Auction 70 - Judaica - Books, Manuscripts, Rabbinical Letters, Ceremonial Art
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Auction 70 - Judaica - Books, Manuscripts, Rabbinical Letters, Ceremonial Art
March 31, 2020
Opening: $500
Sold for: $3,250
Including buyer's premium
Manuscript from the beit midrash of the rabbis of the Or Shraga family of Yazd - various selections, contract texts, halachot, novellae on the weekly Torah portions, responsa, amulets and more. [Yazd, Persia, 19th century].
Written by the grandson of the Or Shraga - Chacham (Mullah) R. Yitzchak son of R. Moshe son of R. Or Shraga. His signature appears in many places in this manuscript (pp. 32, 39, 49, 66, 124, 128, 138, 140).
In the margin of the first page, stamp and signature of R. Moshe son of Refael Shraga (his stamps and signatures also appear on p. 41 and on the following blank leaf). The first page and pp. 75 and 108 bear various stamps of "Refael son of R. Moshe son of the Maor Shraga". Unidentified calligraphic signature on p. 17. Blurred stamp on p. 26 (of R. Moshe son of the Or Shraga?).
Additional leaves (from the same region and period), bound at the beginning of the manuscript, comprise tales, songs, piyyutim and various selections.
The Or Shraga family of Yazd, descendants of the Kabbalist Mullah Or Shraga, were among the greatest rabbis of Persia. Mullah Or Shraga served as a rabbi for decades and was the force behind the enduring adherence of Yazd Jewry to Torah study and mitzvah observance. He and his descendants led the local community for some two hundred years. Rabbi Or Shraga reputedly came to Yazd two hundred and fifty years ago, from the city of Isfahan, after the king issued a decree ordering the killing of ten great Torah scholars. He was one of three Torah scholars who managed to escape, the other seven died sanctifying G-d’s Name. In Yazd, he facilitated the flourishing of the city’s Jewish population and transformed the city into a Torah center. Yazd Jews were among the first to emigrate from Persia to Jerusalem, establishing there the famous Yazdim community.
Not much is known about the life of the scribe, Chacham (Mullah) R. Yitzchak son of R. Moshe Or Shraga. His name appears on various ketubot between 1839 and 1865 and it is known that he composed a homily on the Torah (Y. Shraga, MiYazd LeEretz HaKodesh, p. 149). His son, R. Moshe son of R. Yitzchak Or Shraga served as rabbi during 1890-1900.
[15] leaves; 157 pages. 17 cm. Bluish paper. Condition varies, good-fair. Stains, wear and tears, affecting text of several leaves. Old damaged binding.
Written by the grandson of the Or Shraga - Chacham (Mullah) R. Yitzchak son of R. Moshe son of R. Or Shraga. His signature appears in many places in this manuscript (pp. 32, 39, 49, 66, 124, 128, 138, 140).
In the margin of the first page, stamp and signature of R. Moshe son of Refael Shraga (his stamps and signatures also appear on p. 41 and on the following blank leaf). The first page and pp. 75 and 108 bear various stamps of "Refael son of R. Moshe son of the Maor Shraga". Unidentified calligraphic signature on p. 17. Blurred stamp on p. 26 (of R. Moshe son of the Or Shraga?).
Additional leaves (from the same region and period), bound at the beginning of the manuscript, comprise tales, songs, piyyutim and various selections.
The Or Shraga family of Yazd, descendants of the Kabbalist Mullah Or Shraga, were among the greatest rabbis of Persia. Mullah Or Shraga served as a rabbi for decades and was the force behind the enduring adherence of Yazd Jewry to Torah study and mitzvah observance. He and his descendants led the local community for some two hundred years. Rabbi Or Shraga reputedly came to Yazd two hundred and fifty years ago, from the city of Isfahan, after the king issued a decree ordering the killing of ten great Torah scholars. He was one of three Torah scholars who managed to escape, the other seven died sanctifying G-d’s Name. In Yazd, he facilitated the flourishing of the city’s Jewish population and transformed the city into a Torah center. Yazd Jews were among the first to emigrate from Persia to Jerusalem, establishing there the famous Yazdim community.
Not much is known about the life of the scribe, Chacham (Mullah) R. Yitzchak son of R. Moshe Or Shraga. His name appears on various ketubot between 1839 and 1865 and it is known that he composed a homily on the Torah (Y. Shraga, MiYazd LeEretz HaKodesh, p. 149). His son, R. Moshe son of R. Yitzchak Or Shraga served as rabbi during 1890-1900.
[15] leaves; 157 pages. 17 cm. Bluish paper. Condition varies, good-fair. Stains, wear and tears, affecting text of several leaves. Old damaged binding.
Category
Persian, Indian and Far Eastern Jewry - Manuscripts and Books
Catalogue
Auction 70 - Judaica - Books, Manuscripts, Rabbinical Letters, Ceremonial Art
March 31, 2020
Opening: $400
Sold for: $3,000
Including buyer's premium
Illustrated manuscript, midrashim and piyyutim, amulets, goralot, segulot and cures, responses to Christian arguments, and more. [Urmia (presently: West Azerbaijan Province, Iran), 19th/20th century].
Illustrated manuscript. A few carpet pages ornamented with floral motifs and imaginary creatures. Several illustrations and decorations at the beginning of sections. Two full-page amulets (on pages [43a] and [53a]), with an illustration of Lilith, the captions "form of Lilith", "bound and tied with chains", and Holy Names, verses and hashbaot. On p. [53b] is a hamsa (palm-shaped amulet), with a Star of David in its center.
On p. [40a]: "Completed… Chaim son of R. Barzul". Inscription on p. [101a]: "I, Mordechai, son of Barzilai… Urmia…". Another inscription on verso: "…Michael of Urmia, Mordechai son of Barzilai…". On p. [104b]: "I, Mordechai, son of Barzilai wrote this book…"; on p. [109b]: "…Mordechai Urmia… I wrote it…".
Ownership inscriptions on first page: "Moshe son of Shmuel Mizrachi", "Chaim son of R. Barzilai Mizrachi". Signatures and stamps of R. "Moshe son of R. Refael Or Shraga…" (a descendant of Mullah Or Shraga of Yazd, see previous item).
The manuscript contains: Midrashim on Megillat Eicha, on the Ten Commandments, on Parashat VaYigash; songs and piyyutim; a midrash about the ascent of Moshe to heaven; prayers to recite by gravesites; the story of Yosef the Tzaddik in Judeo-Persian; goralot and mazalot; a composition on the "Error of Christianity", with comparisons between the Bible and the New Testament and various responses to Christian arguments; segulot and cures.
[124] leaves. Fair condition. Stains, dampstains, tears and wear. Damage to text in a few places. Damaged binding.
Illustrated manuscript. A few carpet pages ornamented with floral motifs and imaginary creatures. Several illustrations and decorations at the beginning of sections. Two full-page amulets (on pages [43a] and [53a]), with an illustration of Lilith, the captions "form of Lilith", "bound and tied with chains", and Holy Names, verses and hashbaot. On p. [53b] is a hamsa (palm-shaped amulet), with a Star of David in its center.
On p. [40a]: "Completed… Chaim son of R. Barzul". Inscription on p. [101a]: "I, Mordechai, son of Barzilai… Urmia…". Another inscription on verso: "…Michael of Urmia, Mordechai son of Barzilai…". On p. [104b]: "I, Mordechai, son of Barzilai wrote this book…"; on p. [109b]: "…Mordechai Urmia… I wrote it…".
Ownership inscriptions on first page: "Moshe son of Shmuel Mizrachi", "Chaim son of R. Barzilai Mizrachi". Signatures and stamps of R. "Moshe son of R. Refael Or Shraga…" (a descendant of Mullah Or Shraga of Yazd, see previous item).
The manuscript contains: Midrashim on Megillat Eicha, on the Ten Commandments, on Parashat VaYigash; songs and piyyutim; a midrash about the ascent of Moshe to heaven; prayers to recite by gravesites; the story of Yosef the Tzaddik in Judeo-Persian; goralot and mazalot; a composition on the "Error of Christianity", with comparisons between the Bible and the New Testament and various responses to Christian arguments; segulot and cures.
[124] leaves. Fair condition. Stains, dampstains, tears and wear. Damage to text in a few places. Damaged binding.
Category
Persian, Indian and Far Eastern Jewry - Manuscripts and Books
Catalogue
Auction 70 - Judaica - Books, Manuscripts, Rabbinical Letters, Ceremonial Art
March 31, 2020
Opening: $300
Sold for: $375
Including buyer's premium
Collection of booklets, textbooks and handwritten students’ notebooks from Teheran, Iran:
• Printed booklet, "Syllabus of Otzar HaTorah - Iran". [Teheran], 1953. Mimeographed typescript.
The booklet contains the weekly schedule for grades 1-6, with a description of the material to be covered by every grade, in each Torah subject, for every week of the school year.
• Collection of printed booklets and textbooks in Persian (in Arabic script) printed in Iran in the first half of the 20th century.
• Collection of students’ notebooks, written in Persian (Arabic script).
• Printed leaf in Persian and a stamped document.
The contents of the items in Persian were not examined.
The Otzar HaTorah Jewish educational network operated in the 1950s in Sephardi countries and communities. In Iran alone, the network comprised some 40 schools, in which many thousands of pupils studied.
5 printed booklets, 5 handwritten notebooks and 2 paper items. Size and condition vary.
• Printed booklet, "Syllabus of Otzar HaTorah - Iran". [Teheran], 1953. Mimeographed typescript.
The booklet contains the weekly schedule for grades 1-6, with a description of the material to be covered by every grade, in each Torah subject, for every week of the school year.
• Collection of printed booklets and textbooks in Persian (in Arabic script) printed in Iran in the first half of the 20th century.
• Collection of students’ notebooks, written in Persian (Arabic script).
• Printed leaf in Persian and a stamped document.
The contents of the items in Persian were not examined.
The Otzar HaTorah Jewish educational network operated in the 1950s in Sephardi countries and communities. In Iran alone, the network comprised some 40 schools, in which many thousands of pupils studied.
5 printed booklets, 5 handwritten notebooks and 2 paper items. Size and condition vary.
Category
Persian, Indian and Far Eastern Jewry - Manuscripts and Books
Catalogue
Auction 70 - Judaica - Books, Manuscripts, Rabbinical Letters, Ceremonial Art
March 31, 2020
Opening: $300
Sold for: $425
Including buyer's premium
Siddur Beit El, year-round prayers, Passover Haggadah, all Pesach laws and calendar of the festivals for ten years. [Kobe, Japan]: Sputnik, 1920.
Hebrew with Russian translation, in facing columns. The explanations, instructions and comments are in Russian only.
Second title page in Cyrillic script. A symbolic illustration of "the wandering Jew" is printed on verso of the Hebrew title page.
XVI, 498, 24 pages. 19 cm. Good condition. Stains. Small marginal tears to several leaves. New binding.
The only Hebrew book printed in Kobe, Japan.
Hebrew with Russian translation, in facing columns. The explanations, instructions and comments are in Russian only.
Second title page in Cyrillic script. A symbolic illustration of "the wandering Jew" is printed on verso of the Hebrew title page.
XVI, 498, 24 pages. 19 cm. Good condition. Stains. Small marginal tears to several leaves. New binding.
The only Hebrew book printed in Kobe, Japan.
Category
Persian, Indian and Far Eastern Jewry - Manuscripts and Books
Catalogue
Auction 70 - Judaica - Books, Manuscripts, Rabbinical Letters, Ceremonial Art
March 31, 2020
Opening: $700
Sold for: $875
Including buyer's premium
Ketubah and marriage documents from Harbin, China:
• Ketubah, printed in color (Warsaw: Ch. Jacobson - M. Goldberg), filled-in by hand, recording the marriage of the groom Yaakov son of Avraham Kogan, to the bride Sheva daughter of Eliezer Keilis. Harbin, 1933.
• Marriage certificate (in Russian), issued by the "Hebrew Community in Harbin", confirming the above marriage. Signed by the rabbi of the city - R. Aharon Moshe Kiselev, the community chairman and the secretary; with the stamp of the community board.
• Certificate (in Russian) issued by the Harbin police, regarding the above marriage. Including official stamps (in Chinese and Russian) and a revenue stamp. Printed text in Chinese on the verso.
Harbin, China, was home to a small Jewish community, established on the eve of WWI by Russian immigrants. The first and last rabbi of the community was R. Aharon Moshe Kiselev (1866-1949), a Chassid of Lubavitch, disciple of the "Gadol of Minsk" and R. Chaim Soloveitchik. He arrived there in 1913, after serving for many years as rabbi of Borisov (Barysaw), Minsk region. In 1937, he was unanimously appointed chief rabbi of all the Far East communities. With the Chinese conquest of the city from the hands of the Japanese, and the establishment of communist rule in China, the Hebrew community of Harbin came to an end.
3 paper items. Size and condition vary.
• Ketubah, printed in color (Warsaw: Ch. Jacobson - M. Goldberg), filled-in by hand, recording the marriage of the groom Yaakov son of Avraham Kogan, to the bride Sheva daughter of Eliezer Keilis. Harbin, 1933.
• Marriage certificate (in Russian), issued by the "Hebrew Community in Harbin", confirming the above marriage. Signed by the rabbi of the city - R. Aharon Moshe Kiselev, the community chairman and the secretary; with the stamp of the community board.
• Certificate (in Russian) issued by the Harbin police, regarding the above marriage. Including official stamps (in Chinese and Russian) and a revenue stamp. Printed text in Chinese on the verso.
Harbin, China, was home to a small Jewish community, established on the eve of WWI by Russian immigrants. The first and last rabbi of the community was R. Aharon Moshe Kiselev (1866-1949), a Chassid of Lubavitch, disciple of the "Gadol of Minsk" and R. Chaim Soloveitchik. He arrived there in 1913, after serving for many years as rabbi of Borisov (Barysaw), Minsk region. In 1937, he was unanimously appointed chief rabbi of all the Far East communities. With the Chinese conquest of the city from the hands of the Japanese, and the establishment of communist rule in China, the Hebrew community of Harbin came to an end.
3 paper items. Size and condition vary.
Category
Persian, Indian and Far Eastern Jewry - Manuscripts and Books
Catalogue
Auction 70 - Judaica - Books, Manuscripts, Rabbinical Letters, Ceremonial Art
March 31, 2020
Opening: $300
Sold for: $400
Including buyer's premium
Seder Beracha Acharonah, lithograph broadside. Published by Avraham Meir son of R. Yaakov Kopil HaCohen Neiman, printed at the N. A. Frankel press ("Типо-лит. Н. А. Френкеля"), Harbin, 1934.
The Al HaMichya blessing with Yiddish instructions. Black and orange border, with medallions containing Stars of David. Surmounted by a pair of lions flanking a large Star of David depicting hands raised for the Priestly Blessing, alluding to the identity of the publisher.
In the early 20th century, Harbin became an administrative center situated on the railway from Russia to China, prompting the immigration of Russian Jews. In 1908, about 8000 Jews were living in the city. The flow of Russian refugees increased After WWI and in the early 1930s, the community peaked at 15,000 Jewish residents, with schools, hospitals, old-age homes, a library, etc., also providing organized assistance to refugees. During these years, dozens of Jewish-owned companies operated in Harbin and the community prospered as a center of Jewish culture. Newspapers were printed, plays were produced and in 1927, the community hosted the first Far-East Zionist convention. At the end of the Russian occupation in 1928, an economic crisis hit the city and the situation of Jews took a turn for the worst. Under the Japanese occupation (1931-1945) the Jewish community was persecuted and its freedom was limited. After WWII, Jews emigrated from the city until organized Jewish life in Harbin came to an end altogether.
Leaf: 25X39 cm. Fair condition. The bottom of the leaf is torn along its entire width and reinforced with adhesive tape. Open and closed tears, some restored with paper strips. Pinholes. Stains. Folding marks.
The leaf is not recorded in the NLI catalog nor in the OCLC.
The Al HaMichya blessing with Yiddish instructions. Black and orange border, with medallions containing Stars of David. Surmounted by a pair of lions flanking a large Star of David depicting hands raised for the Priestly Blessing, alluding to the identity of the publisher.
In the early 20th century, Harbin became an administrative center situated on the railway from Russia to China, prompting the immigration of Russian Jews. In 1908, about 8000 Jews were living in the city. The flow of Russian refugees increased After WWI and in the early 1930s, the community peaked at 15,000 Jewish residents, with schools, hospitals, old-age homes, a library, etc., also providing organized assistance to refugees. During these years, dozens of Jewish-owned companies operated in Harbin and the community prospered as a center of Jewish culture. Newspapers were printed, plays were produced and in 1927, the community hosted the first Far-East Zionist convention. At the end of the Russian occupation in 1928, an economic crisis hit the city and the situation of Jews took a turn for the worst. Under the Japanese occupation (1931-1945) the Jewish community was persecuted and its freedom was limited. After WWII, Jews emigrated from the city until organized Jewish life in Harbin came to an end altogether.
Leaf: 25X39 cm. Fair condition. The bottom of the leaf is torn along its entire width and reinforced with adhesive tape. Open and closed tears, some restored with paper strips. Pinholes. Stains. Folding marks.
The leaf is not recorded in the NLI catalog nor in the OCLC.
Category
Persian, Indian and Far Eastern Jewry - Manuscripts and Books
Catalogue