna Gaon in Kabbalah”. Besides being one of the Vilna Gaon’s close disciples, he played an important role in spreading his philosophy, he copied the Gaon’s writings on kabbalah from the Gaon’s own handwriting, edited them and added his glosses. There is almost no work of the Vilna Gaon which is not embellished by his glosses. His glosses on the Gaon’s commentary on Sifra D’Tzniuta and on the Gaon’s explanations on the Zohar and on Tikunei HaZohar and on his commentary to Sefer HaYetzira are all well-known. At times, he expands and expounds the thoughts according to what he had heard from his rabbi verbally. Some of the explanations and thoughts he heard from the Gaon were preserved for generations only due to his copies and several of the Vilna Gaon’s kabbalistic writings were printed from the writings Rabbi Shlomo edited. He died during the life of his teacher and the Gaon’s sons said that after Rabbi Shlomo’s death, the Vilna Gaon was sorry that he did not teach him more secrets and hidden aspects of the Torah. He said, “Why did I hide hidden thoughts from him, did he not fear G-d from his youth with all his might…”. The date of his death and his burial place are unknown. See attached material [which also includes his book Sha’ar HaShirim].
[1], 183 leaves (missing first title page and the following leaf) + 3 leaves [4 pages] of the manuscript. 20 cm. Fair-good condition. Spotting and wear. Worm marks. Detached signatures and leaves. Ancient leather binding, damaged and worn.
Category
Rare and Important Items
Catalogue
Auction 42 - Rare and Important Items
November 25, 2014
Opening: $2,500
Unsold
Sefer HaZohar, by Rabbi Shimon bar Yochai, Part 2, Shemot. [Mantua, 1558]. First printing of the Zohar about 90 years after the printing press was invented because the rabbis did not permit printing the Zohar. [During the printing of this edition, the Cremona printers began to print the Zohar and the last parts were printed in Cremona before they were printed in Mantua].
Hundreds of glosses by several writers (four-five) in early Oriental handwriting from the time of printing (the 16th/17th century), some glosses are characteristic of the 17th/18th centuries. The glosses contain commentaries and comments, some of the comments begin with the initials, Aleph and Shin [Amar S---]. There are also many notes of content summation on the margins of the passages [written by a deep and creative-thinking Torah scholar].
Thousands of version corrections in an ancient handwriting from the time of printing, including additions of words and entire sentences [in comparison to later editions of the Zohar, many of the corrections and additions are unknown and apparently were done according to earlier manuscripts of the Zohar and according to kabbalistic traditions received from the teachings of the Ari].
Incomplete copy, Leaves 65-201 of 269 leaves. Approximately
21 cm. Fair condition, spotting and wear. Fungus marks. Old binding.
Hundreds of glosses by several writers (four-five) in early Oriental handwriting from the time of printing (the 16th/17th century), some glosses are characteristic of the 17th/18th centuries. The glosses contain commentaries and comments, some of the comments begin with the initials, Aleph and Shin [Amar S---]. There are also many notes of content summation on the margins of the passages [written by a deep and creative-thinking Torah scholar].
Thousands of version corrections in an ancient handwriting from the time of printing, including additions of words and entire sentences [in comparison to later editions of the Zohar, many of the corrections and additions are unknown and apparently were done according to earlier manuscripts of the Zohar and according to kabbalistic traditions received from the teachings of the Ari].
Incomplete copy, Leaves 65-201 of 269 leaves. Approximately
21 cm. Fair condition, spotting and wear. Fungus marks. Old binding.
Category
Rare and Important Items
Catalogue
Auction 42 - Rare and Important Items
November 25, 2014
Opening: $2,000
Unsold
Tzofnat Pa’aneach, expounding on Hilchot Terumot of the Rambam, by Rabbi Yosef Rosin Av Beit Din of Dvinsk. Piotrków, 1908. First edition (fourth volume of the series printed during the author’s life).
Five glosses in the handwriting of the author – the Rogatchover Gaon [printed in the Torah journal “Moriah”, 124, 22nd year, issue 8-9, p. 53].
The famous Torah genius Rabbi Yosef Rosin (1858-1936) – known as the Rogatchover Gaon (named after his native city Rogatchev [Rahachow]), was a Chabad-Kapust Chassid. In his youth, he studied under Rabbi Yosef Ber Soloveitchik author of Beit HaLevi together with his son Rabbi Chaim of Brisk. For 40 years, from 1889, he served as the rabbi of the Chabad Chassidic community of Dvinsk in Lithuania alongside the Av Beit Din of the city, author of the Or Sameach. An amazing and exceptional luminary, outstanding for his sharp mind and extraordinary genius, Rabbi Yosef was proficient in the knowledge of all aspects and details of the entire Torah, and was known for his novellae of definitions and deep comprehension and for his original study methods. Many stories circulate relating hisgenius and amazing diligence. He expended much effort in explaining the Rambam’s writings and wrote many halachic responsa. His responsa and novellae were published in the series of his books Tzofnat Pa’aneach. Due to the depth of his words and to his concise style of writing, several projects have been founded in the past few generations with the goal of deciphering and explaining his writings and publishing them in editions with commentaries. His legendary genius earned esteem from the general public in his generation and stirred Bialik’s well-known saying that from the mind of the Rogatchover could be carved out two Einsteins.
134 pages, [2] leaves (including a leaf of novellae by the author’s son-in-law Rabbi Yisrael Abba Tzitron, which is not listed in the Bibliography Institute CD). 30 cm. Good condition. Spotting, slight wear and several tears on the leaf margins.
Enclosed is an authorization by an expert identifying the writer.
Five glosses in the handwriting of the author – the Rogatchover Gaon [printed in the Torah journal “Moriah”, 124, 22nd year, issue 8-9, p. 53].
The famous Torah genius Rabbi Yosef Rosin (1858-1936) – known as the Rogatchover Gaon (named after his native city Rogatchev [Rahachow]), was a Chabad-Kapust Chassid. In his youth, he studied under Rabbi Yosef Ber Soloveitchik author of Beit HaLevi together with his son Rabbi Chaim of Brisk. For 40 years, from 1889, he served as the rabbi of the Chabad Chassidic community of Dvinsk in Lithuania alongside the Av Beit Din of the city, author of the Or Sameach. An amazing and exceptional luminary, outstanding for his sharp mind and extraordinary genius, Rabbi Yosef was proficient in the knowledge of all aspects and details of the entire Torah, and was known for his novellae of definitions and deep comprehension and for his original study methods. Many stories circulate relating hisgenius and amazing diligence. He expended much effort in explaining the Rambam’s writings and wrote many halachic responsa. His responsa and novellae were published in the series of his books Tzofnat Pa’aneach. Due to the depth of his words and to his concise style of writing, several projects have been founded in the past few generations with the goal of deciphering and explaining his writings and publishing them in editions with commentaries. His legendary genius earned esteem from the general public in his generation and stirred Bialik’s well-known saying that from the mind of the Rogatchover could be carved out two Einsteins.
134 pages, [2] leaves (including a leaf of novellae by the author’s son-in-law Rabbi Yisrael Abba Tzitron, which is not listed in the Bibliography Institute CD). 30 cm. Good condition. Spotting, slight wear and several tears on the leaf margins.
Enclosed is an authorization by an expert identifying the writer.
Category
Rare and Important Items
Catalogue
Auction 42 - Rare and Important Items
November 25, 2014
Opening: $1,000
Unsold
Beit Meir, on Shulchan Aruch Even HaEzer, with Tzalot HaBayit – "Debates" on Even HaEzer, by Rabbi Meir Posner. Frankfurt an der Oder, [1787]. Special title page for Tzalot HaBayit.
At the bottom of the title page is a note in the author's handwriting concerning a mistake of the printers: "…(The letter) Mem (was printed) instead of (the letter) Zayin and vice versa…". The book has many glosses in the author's handwriting: corrections or addition of words omitted by the printers (at times, an entire row was omitted, see Leaf 5/2), and glosses with important content [for example, on Leaf 17/2 he retracts his words: "Although this was difficult for me…].
On the title page is a self-dedication: "Given to me by Rabbi --- belongs to Mordechai Pińczów here in Middelburg [?]". At the bottom of the title page is a dedication: "To Moshe…the important book by the outstanding rabbi… Mordechai of Pińczów". A similar dedication is on the title page of Tzalot HaBayit. [At that time, Rabbi Avraham Mordechai of Pińczów was alive. He was a leading Chassidic figure, disciple of the Chozeh of Lublin, Rabbi Levi Yitzchak of Berdychiv, Rabbi Elimelech of Lizhensk, Rabbi Zusha of Annopol, etc. We have not been able to determine that this is his handwriting].
Rabbi Meir Posner (1729-1807, Otzar HaRabbanim 12928), was a prominent rabbi and Torah authority in his times. After his marriage, he lived by his father-in-law in Pozna and was therefore called Posner. After his wife's death, he moved to Lissa where he studied with his companion Rabbi Daved Tevil of Lisa. In 1763, he served as Rabbi of Mezritch whereupon he became famous all over Poland and the leading rabbis of his generation sent him questions [including Rabbi Akiva Eiger who calls him "The Truly Great Gaon…", the Chemdat Shlomo, Rabbi Avraham Danzig author of Chayei Adam, etc]. Afterward he served as Rabbi of Königsberg and later was Av Beit Din of Danzig, Schottland, Weinberg, and Langfuhr. His book Beit Meir on the Shulchan Aruch Even HaEzer is one of the basic works on these laws. He also wrote many other books.
[1], 150, [1], 20 leaves. 33 cm. Good-fair condition. Spotting and wear, worm damages. Damaged binding.
At the bottom of the title page is a note in the author's handwriting concerning a mistake of the printers: "…(The letter) Mem (was printed) instead of (the letter) Zayin and vice versa…". The book has many glosses in the author's handwriting: corrections or addition of words omitted by the printers (at times, an entire row was omitted, see Leaf 5/2), and glosses with important content [for example, on Leaf 17/2 he retracts his words: "Although this was difficult for me…].
On the title page is a self-dedication: "Given to me by Rabbi --- belongs to Mordechai Pińczów here in Middelburg [?]". At the bottom of the title page is a dedication: "To Moshe…the important book by the outstanding rabbi… Mordechai of Pińczów". A similar dedication is on the title page of Tzalot HaBayit. [At that time, Rabbi Avraham Mordechai of Pińczów was alive. He was a leading Chassidic figure, disciple of the Chozeh of Lublin, Rabbi Levi Yitzchak of Berdychiv, Rabbi Elimelech of Lizhensk, Rabbi Zusha of Annopol, etc. We have not been able to determine that this is his handwriting].
Rabbi Meir Posner (1729-1807, Otzar HaRabbanim 12928), was a prominent rabbi and Torah authority in his times. After his marriage, he lived by his father-in-law in Pozna and was therefore called Posner. After his wife's death, he moved to Lissa where he studied with his companion Rabbi Daved Tevil of Lisa. In 1763, he served as Rabbi of Mezritch whereupon he became famous all over Poland and the leading rabbis of his generation sent him questions [including Rabbi Akiva Eiger who calls him "The Truly Great Gaon…", the Chemdat Shlomo, Rabbi Avraham Danzig author of Chayei Adam, etc]. Afterward he served as Rabbi of Königsberg and later was Av Beit Din of Danzig, Schottland, Weinberg, and Langfuhr. His book Beit Meir on the Shulchan Aruch Even HaEzer is one of the basic works on these laws. He also wrote many other books.
[1], 150, [1], 20 leaves. 33 cm. Good-fair condition. Spotting and wear, worm damages. Damaged binding.
Category
Rare and Important Items
Catalogue
Auction 42 - Rare and Important Items
November 25, 2014
Opening: $3,000
Unsold
Be'er Ya'akov, on the four parts of the Shulchan Aruch and rules of the treatises. By Rabbi Ya'akov Berlin. Furth, 1767. Many signatures and ownership inscriptions on title page: signature of "Nathan ben Rabbi Ya'akov Shimon Adler the Cohen Tzedek" and ownership inscriptions that the book belongs to Rabbi Nathan Adler of Frankfurt am Main. More inscriptions in the Oriental writing of Rabbi Ezra Chiya Lachmi and Rabbi Yosef Rachamim Lachmi and a ownership inscription signed by Rabbi Me'at Dvash [Rabbi David ben Shimon] who bought the book from the Maharash Lachmi. Rabbi Nathan HaCohen Adler (1741-1800) was born in Frankfurt am Main to his father Rabbi Ya'akov Shimon Adler. He was an outstanding Torah scholar and had vast knowledge of kabbalah. He headed the yeshiva he established in his home in Frankfurt and was the close teacher of Rabbi Moshe Sofer author of the Chatam Sofer who mentions his teacher frequently in his books on Halacha and on kabbalah calling him "My close teacher, the famed pious Torah genius the great 'eagle'" ["eagle" is a poetic phrase using the meaning of the name Adler], "My teacher, the pious Cohen", etc. Rabbi Adler was pursued by people who lived in his city which caused him great suffering. They even prohibited him to establish a minyan in his Beit Midrash which was based on his special kabbalistic customs. For a while, he served as Av Beit Din of Boskovice but afterwards he returned to his home and his Beit Midrash in Frankfurt. The rabbis of the Lachmi family – several renowned rabbis of the Lachmi family served as emissaries of Eretz Israel Jews: Rabbi Shalom Lachmi, his son Rabbi Ezra Chiya Lachmi who served as emissary in Egypt and in Tunis (author of the manuscript Sha'arei Ezra – see Zechor L'Avraham, 1996, pp. 93-96, L'Kdoshim Asher Ba'Aretz, Entries 235 and 481) and Rabbi Yosef Rachamim Lachmi. The last signatory, Me’at Dvash – Rabbi David ben Shimon (1826-1879) was born in Morocco and ascended to Jerusalem in 1855 where he established the Ma'aravim community (immigrants from Maghreb North Africa) where he had previously served as rabbi. He authored: Sha'arei Tzedek and more books. His son is Rabbi Refael Aharon Ben-Shimon, the Chief Rabbi of Alexandria in Egypt. [3], 144 leaves, 29.5 cm. Good-fair condition, worm damages, spotting and wear, old binding from Jerusalem in the 19th century, with leather spine. Enclosed is an authorization by an expert identifying the signature as that of Rabbi Nathan Adler.
Category
Rare and Important Items
Catalogue
Auction 42 - Rare and Important Items
November 25, 2014
Opening: $3,000
Sold for: $4,000
Including buyer's premium
Sefer Likutei Halachot, a collection and compilation of halachic conclusions of Talmudic treatises. Volume 2. Parts 4-8. Pesachim, Chagiga, Rabbi Chanina Sgan HaCohanim, Bava Kama, Rosh Hashana, Yoma, Succah, Ta'anit, Sanhedrin, Shvu'ot, Makot, Horayot, Chulin. By Rabbi Yisrael Meir HaCohen author of Chafetz Chaim. Warsaw-Piotrków, [1922]. Some of the books in this volume are first editions and some are stereotypes of previous editions. All were bound together in the original binding with embossing: "Likutei Halachot".
Ownership signatures: "Efraim Shmuel Lerner". The book has dozens of glosses - corrections of mistakes and printing erasures in a handwriting which seems to us as the handwriting of the author, Rabbi Yisrael Meir HaCohen, author of Chafetz Chaim.
On the flyleaf is an index arranged according to tractates written in pencil and black ink. The pencil inscriptions were reinforced by another writer with blue ink of a fountain pen. The letters in black ink and in pencil are the Chafetz Chaim's own handwriting and the blue ink reinforcement was apparently written by Rabbi Lerner.
The book Likutei Halachot was printed by the Chafetz Chaim in his later years, during 1910-1922. In the following editions the letters were not rearranged but printed with the stereotype method. Additions or corrections cannot be added in this method of printing. This is different from the Chafetz Chaim and the Mishna Berura books which were printed in several subsequent editions with rearrangements to include corrections.
This is the first copy we know printed with these corrections. Almost all the mistakes corrected in this manuscript remained in all the following editions of Likutei Halachot as they were printed like the initial edition, including the new edition printed in Jerusalem in 2005. (Besides two mistakes).
82 pages; 8; 3-7; 24 pages; 66 pages; 102; 14; 3-34; 18; 3-54 pages. 22 cm. Good condition. Dry paper, minor damages and wear. Contemporary binding, slightly rubbed.
Ownership signatures: "Efraim Shmuel Lerner". The book has dozens of glosses - corrections of mistakes and printing erasures in a handwriting which seems to us as the handwriting of the author, Rabbi Yisrael Meir HaCohen, author of Chafetz Chaim.
On the flyleaf is an index arranged according to tractates written in pencil and black ink. The pencil inscriptions were reinforced by another writer with blue ink of a fountain pen. The letters in black ink and in pencil are the Chafetz Chaim's own handwriting and the blue ink reinforcement was apparently written by Rabbi Lerner.
The book Likutei Halachot was printed by the Chafetz Chaim in his later years, during 1910-1922. In the following editions the letters were not rearranged but printed with the stereotype method. Additions or corrections cannot be added in this method of printing. This is different from the Chafetz Chaim and the Mishna Berura books which were printed in several subsequent editions with rearrangements to include corrections.
This is the first copy we know printed with these corrections. Almost all the mistakes corrected in this manuscript remained in all the following editions of Likutei Halachot as they were printed like the initial edition, including the new edition printed in Jerusalem in 2005. (Besides two mistakes).
82 pages; 8; 3-7; 24 pages; 66 pages; 102; 14; 3-34; 18; 3-54 pages. 22 cm. Good condition. Dry paper, minor damages and wear. Contemporary binding, slightly rubbed.
Category
Rare and Important Items
Catalogue
Auction 42 - Rare and Important Items
November 25, 2014
Opening: $8,000
Sold for: $11,875
Including buyer's premium
Two milah notebooks in the handwriting of the Mohel Rabbi Binyamin Wolf Tevin, a leader of the Pressburg community. The notebooks have documentation of more than 1200 circumcisions performed by Rabbi Tevin encompassing a period of 55 years, 1748-1803.
The notebooks have thousands of entries of names and important details of hundreds of distinguished families in the area – Kischa (Bad Kissingen), Yergen, Vienna and Eisenstadt, including documentation of the brit milah of Rabbi Akiva Eiger.
The first notebook has documentation of 613 circumcisions performed by Rabbi Binyamin Wolf Tevin. It begins with the first brit performed on the 9th of Tamuz 1748: "Today, Friday Erev Shabbat Kodesh… I have begun performing this mitzvah of milah…G-d should fortify and strengthen my hands to bring many of His sons under the wings of the Shechina, amen".
The last brit entered in the notebook was performed on the third day of Chanuka 1779 and Rabbi Binyamin Wolf signs with a long list of prayer and thanks that "I have been privileged to complete the count of 613 as the number of mitzvoth (in the Torah)… and this should be considered as if I have brought this amount of sacrifices upon your altar and they shall be my advocates when the time of my death arrives…". At the end of the list, he writes the day of his birth: "Concluded today, Wednesday the third day of Chanuka 1779, in the month I was born in 1733".
The second notebook opens with a brit performed by Rabbi Binyamin Wolf on Tuesday, the 10th of Tevet (1779) to his grandson: "G-d has given me the privilege to begin the new count with my daughter's son and I was the sandak and the mohel…". The notebook ends on the 20th of Adar 1803. In the middle of the notebook (Brit 409) Rabbi Binyamin Wolf writes: "Thursday, the 28th of Adar, after G-d has raised me up from my very difficult illness I have been privileged to perform this mitzvah as in former years and have been a sandak and a mohel…". This notebook also documents 613 circumcisions which are followed by a long signature of Rabbi Binyamin Wolf who thanks G-d that he has had the merit "to complete for a second time 613 circumcisions of Jewish boys whom I have circumcised with His assistance, and I hope to G-d that in His goodness, these will join the first 613… and they will be my advocates". Further he writes that he expended much effort "the past 55 years performing this mitzvah" [gleaned from this source and from the date of his birth written in the previous notebook we see that Rabbi Binyamin Wolf started to circumcise at the age of 15!). After this paragraph is the beginning of the third count, one single inscription of a brit milah and sandaka'ut on Rosh Chodesh Nisan that same year.
Rabbi Binyamin Wolf mainly performed the circumcisions in his native city, Pressburg but he also did some britot in important neighboring communities such as the adjacent cities Yergen, Kischa, Eisenstadt and Vienna. Some of the circumcisions were performed together with various people as was the custom in those days to divide the mitzvah between two mohalim: One mohel performs the milah (the cut) and the other the Pri’ah. Among the individuals who shared this mitzvah: “HaRav HaGaon Av Beit Din of our community” – Rabbi Yitzchak HaLevi Landau (Rabbi Yitzchak Dukla) author of Amarot Tehorot and Mayanei HaYeshua who served as Av Beit Din of Pressburg at those times, (in the first notebook: Britot 185, 223, 228 and 230). Rabbi Zvi Hirsh Broide Av Beit Din of Kischa, author of Eretz Zvi and Te’omei Zviya (Notebook B, Britot 511, 572), Rabbi Hirsh Levov (dayan in Pressburg and brother-in-law of Rabbi Binyamin Wolf). Other mohalim: Rabbi Kalman Shtemfi, Rabbi Kopil, Rabbi Hirsh Flohen, Rabbi Moshe Trivtesh and Rabbi Isaac Raab (most were well-known rabbis in Pressburg, see Avnei Beit HaYotzer, according to the index).
An amazing entry was discovered in the first notebook – the brit milah of the famous Torah genius Rabbi Akiva Eiger in 1762. This is what is written at Brit no. 221: “Friday, Erev Shabbat Kodesh the 9th of Cheshvan, I was the sole mohel of the child Akiva ben Rabbi Moshe Ginz”. From this inscription arise new details of the history of Rabbi Akiva Eiger: 1. His brit milah did not take place in Eisenstadt where his parents resided but in Pressburg, the city where his mother’s parents lived (if not, Rabbi Binyamin Wolf would have noted that the circumcision took place in Eisenstadt as he always did when he performed a brit is another city). Probably, Rabbi Akiva Eiger was also born in Pressburg. 2. On the wimpel made by Rabbi Akiva Eiger’s mother in honor of his brit milah, his date of birth is on Thursday, Rosh Chodesh Cheshvan 1762. Consequently, the eighth day for the milah falls on the 8th of Cheshvan and not on the 9th as written in the notebook. Therefore, his milah was postponed unless he was born on Thursday “bein hashmashot” (twilight).
A year later, Rabbi Binyamin Wolf inscribed the brit of “the child Shmuel ben Rabbi Moshe Ginz” – Rabbi Akiva Eiger’s brother (Brit 233).
Besides for Rabbi Akiva Eiger, other children circumcised by Rabbi Binyamin Wolf who are mentioned in the notebook, later became famous leading Torah scholars: Rabbi Avraham Litch Segal Rosenbaum, disciple of the Maharam Bennet and of the Chatam Sofer, author of the Ben Yehuda response (see: Ishim B’Teshuvot HaChatam Sofer, p. 28; Notebook B, Brit 606), Rabbi Mordechai Leib Lashbrin, disciple of the Maharam Bennet, Av Beit Din of Zsámbokrét (see: Ishim B’Teshuvot HaChatam Sofer, p. 275; Notebook A, Brit 569); sons of Jewish leaders such as the sons of Rabbi Mordechai Task Ra’avad of Pressburg (Britot 287, 478, 506, 511), sons of Rabbi Daniel Prostitz who also served as Ra’avad of Pressburg (Britot 521, 582) and the child Hirsh ben Rabbi Ya’akov Kapil Altkunstadt Av Beit Din of Carlsberg (Brit 603) and the sons of other distinguished members of the Pressburg community.
At the end of the second notebook are two interesting historical inscriptions, signed by Rabbi Binyamin Wolf Tevin. In the first inscription, Rabbi Binyamin Wolf tells of the decree of Franz Joseph II in 1783: "The Jews who live in this country must shave their beards… and this order was sent to all the commanders of this country and they are rejoicing and celebrating in anticipation of this day…". Rabbi Binyamin Wolf relates of his participation in a special delegation which traveled to Vienna to meet the Caesar to attempt to annul the decree. He describes the meeting with the Caesar on the seventh day of Passover when they stood before him "imploring him with tears until his compassion was aroused". He quotes the words of the Caesar (in German, in Hebrew letters).
In the second list, Rabbi Binyamin Wolf tells a wonderful story which occurred in the city of Pressburg, in Nissan 1785 at the time of the Blessing of the Sun (which takes place once every 28 years). At the designated time, the weather was snowy and the heavens were very cloudy, no part of the sun could be seen. "A doubt arose concerning the law of the blessing if the sun does not appear on that day". Rabbi Meir Barabi Av Beit Din of Pressburg, ordered all the community to awaken early on the next day and gather in the Great Synagogue and after morning prayers go out together to bless the sun. The next day, amazingly, exactly at the designated time, the sun suddenly shone.
The writer of the notebook, a public activist and leader of the Pressburg community, Rabbi Binyamin Wolf Tevin, was born in 1732 (as entered in this notebook) to a distinguished Pressburg family whose sons served as leaders and public activists of the community. He was related through marriage to the Nodah B'Yehuda. He was known for his piety and meticulousness in fulfilling the mitzvah of brit milah and was very charitable particularly in supporting Torah study. His lobbying on behalf of Austro-Hungarian Jewry succeeded in revoking several decrees (such as the story he relates at the end of the second notebook about the decree of shaving beards). After the death of Rabbi Meir Barabi, Av Beit Din of Pressburg, Rabbi Tevin was appointed guardian of his estate according to Rabbi Barabi's testament and he published the Maharam Barabi novellae Part II (Prague 1793). He died in 1809 and was eulogized by the Chatam Sofer who wrote "A tsaddik famous for his praiseworthy qualities, a community leader for many years".
These milah notebooks were owned by Rabbi Yitzchak Weiss Av Beit Din of Vrbové, who used them for gleaning much material on the history of the community for writing his book Avnei Beit HaYotzer (Paks 1900, ibid Chapter 57).
Two notebooks. Notebook A: [58] leaves. 14 cm. Gilded edges. Adorned contemporary leather binding. Notebook B: [59] leaves. 15 cm. Gilded edges. Adorned contemporary leather binding. Impression of owner's name, "This belongs to the officer Rabbi Wolf Tevin, done on Rosh Chodesh Tevet 1779 here in Pressburg". General condition of both notebooks - good. Spotting, slight wear. Damages and wear to bindings.
The notebooks have thousands of entries of names and important details of hundreds of distinguished families in the area – Kischa (Bad Kissingen), Yergen, Vienna and Eisenstadt, including documentation of the brit milah of Rabbi Akiva Eiger.
The first notebook has documentation of 613 circumcisions performed by Rabbi Binyamin Wolf Tevin. It begins with the first brit performed on the 9th of Tamuz 1748: "Today, Friday Erev Shabbat Kodesh… I have begun performing this mitzvah of milah…G-d should fortify and strengthen my hands to bring many of His sons under the wings of the Shechina, amen".
The last brit entered in the notebook was performed on the third day of Chanuka 1779 and Rabbi Binyamin Wolf signs with a long list of prayer and thanks that "I have been privileged to complete the count of 613 as the number of mitzvoth (in the Torah)… and this should be considered as if I have brought this amount of sacrifices upon your altar and they shall be my advocates when the time of my death arrives…". At the end of the list, he writes the day of his birth: "Concluded today, Wednesday the third day of Chanuka 1779, in the month I was born in 1733".
The second notebook opens with a brit performed by Rabbi Binyamin Wolf on Tuesday, the 10th of Tevet (1779) to his grandson: "G-d has given me the privilege to begin the new count with my daughter's son and I was the sandak and the mohel…". The notebook ends on the 20th of Adar 1803. In the middle of the notebook (Brit 409) Rabbi Binyamin Wolf writes: "Thursday, the 28th of Adar, after G-d has raised me up from my very difficult illness I have been privileged to perform this mitzvah as in former years and have been a sandak and a mohel…". This notebook also documents 613 circumcisions which are followed by a long signature of Rabbi Binyamin Wolf who thanks G-d that he has had the merit "to complete for a second time 613 circumcisions of Jewish boys whom I have circumcised with His assistance, and I hope to G-d that in His goodness, these will join the first 613… and they will be my advocates". Further he writes that he expended much effort "the past 55 years performing this mitzvah" [gleaned from this source and from the date of his birth written in the previous notebook we see that Rabbi Binyamin Wolf started to circumcise at the age of 15!). After this paragraph is the beginning of the third count, one single inscription of a brit milah and sandaka'ut on Rosh Chodesh Nisan that same year.
Rabbi Binyamin Wolf mainly performed the circumcisions in his native city, Pressburg but he also did some britot in important neighboring communities such as the adjacent cities Yergen, Kischa, Eisenstadt and Vienna. Some of the circumcisions were performed together with various people as was the custom in those days to divide the mitzvah between two mohalim: One mohel performs the milah (the cut) and the other the Pri’ah. Among the individuals who shared this mitzvah: “HaRav HaGaon Av Beit Din of our community” – Rabbi Yitzchak HaLevi Landau (Rabbi Yitzchak Dukla) author of Amarot Tehorot and Mayanei HaYeshua who served as Av Beit Din of Pressburg at those times, (in the first notebook: Britot 185, 223, 228 and 230). Rabbi Zvi Hirsh Broide Av Beit Din of Kischa, author of Eretz Zvi and Te’omei Zviya (Notebook B, Britot 511, 572), Rabbi Hirsh Levov (dayan in Pressburg and brother-in-law of Rabbi Binyamin Wolf). Other mohalim: Rabbi Kalman Shtemfi, Rabbi Kopil, Rabbi Hirsh Flohen, Rabbi Moshe Trivtesh and Rabbi Isaac Raab (most were well-known rabbis in Pressburg, see Avnei Beit HaYotzer, according to the index).
An amazing entry was discovered in the first notebook – the brit milah of the famous Torah genius Rabbi Akiva Eiger in 1762. This is what is written at Brit no. 221: “Friday, Erev Shabbat Kodesh the 9th of Cheshvan, I was the sole mohel of the child Akiva ben Rabbi Moshe Ginz”. From this inscription arise new details of the history of Rabbi Akiva Eiger: 1. His brit milah did not take place in Eisenstadt where his parents resided but in Pressburg, the city where his mother’s parents lived (if not, Rabbi Binyamin Wolf would have noted that the circumcision took place in Eisenstadt as he always did when he performed a brit is another city). Probably, Rabbi Akiva Eiger was also born in Pressburg. 2. On the wimpel made by Rabbi Akiva Eiger’s mother in honor of his brit milah, his date of birth is on Thursday, Rosh Chodesh Cheshvan 1762. Consequently, the eighth day for the milah falls on the 8th of Cheshvan and not on the 9th as written in the notebook. Therefore, his milah was postponed unless he was born on Thursday “bein hashmashot” (twilight).
A year later, Rabbi Binyamin Wolf inscribed the brit of “the child Shmuel ben Rabbi Moshe Ginz” – Rabbi Akiva Eiger’s brother (Brit 233).
Besides for Rabbi Akiva Eiger, other children circumcised by Rabbi Binyamin Wolf who are mentioned in the notebook, later became famous leading Torah scholars: Rabbi Avraham Litch Segal Rosenbaum, disciple of the Maharam Bennet and of the Chatam Sofer, author of the Ben Yehuda response (see: Ishim B’Teshuvot HaChatam Sofer, p. 28; Notebook B, Brit 606), Rabbi Mordechai Leib Lashbrin, disciple of the Maharam Bennet, Av Beit Din of Zsámbokrét (see: Ishim B’Teshuvot HaChatam Sofer, p. 275; Notebook A, Brit 569); sons of Jewish leaders such as the sons of Rabbi Mordechai Task Ra’avad of Pressburg (Britot 287, 478, 506, 511), sons of Rabbi Daniel Prostitz who also served as Ra’avad of Pressburg (Britot 521, 582) and the child Hirsh ben Rabbi Ya’akov Kapil Altkunstadt Av Beit Din of Carlsberg (Brit 603) and the sons of other distinguished members of the Pressburg community.
At the end of the second notebook are two interesting historical inscriptions, signed by Rabbi Binyamin Wolf Tevin. In the first inscription, Rabbi Binyamin Wolf tells of the decree of Franz Joseph II in 1783: "The Jews who live in this country must shave their beards… and this order was sent to all the commanders of this country and they are rejoicing and celebrating in anticipation of this day…". Rabbi Binyamin Wolf relates of his participation in a special delegation which traveled to Vienna to meet the Caesar to attempt to annul the decree. He describes the meeting with the Caesar on the seventh day of Passover when they stood before him "imploring him with tears until his compassion was aroused". He quotes the words of the Caesar (in German, in Hebrew letters).
In the second list, Rabbi Binyamin Wolf tells a wonderful story which occurred in the city of Pressburg, in Nissan 1785 at the time of the Blessing of the Sun (which takes place once every 28 years). At the designated time, the weather was snowy and the heavens were very cloudy, no part of the sun could be seen. "A doubt arose concerning the law of the blessing if the sun does not appear on that day". Rabbi Meir Barabi Av Beit Din of Pressburg, ordered all the community to awaken early on the next day and gather in the Great Synagogue and after morning prayers go out together to bless the sun. The next day, amazingly, exactly at the designated time, the sun suddenly shone.
The writer of the notebook, a public activist and leader of the Pressburg community, Rabbi Binyamin Wolf Tevin, was born in 1732 (as entered in this notebook) to a distinguished Pressburg family whose sons served as leaders and public activists of the community. He was related through marriage to the Nodah B'Yehuda. He was known for his piety and meticulousness in fulfilling the mitzvah of brit milah and was very charitable particularly in supporting Torah study. His lobbying on behalf of Austro-Hungarian Jewry succeeded in revoking several decrees (such as the story he relates at the end of the second notebook about the decree of shaving beards). After the death of Rabbi Meir Barabi, Av Beit Din of Pressburg, Rabbi Tevin was appointed guardian of his estate according to Rabbi Barabi's testament and he published the Maharam Barabi novellae Part II (Prague 1793). He died in 1809 and was eulogized by the Chatam Sofer who wrote "A tsaddik famous for his praiseworthy qualities, a community leader for many years".
These milah notebooks were owned by Rabbi Yitzchak Weiss Av Beit Din of Vrbové, who used them for gleaning much material on the history of the community for writing his book Avnei Beit HaYotzer (Paks 1900, ibid Chapter 57).
Two notebooks. Notebook A: [58] leaves. 14 cm. Gilded edges. Adorned contemporary leather binding. Notebook B: [59] leaves. 15 cm. Gilded edges. Adorned contemporary leather binding. Impression of owner's name, "This belongs to the officer Rabbi Wolf Tevin, done on Rosh Chodesh Tevet 1779 here in Pressburg". General condition of both notebooks - good. Spotting, slight wear. Damages and wear to bindings.
Category
Rare and Important Items
Catalogue
Auction 42 - Rare and Important Items
November 25, 2014
Opening: $100,000
Unsold
Manuscript, Chemdat Yamim, Midrash on the Torah – Bereshit-Shemot, in the handwriting of the author, a leading Yemenite poet and a great Torah scholar, Rabbi Shalom Shabazi. Yemen, [c. 1658].
This volume has more than 300 pages in the author's handwriting. Begins in mid Lech Lecha and ends with Parshat Mishpatim.
Watermarks on paper: crown, star and moon one above another and the initials M.C. An identical mark has been found in a Jerusalem manuscript – The National Library of Israel Ms. AP Ar. 499 from 1658.
Rabbi Shalom (Shalem) Shabazi – the Rashash (1719-1795), called by Yemenite Jews Abba Shalom Shabazi. A leading Yemenite poet, a wonder-worker tsaddik, Torah scholar and Kabbalist and the Torah figure most revered by Yemenite Jewry. Born in the village of Najd al-Walid near Ta'izz in Southern Yemen, to the Mashtā family which was renowned for its lineage of Torah scholars and scribes. In his youth, he moved to Sana and studied in one of its yeshivot. Afterward, he returned to the city of Ta'izz where he lived and was active until his death. Rabbi Shalom Shabazi was exceedingly proficient in all parts of the Torah, revealed and hidden, in Kabbalah and philosophy and was one of the most prolific writers of his times. He dealt in practical kabbalah as well and was an expert in astronomy. He is especially famous for his abundant poems and piyutim – over one thousand, today more than five hundred survived – with deep kabbalistic secrets and remazim. His poems and piyutim are recited by Yemenite Jews on Shabbat and festivals, at se'udot mitzvah and at every stage of life.
Stories of wonders and miracles told about Rabbi Shabazi are common among Yemenite Jews. One story told is that every Erev Shabbat he had a miraculous Kvitzat HaDerech (instant arrival at a destination) and he would arrive in Eretz Israel to spend the Shabbat, once in Jerusalem, another time in Tiberias or in Acre or Hebron and on Motzei Shabbat he would return to his country. Rabbi Ya'akov Sapir who visited Yemen writes that he saw written explicitly in a composition by Rabbi Shalom Shabazi that "I was in Jerusalem and saw such and such and in Safed, I saw such and such…". In one of his poems he writes: "My heart is in Yemen, just my soul has flown to the Land of Israel…". He is celebrated for many miracles which he performed for the salvation of the general public and for individuals such as curing the ill and the childless. Among other works, he wrote the book Goral HaChol on practical kabbalah so that the Jews of his times would not be led astray by non-Jewish wonder-workers. His grave in the city of Ta'izz is famous as a holy site and Yemenite Jews would visit it each year.
One of his most important works is the book Chemdat Yamim on the Torah. This book is a midrash on the Torah according to pshat, drash, philosophy and kabbalah, compiled from various sources [including sources unknown today], arranged in his language and style. The first time he had written the book was in 1746 at the age of 27 but he later wrote other expanded editions (in one place he writes that he added “ten times” the first edition). A few copies of this work are known, (handwritten by Rabbi Shalom Shabazi), some are abridged versions of the Mahadura Kama. This manuscript is from the last edition of the book and includes glosses and additions by the author, integrated in “windows” inside the text with the opening initials Taf and Tet standing for “An additional explanation”. There are significant differences between the manuscript and the printed editions.
181 leaves. Missing leaves at the beginning and at the end. Several missing leaves in the body of the manuscript. Varying condition among the leaves, fair-good. Spotting, traces of moisture and wear, worm damages, coarse tears on several leaves and tears on leaf edges. Detached leaves and signatures. Without binding.
This volume has more than 300 pages in the author's handwriting. Begins in mid Lech Lecha and ends with Parshat Mishpatim.
Watermarks on paper: crown, star and moon one above another and the initials M.C. An identical mark has been found in a Jerusalem manuscript – The National Library of Israel Ms. AP Ar. 499 from 1658.
Rabbi Shalom (Shalem) Shabazi – the Rashash (1719-1795), called by Yemenite Jews Abba Shalom Shabazi. A leading Yemenite poet, a wonder-worker tsaddik, Torah scholar and Kabbalist and the Torah figure most revered by Yemenite Jewry. Born in the village of Najd al-Walid near Ta'izz in Southern Yemen, to the Mashtā family which was renowned for its lineage of Torah scholars and scribes. In his youth, he moved to Sana and studied in one of its yeshivot. Afterward, he returned to the city of Ta'izz where he lived and was active until his death. Rabbi Shalom Shabazi was exceedingly proficient in all parts of the Torah, revealed and hidden, in Kabbalah and philosophy and was one of the most prolific writers of his times. He dealt in practical kabbalah as well and was an expert in astronomy. He is especially famous for his abundant poems and piyutim – over one thousand, today more than five hundred survived – with deep kabbalistic secrets and remazim. His poems and piyutim are recited by Yemenite Jews on Shabbat and festivals, at se'udot mitzvah and at every stage of life.
Stories of wonders and miracles told about Rabbi Shabazi are common among Yemenite Jews. One story told is that every Erev Shabbat he had a miraculous Kvitzat HaDerech (instant arrival at a destination) and he would arrive in Eretz Israel to spend the Shabbat, once in Jerusalem, another time in Tiberias or in Acre or Hebron and on Motzei Shabbat he would return to his country. Rabbi Ya'akov Sapir who visited Yemen writes that he saw written explicitly in a composition by Rabbi Shalom Shabazi that "I was in Jerusalem and saw such and such and in Safed, I saw such and such…". In one of his poems he writes: "My heart is in Yemen, just my soul has flown to the Land of Israel…". He is celebrated for many miracles which he performed for the salvation of the general public and for individuals such as curing the ill and the childless. Among other works, he wrote the book Goral HaChol on practical kabbalah so that the Jews of his times would not be led astray by non-Jewish wonder-workers. His grave in the city of Ta'izz is famous as a holy site and Yemenite Jews would visit it each year.
One of his most important works is the book Chemdat Yamim on the Torah. This book is a midrash on the Torah according to pshat, drash, philosophy and kabbalah, compiled from various sources [including sources unknown today], arranged in his language and style. The first time he had written the book was in 1746 at the age of 27 but he later wrote other expanded editions (in one place he writes that he added “ten times” the first edition). A few copies of this work are known, (handwritten by Rabbi Shalom Shabazi), some are abridged versions of the Mahadura Kama. This manuscript is from the last edition of the book and includes glosses and additions by the author, integrated in “windows” inside the text with the opening initials Taf and Tet standing for “An additional explanation”. There are significant differences between the manuscript and the printed editions.
181 leaves. Missing leaves at the beginning and at the end. Several missing leaves in the body of the manuscript. Varying condition among the leaves, fair-good. Spotting, traces of moisture and wear, worm damages, coarse tears on several leaves and tears on leaf edges. Detached leaves and signatures. Without binding.
Category
Rare and Important Items
Catalogue
Auction 42 - Rare and Important Items
November 25, 2014
Opening: $6,000
Sold for: $10,000
Including buyer's premium
Manuscript, Midrash HaChefetz, by Rabbi Zecharya ben Shlomo "the doctor". [Yemen, 16th century]. Midrash HaChefetz is a midrashic composition on the Torah and on the Haftarot written by Rabbi Zecharya the Doctor [also called the Raze], a leading Yemenite sage of the 15th century. The work was written in Judeo-Arabic, the language commonly spoken by Yemenite Jews.
A thick volume, ancient Yemenite writing on high-quality paper. Titles in red and green ink. Two illustrations of Noah's ark (in red and black ink) appear on Page [64]. On Page [116] is an illustration of Ma'arat HaMachpela (Cave of the Patriarchs). Several marginalia. Under the illustration of Noah's ark is a long marginalia in Judeo-Arabic, with a curly signature.
This is one of the earliest manuscripts of this composition. The manuscript belonged to Rabbi Yichye Yitzchak HaLevi (1867-1932), Ra’avad of Sana’a and Chief Rabbi of Yemen and one of the great leaders of Yemenite Jewry who signed the manuscript in his own handwriting [Page 321]. He estimated that this manuscript was written in the 16th century: “This book Midrash HaChefetz was written more than 400 years ago, Yichye ben Rabbi Moshe HaLevi” [curly signature].
[682] pages (the manuscript begins at the end of the introduction and at the beginning of Sefer Bereshit and ends at Parshat Ki Tavo). 24 cm. Varied condition of leaves. Most leaves are in good condition, some in fair condition. Few leaves are in poor condition (some were restored by mounting). Spotting, wear and tears at the margins. New binding.
A thick volume, ancient Yemenite writing on high-quality paper. Titles in red and green ink. Two illustrations of Noah's ark (in red and black ink) appear on Page [64]. On Page [116] is an illustration of Ma'arat HaMachpela (Cave of the Patriarchs). Several marginalia. Under the illustration of Noah's ark is a long marginalia in Judeo-Arabic, with a curly signature.
This is one of the earliest manuscripts of this composition. The manuscript belonged to Rabbi Yichye Yitzchak HaLevi (1867-1932), Ra’avad of Sana’a and Chief Rabbi of Yemen and one of the great leaders of Yemenite Jewry who signed the manuscript in his own handwriting [Page 321]. He estimated that this manuscript was written in the 16th century: “This book Midrash HaChefetz was written more than 400 years ago, Yichye ben Rabbi Moshe HaLevi” [curly signature].
[682] pages (the manuscript begins at the end of the introduction and at the beginning of Sefer Bereshit and ends at Parshat Ki Tavo). 24 cm. Varied condition of leaves. Most leaves are in good condition, some in fair condition. Few leaves are in poor condition (some were restored by mounting). Spotting, wear and tears at the margins. New binding.
Category
Rare and Important Items
Catalogue
Auction 42 - Rare and Important Items
November 25, 2014
Opening: $5,000
Unsold
Manuscript, leaves from the book of Zohar on Parshat Bereshit. [North Italy, mid-16th century].
A quire consisting of four sheets [eight leaves]. Begins on leaf 33, concludes with leaf 40. Sephardic semi-eloquent script. Approximately 25 lines per page. With differences from the printed version. Ancient glosses by another writer.
The glosses on the margins and between the lines are additions and corrections, in Sephardi script from that time.
The watermarks are similar to watermarks on paper from Northern Italy from the mid-16th century.
8 leaves (16 written pages), numbered: 33-40. 21.5 cm. Good condition, spotting and wear. In a leather binding, with gold embossment.
Written according to an article by Prof. Shlomo Zucker, an expert on Hebrew manuscripts.
A quire consisting of four sheets [eight leaves]. Begins on leaf 33, concludes with leaf 40. Sephardic semi-eloquent script. Approximately 25 lines per page. With differences from the printed version. Ancient glosses by another writer.
The glosses on the margins and between the lines are additions and corrections, in Sephardi script from that time.
The watermarks are similar to watermarks on paper from Northern Italy from the mid-16th century.
8 leaves (16 written pages), numbered: 33-40. 21.5 cm. Good condition, spotting and wear. In a leather binding, with gold embossment.
Written according to an article by Prof. Shlomo Zucker, an expert on Hebrew manuscripts.
Category
Rare and Important Items
Catalogue
Auction 42 - Rare and Important Items
November 25, 2014
Opening: $3,000
Sold for: $11,250
Including buyer's premium
Manuscript, Otzrot Chaim and other homiletics, the Ari's kabbalah by his disciple Rabbi Chaim Vital, edited by Rabbi Ya'akov Tzemach. Safed, [c. 1720].
Eloquent Oriental writing [Eretz Israel]. By Rabbi Avraham ben Rabbi Yitzchak Nachmias of Safed who signed the colophon.
Otzrot Chaim was edited at c. 1720 by the kabbalist Rabbi Ya'akov Tzemach from the manuscripts of Rabbi Chaim Vital which were archived and later discovered in Jerusalem. These manuscripts were edited for other books: Kehillot Ya'akov, Adam Yashar, etc. This manuscript contains the book Otzrot Chaim with additions from the book Adam Yashar and from Kehillot Ya'akov. The scribe added at the end of the manuscript also "The Gate of Prophecy and Divine Inspiration" (Sha'ar HaYichudim – the fourth branch of the book Pri Etz Chaim, edited by Rabbi Meir Poppers). Added in the handwriting of a different scribe: "Explanation of the Matter of Klipot" (Sha'ar HaKlipot) and Kisei HaKavod D'Bri'ah (from Sha'ar Kisei HaKavod of Etz Chaim).
Signatures of Rabbi David di Modena on the first leaf and in other places. On the pages of the manuscript appear hundreds of his handwritten glosses: some by leading kabbalists, Rabbi Yosef Ibn Tabul [the Maharit], Rabbi Moshe Zakut [Ramaz], Rabbi Natan Shapira [the Ranash], Rabbi Avraham Azulai and Rabbi Yisrael Binyamin [the Maharib]. Dozens of other original glosses of his own, long and full of content (some begin with the words Pli'ah Da'at Mimeni or "In my lowly opinion"), signed "David" [Possibly, several glosses were written by someone else].
Two passages in the handwriting of David di Modena appear on Leaf 212/2: "I have found written in Likutei Torah in Egypt", with sketches of circles: on the last flyleaf is a handwritten schematic sketch of the "chain of the worlds". At the end of the manuscript after the scribe's colophon, Rabbi David signed: "The editing of the book Otzrot Chaim has been completed on the 22nd of the month of Elul… here in Safed in 1726".
Rabbi David di Modena, a Torah scholar and a kabbalist, born in Thessaloniki, ascended to Eretz Israel in 1720; settled initially in Safed and later moved to Jerusalem. Apparently, earlier he spent some time in Egypt and there he signed rulings together with Rabbi Shmuel Vital (Rabbi Chaim's son) and with the Mara D'Atra (local rabbi) Rabbi Mordechai HaLevi (in the Darkei Noam responsa, Yoreh Deah Siman 5, and Even HaEzer Siman 15). In 1735, he was in Aleppo, there he wrote his book Nefesh David [kabbalistic commentary on the Torah]. He printed it one year later in Constantinople. In 1747, he travelled to Turkey and while in Thessaloniki, he printed his book Ruach David V'Nishmat David – a commentary on the Idra Raba and a kabbalistic commentary on Shir HaShirim. This book received approbations from Rabbi Yitzchak HaLevi, Rabbi Chaim Moshe Amarilio and Rabbi Yosef HaCohen Ibn Ardut, who call him "The wise in secrets, the perfect wise man G-dly kabbalist". Like other Torah scholars of his generation he was drawn to Sabbatai Zevi (Sabbatean content appears in his works; see: Meir Benayahu, The Sabbatean Movement in Greece, Jerusalem 1973, pp. 195-196).
1-40, 43-55, [3], 56-212, 212-214 leaves (missing leaves 41-42). Total of 216 leaves. 22 cm. The first leaf is a replacement written by another writer, Leaves 179-196 are by another writer. High-quality paper, good condition. Spotting. Moisture traces, wear and tear to several leaves. Ancient leather binding, worn and damaged.
Eloquent Oriental writing [Eretz Israel]. By Rabbi Avraham ben Rabbi Yitzchak Nachmias of Safed who signed the colophon.
Otzrot Chaim was edited at c. 1720 by the kabbalist Rabbi Ya'akov Tzemach from the manuscripts of Rabbi Chaim Vital which were archived and later discovered in Jerusalem. These manuscripts were edited for other books: Kehillot Ya'akov, Adam Yashar, etc. This manuscript contains the book Otzrot Chaim with additions from the book Adam Yashar and from Kehillot Ya'akov. The scribe added at the end of the manuscript also "The Gate of Prophecy and Divine Inspiration" (Sha'ar HaYichudim – the fourth branch of the book Pri Etz Chaim, edited by Rabbi Meir Poppers). Added in the handwriting of a different scribe: "Explanation of the Matter of Klipot" (Sha'ar HaKlipot) and Kisei HaKavod D'Bri'ah (from Sha'ar Kisei HaKavod of Etz Chaim).
Signatures of Rabbi David di Modena on the first leaf and in other places. On the pages of the manuscript appear hundreds of his handwritten glosses: some by leading kabbalists, Rabbi Yosef Ibn Tabul [the Maharit], Rabbi Moshe Zakut [Ramaz], Rabbi Natan Shapira [the Ranash], Rabbi Avraham Azulai and Rabbi Yisrael Binyamin [the Maharib]. Dozens of other original glosses of his own, long and full of content (some begin with the words Pli'ah Da'at Mimeni or "In my lowly opinion"), signed "David" [Possibly, several glosses were written by someone else].
Two passages in the handwriting of David di Modena appear on Leaf 212/2: "I have found written in Likutei Torah in Egypt", with sketches of circles: on the last flyleaf is a handwritten schematic sketch of the "chain of the worlds". At the end of the manuscript after the scribe's colophon, Rabbi David signed: "The editing of the book Otzrot Chaim has been completed on the 22nd of the month of Elul… here in Safed in 1726".
Rabbi David di Modena, a Torah scholar and a kabbalist, born in Thessaloniki, ascended to Eretz Israel in 1720; settled initially in Safed and later moved to Jerusalem. Apparently, earlier he spent some time in Egypt and there he signed rulings together with Rabbi Shmuel Vital (Rabbi Chaim's son) and with the Mara D'Atra (local rabbi) Rabbi Mordechai HaLevi (in the Darkei Noam responsa, Yoreh Deah Siman 5, and Even HaEzer Siman 15). In 1735, he was in Aleppo, there he wrote his book Nefesh David [kabbalistic commentary on the Torah]. He printed it one year later in Constantinople. In 1747, he travelled to Turkey and while in Thessaloniki, he printed his book Ruach David V'Nishmat David – a commentary on the Idra Raba and a kabbalistic commentary on Shir HaShirim. This book received approbations from Rabbi Yitzchak HaLevi, Rabbi Chaim Moshe Amarilio and Rabbi Yosef HaCohen Ibn Ardut, who call him "The wise in secrets, the perfect wise man G-dly kabbalist". Like other Torah scholars of his generation he was drawn to Sabbatai Zevi (Sabbatean content appears in his works; see: Meir Benayahu, The Sabbatean Movement in Greece, Jerusalem 1973, pp. 195-196).
1-40, 43-55, [3], 56-212, 212-214 leaves (missing leaves 41-42). Total of 216 leaves. 22 cm. The first leaf is a replacement written by another writer, Leaves 179-196 are by another writer. High-quality paper, good condition. Spotting. Moisture traces, wear and tear to several leaves. Ancient leather binding, worn and damaged.
Category
Rare and Important Items
Catalogue
Auction 42 - Rare and Important Items
November 25, 2014
Opening: $8,000
Sold for: $10,000
Including buyer's premium
Manuscript, Kabbalistic commentary on Idra Zuta of the Zohar, by Rabbi Asher ben Rabbi Yosef of Cracow.
Complete composition. Ashkenazi handwriting by several scribes from various times. Ancient writing from the 16th-17th century and replacements from later times.
At the beginning of the commentary, the author writes: "I hereby begin to explain the secret of the Idra Zuta, from which you can understand the secrets of the Idra [Raba] and G-d's secret in chapters of Sefer Teruma, and if something will be difficult for you, ask again and I will explain the matter which you find difficult once more, but I know that you are a wise man".
Rabbi Asher ben Rabbi Yosef, a Torah scholar and Kabbalist from the city of Cracow from the 16th-17th century, wrote a commentary on Kinot which were printed in Cracow in 1585 and in Lublin in 1617, and a commentary on Yotzrot according to Ashkenazi custom printed in Cracow in 1589, and a commentary on Yotzrot according to the Polish custom printed in Cracow in 1589. He also wrote Kabbalistic works as well as glosses on compositions on the Ari's kabbalah which begin with the initials ABYR = Asher ben Rabbi Yosef (see: Avivi, Kabalat Ha'Ari, pp. 508-509). He also wrote a book name Lechem Abirim on Shabbat and festivals which was lost.
This item is a complete composition written by Rabbi Asher which has never been printed. The work was copied by several writers. The watermarks on the earlier leaves are from c. 1560 from which we conclude that part of the manuscript was written during the author's life, possibly it is the earliest among the author's manuscripts.
[30] leaves. Approximately 21 cm. Overall good condition, spotting. Wear and tear to several places. New binding.
Enclosed is an authorization by Rabbi Yosef Avivi.
Complete composition. Ashkenazi handwriting by several scribes from various times. Ancient writing from the 16th-17th century and replacements from later times.
At the beginning of the commentary, the author writes: "I hereby begin to explain the secret of the Idra Zuta, from which you can understand the secrets of the Idra [Raba] and G-d's secret in chapters of Sefer Teruma, and if something will be difficult for you, ask again and I will explain the matter which you find difficult once more, but I know that you are a wise man".
Rabbi Asher ben Rabbi Yosef, a Torah scholar and Kabbalist from the city of Cracow from the 16th-17th century, wrote a commentary on Kinot which were printed in Cracow in 1585 and in Lublin in 1617, and a commentary on Yotzrot according to Ashkenazi custom printed in Cracow in 1589, and a commentary on Yotzrot according to the Polish custom printed in Cracow in 1589. He also wrote Kabbalistic works as well as glosses on compositions on the Ari's kabbalah which begin with the initials ABYR = Asher ben Rabbi Yosef (see: Avivi, Kabalat Ha'Ari, pp. 508-509). He also wrote a book name Lechem Abirim on Shabbat and festivals which was lost.
This item is a complete composition written by Rabbi Asher which has never been printed. The work was copied by several writers. The watermarks on the earlier leaves are from c. 1560 from which we conclude that part of the manuscript was written during the author's life, possibly it is the earliest among the author's manuscripts.
[30] leaves. Approximately 21 cm. Overall good condition, spotting. Wear and tear to several places. New binding.
Enclosed is an authorization by Rabbi Yosef Avivi.
Category
Rare and Important Items
Catalogue