Auction 70 - Judaica - Books, Manuscripts, Rabbinical Letters, Ceremonial Art
Several glosses. Deleted ownership inscription on the final leaf.
84 leaves. 21 cm. Condition varies. Title page and six subsequent leaves damaged by fire, with significant loss of text (replaced in photocopy). Other leaves in good-fair condition. Stains. Significant dampstains to some leaves. Minor worming in several places. Title of book handwritten at top of pages. New leather binding.
Shaarei Ora was printed twice in 1561: once in Mantua, with a colophon dated end of Tammuz that year, and again in Riva di Trento, with no imprint. It is unclear which edition was printed first.
Stefansky Classics, no. 340.
• Zohar Chadash and Midrash HaNe'elam, Part I, on the Torah, with Tikkunim by R. Shimon bar Yochai; Part II, on Shir HaShirim and Eichah. [Salonika: Joseph Abraham Bat-Sheva, 1597]. First edition.
Divisional title page for part II. This is the first edition of Zohar Chadash on the Torah and the Megillot, apart from Megillat Ruth, which although mentioned on the title page of part II, was not printed in this edition (it was printed earlier as an independent book entitled Tapuchei Zahav, Thiengen, 1559; and again under the title Midrash HaNe'elam, in Venice 1566 - see following).
With (bound at the beginning):
• Midrash HaNe'elam (Zohar Chadash) on Ruth. [Venice: Cristoforo Zanetti, 1566]. Second edition.
Several handwritten glosses and inscriptions.
Two book bounds together. Incomplete copies. Midrash Ruth: 3-31 leaves. Zohar Chadash: 5-6, 112, 48; 36 leaves. Lacking first two leaves and final leaf of Midrash HaNe'elam on Ruth, and first four leaves of Zohar Chadash. Approx. 20 cm. Overall fair condition. Several leaves in poor condition. Stains and extensive wear. Significant dampstains to many leaves. Tears to several leaves, including first two leaves and final leaf of volume, affecting text. First two leaves detached. Original leather binding, damaged and partially detached, with remnants of strings for fastening.
This is a rare edition of Midrash HaNe'elam on Ruth, recorded in the Bibliography of the Hebrew Book based on a photocopy of the Schocken copy (the first edition of Midrash HaNe'elam on Ruth was printed in Tiengen in 1559, in the book Tapuchei Zahav).
Stefansky Classics, no. 328.
Two parts in one volume. Separate title page for Midrash Shir HaShirim and Eichah.
This edition features a new foreword from the kabbalist R. Moshe Mordechai Margolies Rabbi of Kraków, who proofread and corrected the text of the first edition.
Ownership inscriptions, signatures and stamps on the endpapers and title page.
[6], 112; 48; 35 leaves. Lacking leaf 36. Part II was originally bound in the reverse order: 36; 48 leaves. 20 cm. Most leaves in good-fair condition. Stains and wear. Dampstains. Significant stains and extensive wear to final leaves. Book split in two. Detached leaves. Worming to first and final leaves, barely affecting text (slight damage to title border). Marginal tears to several leaves. Stamp on title page. Early parchment and leather binding, damaged, without spine.
See: Stefansky Classics, no. 328.
Both parts constitute one book, titled "Semichat Chachamim". The first part constitutes a lengthy Kabbalistic introduction under the subtitle "Birkat Hashem"; the second part contains novellae on tractate Berachot under the subtitle "Kedusha UVeracha".
Printed in the lifetime of the author, the celebrated Ashkenazi kabbalist R. Naftali Katz (1650-1719), Rabbi of Ostroh, Posen and Frankfurt am Main. From youth he conducted himself with holiness and outstanding diligence and knew the entire Talmud by heart. Immediately after his marriage, he was appointed head of the Ostroh Yeshiva and at the age of 30 was appointed to the influential position of Rabbi of Ostroh and the Ukrainian district. In 1689, he relocated to Posen to serve there as rabbi. At the young age of 40 he was chosen to preside over Vaad Arba Aratzot, the highest rabbinical position in central and eastern Europe. In 1704, he was appointed Rabbi of Frankfurt am Main, the center of Torah study in Germany. After the great fire of 1711, he was forced to flee Frankfurt am Main (as rumors claimed the fire was his fault, having engaged in practical kabbalah, performing incantations and writing amulets). After much wandering, he planned to settle in Eretz Israel. However, upon arriving in Constantinople he took ill and died. His gravesite in Constantinople has since been a place of pilgrimage for prayer and salvation. (Reputedly, when the Baal Shem Tov was passing in Constantinople on his way to Eretz Israel, R. Naftali Katz appeared to him in a dream to announce that, like himself, he was destined to die in Constantinople, never reaching Eretz Israel. This was the reason the Baal Shem Tov returned to his city of Medzhybizh).
Two elaborate woodcut title pages, the first followed by a calligram of a star printed on a wider, folding plate.
Ownership inscriptions on flyleaves. Ownership inscription on front flyleaf, partly deleted: "…belongs to R. Moshe Schuster Katz of Frankfurt am Main". His signature appears on p. 40a, making use of the Hebrew numeral Mem: "Moshe son of Lemle Schuster Katz" (d. 1814, see his epitaph in Horowitz, Avnei Zikaron - HaKetav VeHamichtav, p. 568). Another (deleted) ownership inscription on first title page. Inscription in Italian script in the center of the title page: "My acquisition, Yitzchak Refael son of Elisha Michael Finzi, Padua 1792" (R. Yitzchak Refael Finzi, Rabbi of Padua, student of R. Yitzchak Lampronti author of Pachad Yitzchak. A member of Napoleon's Grand Sanhedrin. "Taught some hundred students" [Fuenn, Knesset Yisrael, p. 654]. R. Mordechai Ghirondi's teacher). Glosses in Italian script on p. 40a and p. 114b.
79; [1], 140 leaves. 33 cm. Thick, high-quality light-colored paper. Good condition. A few stains. Worming to lower margin in multiple pages, generally not affecting text, affecting title page of Part II. Tears to title page of Part I, restored, slightly affecting woodcut. Repaired tears to folding calligram page, affecting text (with loss of a few words). New leather binding.
The author, R. Elazar Rokeach, a holy Torah scholar and Kabbalist, served as Rabbi of Brody and Amsterdam. He published his book Maaseh Rokeach in 1740, on his way to Eretz Israel, a short while before his passing. The book presents lofty Kabbalistic allusions and secrets relating to the number of chapters comprising the Six Orders of Mishnah, the number of chapters in each order, and the number of chapters in each tractate. As the author writes in his preface: "For not by coincidence nor happenstance was it so, rather all was written with Heavenly-guided understanding, and arranged deliberately for allegoric and esoteric allusions". The author also writes that "the first and last letters of the chapters were purposefully selected for their numeric values, following allegoric and esoteric allusions". The book was published in several editions, with enthusiastic approbations by leading Torah scholars, acclaiming the holiness of the book and its author. R. Moshe Berin Blum Rabbi of Vyshnivets writes in his approbation (to the second edition, printed in Mohyliv-Podilskyi, 1817): "…He was endowed with Heavenly inspiration, as is universally acknowledged that this Torah scholar availed himself of Divine Inspiration akin to the early Sages…". The current Rebbe of Belz wrote in his approbation to the 1993 edition: "It is well known that this holy book was particularly cherished by our holy rabbis [Rebbes of the Belz dynasty, descendants of the author], and in 1955, my uncle the Rebbe [Rebbe Aharon Rokeach] gave his blessings for publishing this book, quoting his father the Maharid, who asserted that studying this holy book is a segulah for happiness".
On the title page: Signature of R. "Mordechai Friedman of Mezeritch", signature of R. "David Yudel Kaufman" and stamps. Copyings on the last page, handwritten by R. David Yudel Kaufman, regarding the medal issued in Amsterdam in 1735 depicting the author R. Elazar Rokeach.
[2], 2-121; 6 leaves. 23.5 cm. Especially wide margins. Good condition. Dampstains. Dark stains and a wormhole to title page. New fabric binding.
Pri Etz Chaim was first published in Korets in 1782, yet this edition, printed in 1785, is based on an independently edited manuscripts, and is in effect a different version, with textual variations compared to the 1782 edition.
This edition was edited by the kabbalist R. Meir Poppers, whilst in the 1782 edition, the first half was edited by the kabbalist R. Natan Shapira, and only the second half by R. Meir Poppers. Likewise, this edition contains over one hundred notes and additions which were not included in the 1782 edition, some opening with the word "Tzemach" (the glosses of the kabbalist R. Yaakov Tzemach), and others with the word "MehaChaverim" (= from the friends - novellae originating from other disciples of the Arizal, not from R. Chaim Vital).
[One of the famous additions which first appeared in this edition is the establishment of Lag BaOmer as the date of the passing of R. Shimon bar Yochai (p. 108a). This passage was included in all further editions, until this day].
On verso of the title page, the printers state that this edition is based on "a very accurate Pri Etz Chaim book, copied from the manuscript of the late, pious kabbalist R. Shabtai Rashkover (disciple of the Baal Shem Tov), whose writings are all reputed to be perfect".
Signatures: "Elimelech Perlman" (R. Elimelech Perlman, one of the leaders of the Jerusalem Chassidic community and its institutions. He immigrated to Jerusalem after 1850 and founded many neighborhoods in the city, the most famous being the Batei Perlman neighborhood. He was the son of R. Yisrael Isser Perlman Rabbi of Rozwadow and son-in-law of R. Baruch Binyamin Ze'ev Weinstock). Stamps: "Natan Yehuda Leib Minzberg in Jerusalem".
[1], 132 leaves. 32 cm. Good-fair condition. Stains and wear. Dampstains. Tears to title page, affecting border and text on verso, repaired with paper. Marginal paper repairs to first leaves. Old binding, with damage.
Owner's signature at the top of the title page: "So says Shaul son of R. Noach Papierna" (the wealthy R. Shaul Papierna of Paritch). Another ownership inscription forming the acronym: "Shimon Papierna".
150, [1] leaves (misfoliation). Bluish paper. 33.5 cm. Good condition. Stains. Worming to several leaves. Dark stains to final leaf and in several other places. Inscriptions, censorship inscriptions. Old binding.
The books of R. Yaakov Koppel of Mezeritch - Shaar Gan Eden and the Kol Yaakov siddur, are adapted and edited compilations of the writings of the Remak, R. Chaim Vital and R. Yisrael Sarug, with the addition of his own novellae.
The Mezeritch Torah scholars write in their approbation of the veneration the Baal Shem Tov displayed for the writings of R. Yaakov Koppel (while they were still in manuscript, prior to printing). This testimony is repeated in further detail on the title page, which describes how when this book was brought before the Baal Shem Tov, together with Siddur Kol Yaakov, he read a few sections from them, hugged and kissed them, and expressed great reverence for them. R. Levi Yitzchak of Berditchev praises the author in his approbation: "He was a reliable kabbalist, who's words all emanate from Divine Inspiration".
Many of the leading Chassidic masters quote the book Shaar Gan Eden in their writings, and base their teachings on its principles.
[2], 84 leaves. 33.5 cm. Bluish paper. Fair condition. Stains. Wear, damage and worming to several leaves. Large marginal tears to final leaves, repaired with clear plastic. Old binding, with damage.
Stefansky Chassidut, no. 588.
Three books bound together, ethics and kabbalah books printed in Zhovkva and Lviv, ca. 1780-1820:
1. Shaarei HaKedusha, guidance in attaining Divine Inspiration, by R. Chaim Vital, with selections by R. Shimshon of Ostropoli (Ostropol). Zhovkva, 1780. First edition of these selections by R. Shimshon of Ostropoli.
2. Likutei Yosef, abridgement of R. Elazar Azkari's Sefer Charedim, by R. Yosef of Zborov. [Lviv, ca. 1790-1820?]. Only edition, published after the passing of the author "the outstanding rabbi, the G-d fearing and pious R. Yosef" - as the publisher states on the title page.
The famous letter from the kabbalist R. Shimshon of Ostropoli is printed at the end of the book. The letter explains the kabbalistic topics of Redemption and the Ten Plagues. The letter is printed under the following heading: "This letter was found in the booklet of the G-dly kabbalist R. Shimshon of Ostropoli". The letter contains a commentary to an impenetrable essay by the Arizal discussing the names of the angels assigned to smite the Egyptians during the Ten Plagues, and who are responsible for the Future Redemption of the Jewish people.
The colophon at the end of the letter states: "And he also informed me of this secret, that whoever studies this wonderful and awesome topic properly, even once a year, especially on Erev Pesach, is guaranteed that entire year to be spared from any obstacle, unusual death or constraint, and his enemies will not dominate him, and all his opponents will fall before him, and he will succeed in all his endeavors".
3. Avkat Rochel, on reward, retribution and the World to Come, by Rabbenu Machir (a teacher of Rashi). Lviv, [after 1792].
Shaarei HaKedusha: 42 leaves. Likutei Yosef: [16] leaves. Avkat Rochel: [29] leaves. Lacking final leaf of Avkat Rochel. 14 cm. Good-fair condition. Stains and wear. Tears to several leaves. Without binding.
The year of printing of Likutei Yosef is uncertain. In Beit Eked Sefarim (vol. II, p. 512, Lamed, no. 594), Friedberg writes that it was printed in 1790, while R. M. Wunder in Encyclopedia LeChachmei Galicia (III, p. 235) maintains that it was printed ca. 1820.
The letter of R. Shimshon of Ostropoli was transmitted for many years through manuscript copyings, and only in the second half of the 18th century, it appeared in print in various books. From then on, it has been printed in many editions of Passover Haggadot and machzorim for Pesach. This is one of the early editions of the letter.
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Reading this holy letter on Erev Pesach is reputed as an exceptional segulah for protection, as stated explicitly at the end of the letter. Chassidim and pious men customarily recite this letter on Erev Pesach. It is recorded in the customs of the Beit El yeshiva for kabbalists, printed at the beginning of the book Divrei Shalom (Jerusalem, 1883, section 50), that "on Erev Pesach, each person arranges the Seder plate in his home before Mincha, and then comes to the synagogue where everyone individually studies the letter of R. Shimshon of Ostropoli". The following is related about R. Chaim Palachi: "On Erev Pesach, he would call his grandsons to read with them the letter of R. Shimshon of Ostropoli" (Tzavaa MeChaim, II, section 28). Rebbe Yochanan Sofer of Erloi would describe the special powers of this letter, attributing his miraculous survival of the Holocaust to its recital. The following wondrous account is quoted in his name in a footnote to the Chatam Sofer Haggadah (Jerusalem, 1992, p. 25): His grandfather, R. Shimon Sofer - author of Hitorerut Teshuva, was particular to recite this letter every Erev Pesach after noon. On Erev Pesach 1944, however, he was so preoccupied due to the German invasion of Hungary, that he forgot to read the letter. That year, R. Shimon Sofer was murdered on 21st Sivan 1944. R. Yochanan relates that he himself also forgot to read the letter on Erev Pesach that year, yet remembered on Rosh Hashanah 1944 and read the letter then. In that merit, he was saved from the Nazis and was granted longevity.
Complete volume in Ashkenazic script, by two writers. Leaves 1-54 were written by one scribe and another scribe continued from leaf 55 until the end. Marginalia containing many dozens of glosses, corrections, references and additions by several writers (three or four). Many glosses open with "נל"ח" (N.L.Ch. = It seems to me Ch---?). Owner's stamps: "Yisrael Stern, Pressburg". (The handwriting of some of the marginalia resembles marginalia in another Kabbalistic manuscript from Pressburg that was in the possession of the Chatam Sofer - see Kedem Auction 53, item 47).
The composition Kavanot Gedolot was edited in the school of R. Moshe Zacuto in Italy (see: R. Yosef Avivi, Kabbalat HaAri, p. 746). Copyings of this composition are uncommon (Avivi, ibid, records just three manuscript copyings of this composition).
Title on leaf 57 of the second sequence: "Part II of the book Pri Etz Chaim - Part II Shaar HaMitzvot, second chapter…".
[2], 182; 92 leaves. 20 cm. Good-fair condition. Stains and wear. Original leather binding, damaged and worn, with laces for fastening.
The thousands of glosses contained in this book consist of the glosses of Moroccan kabbalists to the Zohar. Careful study of these glosses discloses that most appear in the composition Leket Shoshanim (extant in several manuscripts). Some of these glosses also feature in the book Mikdash Melech by R. Shalom Buzaglo. Additionally, the glosses include several original thoughts, opening with: "And it appears to me, מטו"ן…". These glosses were written in the same handwriting as the others. We have not managed to identify this Torah scholar, yet it is apparent that he was a prominent and erudite kabbalist (possible interpretations of the acronym "מטו"ן" are Moshe Toledano or Meir Toledano).
The book is lacking at the beginning, middle and end. 28 leaves were bound at the beginning, containing part of the missing text, handwritten in Western script. The glosses, in Western script, were inserted both in the margins and between the lines, on all leaves (both printed and handwritten) of the book. Most of the glosses were recorded by one writer (the Torah scholar named "מטו"ן" mentioned above). A gloss on p. 156b is from a different writer. There may be additional glosses in a different handwriting.
These glosses comprise the teachings of the Marrakesh school of kabbalists, which included R. Yaakov Maradji, R. Avraham Azoulay (the second), R. Avraham ibn Moussa, R. Shlomo Amar, R. Yeshaya HaKohen, R. Yaakov Pinto, R. Yaakov Gedalia and their disciples. The glosses correspond with the composition Leket Shoshanim, a compilation of glosses by leading Marrakesh kabbalists to the Zohar, arranged by R. Yeshaya HaKohen and R. Yaakov Pinto. Leket Shoshanim was never published, and is extant in several manuscripts, but part of it was included in the renowned book Mikdash Melech (London, 1750-1752) by the kabbalist R. Shalom Buzaglo, who was associated with this school of kabbalists. The nature of the connection between the compositions Leket Shoshanim and Mikdash Melech is as of yet unclear (see: R. Moshe Hillel, Record for the History of the First Generation of Marrakesh Kabbalists, in: Min HaGenazim - Ahavat Shalom, X - 2017, p. 44, footnote 49).
22-55, 58-63, 66-71, 74-79, 81-89, 152-163, 166-167, 169-174, 176-215, 217-223, 225-230 leaves (lacking leaves at beginning, middle and end of book; originally: [7], 251, [1], 11 leaves) + [28] handwritten leaves. Approx. 19 cm. Fair-poor condition. Stains. Many tears, dampness damage and wear, affecting text and handwritten glosses. Detached leaves. Binding detached and damaged.
Handwritten notebook, mostly in neat Italian scribal-script, and alternately in Sephardic script - the handwriting of R. Refael Yeshaya Azulai, who added segulot, Hashbaot and texts of amulets. The manuscript also contains personal notes, with records of income and expenditures and names of Jews in Ancona, as well as two pages of Torah thoughts. Includes tables, kabbalistic illustrations and Angelic Script.
Additional handwritten leaves, also on practical Kabbalah, are interspersed in the bound notebook, some in R. Yeshaya Azulai's handwriting, and some in scribal-script.
An overall breakdown of the manuscript:
Leaves [1]-[4a]: Texts of amulet for protection in various areas: to remove foreign thoughts, for a storm at sea, for headache and malaria; Hashbaot and incantations "to cause anyone to do your will..." and "against fear".
Leaves [4b]-[8]: Account records and names of people (presumably from Ancona), in Hebrew and Italian, some handwritten by R. Yeshaya Azulai, dated "Tishrei 1821", "Nissan 1822", "Elul 1822" and "Tishrei 1822". P. [7b] contains an amulet "segulah for a thief" with illustrations of angels' seals.
Leaves [9]-[12]: Segulot, Hashbaot and incantations for various matters: "to be loved by all", "to escape from prison", "for increasing a woman's milk supply", "to cause illness or death to an enemy", "to cease menstruation", "against miscarriage", and more. Leaf [10]: Two amulet texts handwritten by R. Yeshaya Azulai. Leaf [11]: List of 12 different segulot "for a difficult labor".
Leaves [13]-[14a]: Three pages of Torah teachings (Halacha and Aggadah) handwritten by R. Yeshaya Azulai.
Leaves [14b]-[16]: Lists of accounts and names, mostly handwritten by R. Yeshaya Azulai. Leaf [14b]: Inscription with calculations, handwritten by R. Yeshaya: "Tishrei 1820, the salary I receive from the community for the whole year is two hundred scudos every six months…".
Leaves [17]-[24]: Segulot, Hashbaot and amulet texts, with tables, kabbalistic combinations of names and angels' seals for various matters, including: "to annul sorcery", "to sell merchandise", "for a thief", "for a store", "to sell and buy", "for difficult labor", "to change a person's mind", and more. Some pages contain accounting records and various other inscriptions, some of which are handwritten by R. Yeshaya Azulai.
P. [18a]: List of book prices, handwritten by R. Yeshaya Azulai (the book LeDavid Emet by his father the Chida is included in the list).
A dispute is recorded on the front endpaper - "Shimshon Pacifico's claim against the widow of Moshe Yitzchak Pesaro…".
The additional leaves interspersed in the manuscript include: a gathering of six written pages containing segulot and cures, She'elat Chalom (dream question), Holy names and amulet texts (numbered, sections 1-33); several leaves from a manuscript on practical Kabbalah; several leaves from a different notebook of segulot, Hashbaot and incantations, with passages in R. Yeshaya Azulai's handwriting.
R. Refael Yeshaya Azulai (1743-1826) was born in Jerusalem, the eldest son of the illustrious R. Chaim Yosef David Azulai - the Chida. A great Torah scholar in his own right, he was a rabbi, posek and leader of Italian Jewry in his times. Some of his halachic responsa were printed in his father's books, who honored and esteemed him and always mentioned him with epithets of love ("my dear son", "my firstborn son, the perfect great chacham", "the light of my eyes", "friend of my soul", etc.). After the death of R. Avraham Yisrael, rabbi of Ancona, in 1785, the community leaders turned to the Chida who hinted that his son R. Refael Yeshaya would be suitable for this position. He served as rabbi of Ancona for many years until his death on 9th Shevat 1823 (he lived 83 years, just like his father). He was greatly honored at his death and was mourned by his community for a long time (for further information see M. Benayahu's book on the Chida, pp. 476-487).
[24] leaves + [8] leaves. Approx. 19 cm. Overall good condition. Stains and wear. Tears and damage. Worming in some places, slightly affecting text. Binding worn.