Auction 74 - Judaica - Books, Manuscripts, Rabbinical Letters, Ceremonial Art
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Auction 74 - Judaica - Books, Manuscripts, Rabbinical Letters, Ceremonial Art
September 15, 2020
Opening: $500
Sold for: $750
Including buyer's premium
Manuscript, Pinkas of "Chevrat Mishmorim" – society of members of the Ashkenazic community in Jaffa who commit to nighttime Torah study in the Beit Midrash. Jaffa, Tevet 1914. Title page decorated in gold ink.
The Pinkas contains the society's regulations regarding nightly Torah study, and the allocation of shifts between the members of the society, so that the Beit Midrash should resound with Torah study throughout the night. The Pinkas begins with a letter from the rabbis of Jaffa, signed by: R. Yosef Tzvi HaLevi, R. Shlomo Zalman Shach, R. Aryeh Leib Frumkin, and others. This is followed by R. Kook's letter, dated 27th Tevet 1914.
Further in the pinkas, there are signatures of 34 members of the society, who commit to learning for "half a shift" or "a third of a shift". Some even note which day of the week. The list of signees is headed by the leaders and initiators of this society: R. Yosef Levi Chagiz and R. Yisrael Habas (scholarly and wealthy merchants, leaders of the Jaffa community in those times. R. Yosef Levi Chagiz was a head of the Shomrei Torah society for the establishment of boys' school and yeshivot in the various moshavot in Eretz Israel. In his later years, he founded Agudath Tadchatz).
In his letter, R. Kook praises this holy society, extols the virtues of nighttime Torah study and blesses those who devote their night to learning. The letter is signed: "Avraham Yitzchak H.K." [HaKohen Kook].
[60] leaves (including 10 written pages, most leaves blank). Good condition. Stains. Minor tears. New leather binding.
The Pinkas contains the society's regulations regarding nightly Torah study, and the allocation of shifts between the members of the society, so that the Beit Midrash should resound with Torah study throughout the night. The Pinkas begins with a letter from the rabbis of Jaffa, signed by: R. Yosef Tzvi HaLevi, R. Shlomo Zalman Shach, R. Aryeh Leib Frumkin, and others. This is followed by R. Kook's letter, dated 27th Tevet 1914.
Further in the pinkas, there are signatures of 34 members of the society, who commit to learning for "half a shift" or "a third of a shift". Some even note which day of the week. The list of signees is headed by the leaders and initiators of this society: R. Yosef Levi Chagiz and R. Yisrael Habas (scholarly and wealthy merchants, leaders of the Jaffa community in those times. R. Yosef Levi Chagiz was a head of the Shomrei Torah society for the establishment of boys' school and yeshivot in the various moshavot in Eretz Israel. In his later years, he founded Agudath Tadchatz).
In his letter, R. Kook praises this holy society, extols the virtues of nighttime Torah study and blesses those who devote their night to learning. The letter is signed: "Avraham Yitzchak H.K." [HaKohen Kook].
[60] leaves (including 10 written pages, most leaves blank). Good condition. Stains. Minor tears. New leather binding.
Category
Pinkasim of Jewish Communities and Societies
Catalogue
Auction 74 - Judaica - Books, Manuscripts, Rabbinical Letters, Ceremonial Art
September 15, 2020
Opening: $700
Sold for: $1,750
Including buyer's premium
Pinkas of the Ohavei Torah Poalei Tzedek society in St. Petersburg. St. Petersburg, Kislev 1867 – Kislev 1925.
The title page and regulations at the beginning of the Pinkas were written in 1867. The rest of the Pinkas, which contains records of the society's elections of administrators, was written over the course of several decades, until 1925 (the last election recorded in this Pinkas).
The society was founded by members of the working class, from the Jewish community of St. Petersburg, who united with the purpose of establishing classes and study sessions on Shabbat – studying the halachot from Chayei Adam and listening to lectures on the weekly Torah portion, delivered by the rabbi of the community.
In the introduction of the Pinkas, the society's mission is delineated: "We, the undersigned, residents of the royal city, St. Petersburg, with the grace of His Majesty, who opened the gates of inner Russia before us, to settle wherever we wish… to work in any profession… yet… we are anguished when we contemplate our low situation in terms of our worship of G-d, since we fade away like shadows under the burden of work, day and night… and instead of like every Jewish city… where on Shabbat… they gather in each city in different groups, to study and hear from the orators, and we are lacking all this… and we consulted together, to make one society whose purpose will be to study together every Shabbat, as stated in the regulations on verso, and this is the name we gave it – Ohavei Torah Poalei Tzedek society…". The study program of the society is outlined in the regulations: "Whoever joins the society, must be a good and productive member, and committed to coming every Shabbat, to study Chayei Adam, and attend the lecture on Chumash with Rashi and Alshech, and on an ethics book, delivered by the rabbi who will teach the group, at the hours indicated below…".
Further in the Pinkas: the names of the members and administrators, with "Names of members of the Poalei Tzedek society who donated for a Torah scroll"; signed election records for the administrators "who were voted in by ballot" in Av 1868; similar election records from the years: 1870-1879, 1885, 1887, 1890-1895, 1900, 1906 and 1909 (some of the records are signed).
At the end of the Pinkas, two calligraphic leaves in colored ink with the list of administrators elected on Hoshana Rabba 1922 and Rosh Chodesh Kislev 1925. Interesting and unique item, documenting the activities of the Jewish communities in Russia under the Bolshevik rule.
[17] leaves. 27 written pages. 34 cm. Good-fair condition. Stains. Almost half of leaf [7] cut out and lacking. Marginal wear to final leaf (repaired). Original leather binding, with name of society lettered on front board. New spine.
The title page and regulations at the beginning of the Pinkas were written in 1867. The rest of the Pinkas, which contains records of the society's elections of administrators, was written over the course of several decades, until 1925 (the last election recorded in this Pinkas).
The society was founded by members of the working class, from the Jewish community of St. Petersburg, who united with the purpose of establishing classes and study sessions on Shabbat – studying the halachot from Chayei Adam and listening to lectures on the weekly Torah portion, delivered by the rabbi of the community.
In the introduction of the Pinkas, the society's mission is delineated: "We, the undersigned, residents of the royal city, St. Petersburg, with the grace of His Majesty, who opened the gates of inner Russia before us, to settle wherever we wish… to work in any profession… yet… we are anguished when we contemplate our low situation in terms of our worship of G-d, since we fade away like shadows under the burden of work, day and night… and instead of like every Jewish city… where on Shabbat… they gather in each city in different groups, to study and hear from the orators, and we are lacking all this… and we consulted together, to make one society whose purpose will be to study together every Shabbat, as stated in the regulations on verso, and this is the name we gave it – Ohavei Torah Poalei Tzedek society…". The study program of the society is outlined in the regulations: "Whoever joins the society, must be a good and productive member, and committed to coming every Shabbat, to study Chayei Adam, and attend the lecture on Chumash with Rashi and Alshech, and on an ethics book, delivered by the rabbi who will teach the group, at the hours indicated below…".
Further in the Pinkas: the names of the members and administrators, with "Names of members of the Poalei Tzedek society who donated for a Torah scroll"; signed election records for the administrators "who were voted in by ballot" in Av 1868; similar election records from the years: 1870-1879, 1885, 1887, 1890-1895, 1900, 1906 and 1909 (some of the records are signed).
At the end of the Pinkas, two calligraphic leaves in colored ink with the list of administrators elected on Hoshana Rabba 1922 and Rosh Chodesh Kislev 1925. Interesting and unique item, documenting the activities of the Jewish communities in Russia under the Bolshevik rule.
[17] leaves. 27 written pages. 34 cm. Good-fair condition. Stains. Almost half of leaf [7] cut out and lacking. Marginal wear to final leaf (repaired). Original leather binding, with name of society lettered on front board. New spine.
Category
Pinkasim of Jewish Communities and Societies
Catalogue
Auction 74 - Judaica - Books, Manuscripts, Rabbinical Letters, Ceremonial Art
September 15, 2020
Opening: $400
Unsold
Leaf from the Pinkas of the Ner Tamid society in Slavita, with five approvals for the acceptance of new members into the "holy society", signed by some of the society leaders. Slavita, Tevet-Tammuz 1788-1789.
Approvals for the acceptance of new members into "the holy Ner Tamid society in Slavita". The first approval is dated "Zot Chanukah [31st December] 1788", accepting "Yehuda son of Shlomo, expert physician here in this community", with four signatures: "Shmuel son of R. Moshe", "Avraham son of R. Shmuel", "Shlomo son of R. Chaim" and "Pesach son of R. Yehuda".
The second approval, from the same date, pertains to the acceptance of "R. Eliezer", son of "the honorable R. Moshe son of R. Reuven". This approval bears five signatures – three are the same as in the first approval, with the addition of the following two: "Shmuel Zanvil son of R. [Tzvi?]" and "Avraham son of R. Yaakov".
The rest of the approvals pertain to the acceptance of other new members, and are signed by other signatories. The last approval bears 8 signatures.
Some of the society members were children of members of the community, who were admitted into "this mitzvah society", with the money "which their father paid for them", and with the money they would pay themselves in the future "when they will become Bar Mitzvah… and after their wedding, they will be able to be elected like full members of the society". We do not have clear information as to the purpose of this Ner Tamid society, and the duties of those elected. Presumably, the purpose of this organization was to fund the purchase of oil to light the Ner Tamid (eternal flame) in the Beit Midrash.
During this period, Rebbe Moshe Shapira, son of R. Pinchas of Korets, was appointed rabbi of Slavita. He was the founder of the renowned Slavita printing firm. For more information about the Ner Tamid society in Slavita, and Rebbe Shapira joining the society, see Kedem Auction 12, item 517.
[1] leaf (written on both sides). 31.5 cm. Good-fair condition. Stains and wear. Several marginal tears, slightly affecting text.
Approvals for the acceptance of new members into "the holy Ner Tamid society in Slavita". The first approval is dated "Zot Chanukah [31st December] 1788", accepting "Yehuda son of Shlomo, expert physician here in this community", with four signatures: "Shmuel son of R. Moshe", "Avraham son of R. Shmuel", "Shlomo son of R. Chaim" and "Pesach son of R. Yehuda".
The second approval, from the same date, pertains to the acceptance of "R. Eliezer", son of "the honorable R. Moshe son of R. Reuven". This approval bears five signatures – three are the same as in the first approval, with the addition of the following two: "Shmuel Zanvil son of R. [Tzvi?]" and "Avraham son of R. Yaakov".
The rest of the approvals pertain to the acceptance of other new members, and are signed by other signatories. The last approval bears 8 signatures.
Some of the society members were children of members of the community, who were admitted into "this mitzvah society", with the money "which their father paid for them", and with the money they would pay themselves in the future "when they will become Bar Mitzvah… and after their wedding, they will be able to be elected like full members of the society". We do not have clear information as to the purpose of this Ner Tamid society, and the duties of those elected. Presumably, the purpose of this organization was to fund the purchase of oil to light the Ner Tamid (eternal flame) in the Beit Midrash.
During this period, Rebbe Moshe Shapira, son of R. Pinchas of Korets, was appointed rabbi of Slavita. He was the founder of the renowned Slavita printing firm. For more information about the Ner Tamid society in Slavita, and Rebbe Shapira joining the society, see Kedem Auction 12, item 517.
[1] leaf (written on both sides). 31.5 cm. Good-fair condition. Stains and wear. Several marginal tears, slightly affecting text.
Category
Pinkasim of Jewish Communities and Societies
Catalogue
Auction 74 - Judaica - Books, Manuscripts, Rabbinical Letters, Ceremonial Art
September 15, 2020
Opening: $800
Sold for: $2,375
Including buyer's premium
Manuscript, Pinkas of Chazakot (holdings) of the Worms community, with the signatures of the community's monthly Parnasim (elected leaders), 1753-1797.
This Pinkas documents transfer of ownership, of houses and of places in the men's and women's sections of the synagogue, in the Worms community. It contains some two hundred written pages. Each page features a document related to a holding, recording names of buyers, sellers, recipients or heirs. These documents were for the most part written by the beadle of the community and signed by him, followed by the signature of the Parnas of the month.
The first page features an introduction from 1753, and the last record in the Pinkas is from 7th Kislev 1797. The introduction describes at length the purpose of the Pinkas: In 1726, due to several disputes regarding the possession of houses and places in the synagogue, the Parnas at the time initiated the keeping of a Pinkas recording all decisions related to holdings, to be written by the monthly Parnasim. After the first Pinkas was filled to capacity, the present Pinkas was put into use.
From early times, several German communities were led by 12 Parnasim, who would each serve for one month. One of the duties of the Parnas was to arbitrate on financial disputes. This Pinkas records the Parnasim of Worms in the second half of the 18th century; their signatures appear throughout (regarding the monthly Parnasim of Worms, see Minhagim DeKehillat Wermaiza by R. Yuspa Shamash, sections 65-67; ibid, section 295). Each document in this Pinkas states the system of announcing a holding – on three consecutive days of gathering (Mondays and Thursdays), and records the decision to register the possession under the name of one of the community members. The Pinkas contains records of dozens of community members, and the houses they lived in.
[122] leaves (most written on both sides, approx. 200 written pages), and many more blank leaves. 16 cm. Good condition. Stains. Tears and wear to several leaves. New leather binding.
This Pinkas documents transfer of ownership, of houses and of places in the men's and women's sections of the synagogue, in the Worms community. It contains some two hundred written pages. Each page features a document related to a holding, recording names of buyers, sellers, recipients or heirs. These documents were for the most part written by the beadle of the community and signed by him, followed by the signature of the Parnas of the month.
The first page features an introduction from 1753, and the last record in the Pinkas is from 7th Kislev 1797. The introduction describes at length the purpose of the Pinkas: In 1726, due to several disputes regarding the possession of houses and places in the synagogue, the Parnas at the time initiated the keeping of a Pinkas recording all decisions related to holdings, to be written by the monthly Parnasim. After the first Pinkas was filled to capacity, the present Pinkas was put into use.
From early times, several German communities were led by 12 Parnasim, who would each serve for one month. One of the duties of the Parnas was to arbitrate on financial disputes. This Pinkas records the Parnasim of Worms in the second half of the 18th century; their signatures appear throughout (regarding the monthly Parnasim of Worms, see Minhagim DeKehillat Wermaiza by R. Yuspa Shamash, sections 65-67; ibid, section 295). Each document in this Pinkas states the system of announcing a holding – on three consecutive days of gathering (Mondays and Thursdays), and records the decision to register the possession under the name of one of the community members. The Pinkas contains records of dozens of community members, and the houses they lived in.
[122] leaves (most written on both sides, approx. 200 written pages), and many more blank leaves. 16 cm. Good condition. Stains. Tears and wear to several leaves. New leather binding.
Category
Pinkasim of Jewish Communities and Societies
Catalogue
Auction 74 - Judaica - Books, Manuscripts, Rabbinical Letters, Ceremonial Art
September 15, 2020
Opening: $400
Sold for: $500
Including buyer's premium
Six leaves from the Pinkas of regulations of the minyan of the "holy society… of glaziers". Lviv, [ca. 1853-1863].
Leaves from the Pinkas of the glaziers' society in Lviv, written in calligraphic square script. On the final leaf, a transcript (vocalized) of the approbation to the society's regulations, accorded in "the middle of the month of Sivan" 1853, with the transcribed signatures of R. "Binyamin Ellenberg Rabbi of Bokshevitz" and R. "Avraham Shapiro dayan of Lviv". From this approbation in Sivan 1853, it emerges that the society was founded several years earlier, upon the instructions of the rabbi of the city, R. Simcha Natan Ellenberg. A declaration from 1863 reaffirming the regulations of the society and signed by the society members is recorded on p. 1b.
In the mid-19th century in Lviv – largest Jewish metropolis in Eastern Galicia, each profession established itself as an independent society, wherein the members committed to study and pray together. The societies were organized at the initiative of the rabbis of the city, in order to bolster the spiritual and social state of the thousands of workers in the city, which had developed into a big industrial center. Dozens of minyanim and kloizelach (small synagogues) were thus established, for the various groups of tradesmen. Besod Yesharim VeEdah – Lviv (by Ze'ev Fisher-Shein, Tel Aviv, 1969) documents the various synagogues that the city boasted, including synagogues for waiters and musicians, for the society of print workers and bookbinders of the large printing firms in the city, for textile merchants, porters and delivery companies, school teachers, barbers, cobblers, tailors, hatmakers, carpenters, stockbrokers, and others tradesmen.
This Pinkas reveals that the glaziers' society in Lviv did not have their own synagogue, yet they committed to participating in set minyanim in the large and old synagogues within and outside the city walls (two renowned areas in Lviv. Regarding these synagogues, see BeSod Yesharim VeEdah – Lviv). The regulations disclose that the society members agreed to sit together in the same area of the synagogue, and those who would come to pray on a regular basis would be entitled to be called up to the Torah reading at least once a month. Also specified in the Pinkas are the conventions of mutual assistance between the society members – participation in each other's joyous occasions, visiting the sick and burying the dead.
In BeSod Yesharim VeEdah – Lviv, Ze'ev Fisher-Shein relates that these organizations of tradesmen were initiated by the Shoel UMeshiv, rabbi of the city: "…the renowned Torah scholar R. Yosef Shaul Nathansohn, encouraged and assisted in the establishment of many synagogues in his city, with fatherly devotion… he cared for the spiritual situation of the tradesmen... He organized them, the various tradesmen – each trade separately – and toiled to set them up with synagogues for Torah study and prayer, to instill in them ethics and fear of G-d, to educate them to Mitzvot and good deeds" (BeSod Yesharim VeEdah, p. 15). This Pinkas documents the organization of a group of tradesmen as a society already in 1853, during the tenure of the previous rabbi, R. Simcha Natan Ellenberg, who served as rabbi of the city until the appointment of the Shoel UMeshiv in 1857. His son, R. Binyamin Ellenberg Rabbi of Bokshevitz (Bukachivtsi), a signatory on the approbation to the regulations of this society, relocated to Lviv in 1850, in order to assist his elderly father in his rabbinical duties. After R. Binyamin's untimely passing in 1856, his father R. Simcha Natan left the rabbinate and summoned the Shoel UMeshiv to come serve in his place as rabbi of the city. R. Simcha Natan himself passed away on Simchat Torah 1858 (see: Wunder, Encyclopedia LeChachmei Galicia, I, pp. 214-218).
[6] leaves. 38 cm. Thick paper. Fair condition. Stains. Large open tears to corners, with some loss of text. New leather binding.
Leaves from the Pinkas of the glaziers' society in Lviv, written in calligraphic square script. On the final leaf, a transcript (vocalized) of the approbation to the society's regulations, accorded in "the middle of the month of Sivan" 1853, with the transcribed signatures of R. "Binyamin Ellenberg Rabbi of Bokshevitz" and R. "Avraham Shapiro dayan of Lviv". From this approbation in Sivan 1853, it emerges that the society was founded several years earlier, upon the instructions of the rabbi of the city, R. Simcha Natan Ellenberg. A declaration from 1863 reaffirming the regulations of the society and signed by the society members is recorded on p. 1b.
In the mid-19th century in Lviv – largest Jewish metropolis in Eastern Galicia, each profession established itself as an independent society, wherein the members committed to study and pray together. The societies were organized at the initiative of the rabbis of the city, in order to bolster the spiritual and social state of the thousands of workers in the city, which had developed into a big industrial center. Dozens of minyanim and kloizelach (small synagogues) were thus established, for the various groups of tradesmen. Besod Yesharim VeEdah – Lviv (by Ze'ev Fisher-Shein, Tel Aviv, 1969) documents the various synagogues that the city boasted, including synagogues for waiters and musicians, for the society of print workers and bookbinders of the large printing firms in the city, for textile merchants, porters and delivery companies, school teachers, barbers, cobblers, tailors, hatmakers, carpenters, stockbrokers, and others tradesmen.
This Pinkas reveals that the glaziers' society in Lviv did not have their own synagogue, yet they committed to participating in set minyanim in the large and old synagogues within and outside the city walls (two renowned areas in Lviv. Regarding these synagogues, see BeSod Yesharim VeEdah – Lviv). The regulations disclose that the society members agreed to sit together in the same area of the synagogue, and those who would come to pray on a regular basis would be entitled to be called up to the Torah reading at least once a month. Also specified in the Pinkas are the conventions of mutual assistance between the society members – participation in each other's joyous occasions, visiting the sick and burying the dead.
In BeSod Yesharim VeEdah – Lviv, Ze'ev Fisher-Shein relates that these organizations of tradesmen were initiated by the Shoel UMeshiv, rabbi of the city: "…the renowned Torah scholar R. Yosef Shaul Nathansohn, encouraged and assisted in the establishment of many synagogues in his city, with fatherly devotion… he cared for the spiritual situation of the tradesmen... He organized them, the various tradesmen – each trade separately – and toiled to set them up with synagogues for Torah study and prayer, to instill in them ethics and fear of G-d, to educate them to Mitzvot and good deeds" (BeSod Yesharim VeEdah, p. 15). This Pinkas documents the organization of a group of tradesmen as a society already in 1853, during the tenure of the previous rabbi, R. Simcha Natan Ellenberg, who served as rabbi of the city until the appointment of the Shoel UMeshiv in 1857. His son, R. Binyamin Ellenberg Rabbi of Bokshevitz (Bukachivtsi), a signatory on the approbation to the regulations of this society, relocated to Lviv in 1850, in order to assist his elderly father in his rabbinical duties. After R. Binyamin's untimely passing in 1856, his father R. Simcha Natan left the rabbinate and summoned the Shoel UMeshiv to come serve in his place as rabbi of the city. R. Simcha Natan himself passed away on Simchat Torah 1858 (see: Wunder, Encyclopedia LeChachmei Galicia, I, pp. 214-218).
[6] leaves. 38 cm. Thick paper. Fair condition. Stains. Large open tears to corners, with some loss of text. New leather binding.
Category
Pinkasim of Jewish Communities and Societies
Catalogue
Auction 74 - Judaica - Books, Manuscripts, Rabbinical Letters, Ceremonial Art
September 15, 2020
Opening: $700
Sold for: $5,500
Including buyer's premium
Large notebook, Pinkas of the Michalovitz community. With dozens of signed protocols; lists of community members who own places in the synagogue; and more. Michalovitz (Michalovce. Hungarian: Nagymihályi). 1849-1896. Hebrew, Yiddish and German.
The many signatories on the dozens of protocols are community leaders, gabbaim of the synagogue and charity collectors, including: R. Chaim Yosef Schönberger, R. Baruch Ziskind Wasserman, R. Aryeh Leib Brünn, R. Hertzke Spiegel, R. Levi Grünwald, and many other signatories. The pinkas includes a document dated Sivan 1862, signed by the rabbi of the city "Aharon Grünberger, rabbi of Michalovitz and the district", in which he objects to the audacity of a community member who dared speak up against the community leader R. Chaim Yosef Sh.B. [Schönberger], and rules to expel him from the community.
The Jewish community of Michalovitz, eastern Slovakia, was founded in the 18th century. The first known rabbi of the community was R. Aharon Grünberger of Bistritz (Bistrița; 1811-Tishrei 1892), disciple of the Chatam Sofer and a student in his yeshiva for close to a decade. He authored the Daat Sofer books (Michalovitz, 1891; Michalovitz 1929). In his preface to his book, he writes that he named his books Daat Sofer after his teacher, the Chatam Sofer. "His love for his teacher the Chatam Sofer knew no bounds… not a day would go past without him repeating a Torah thought heard from him [the Chatam Sofer] or an anecdote about him (HaChatam Sofer VeTalmidav, pp. 38-40). He served as rabbi of Michalovitz for over forty years until his passing. In 1894, he was succeeded by R. Shimon Ehrenfeld (1856-1931), grandson of the Chatam Sofer. His son R. Simcha Chaim Grünberger (d. 1913) and his grandson R. Moshe Grünberger served as dayanim in the Michalovitz Beit Din.
Michalovitz hosted the famous rabbinic congress in Kislev 1865, initiated by R. Hillel Lichtenstein of Kolomyia. The Beit Din ruling recording the decisions reached at that conference was signed amongst others by R. Aharon Grünberger Rabbi of the city (see enclosed material, photocopy from HaKera Shelo Nit'acheh by Yaakov Katz, pp. 92-99; see also article by Netanel Katzburg, Ruling of Michalovitz 1865, in Perakim BeToldot HaChevra HaYehudit BiYemei HaBeinayim UVaEt HaChadasha. Magnes Press 1980, pp. 272-273, 284-286).
[128] leaves (including: 156 written pages. Many blank leaves). 40 cm. Bluish paper. Good-fair condition. Stains. Dampstains with traces of mold. Wear and a few tears. New binding.
The many signatories on the dozens of protocols are community leaders, gabbaim of the synagogue and charity collectors, including: R. Chaim Yosef Schönberger, R. Baruch Ziskind Wasserman, R. Aryeh Leib Brünn, R. Hertzke Spiegel, R. Levi Grünwald, and many other signatories. The pinkas includes a document dated Sivan 1862, signed by the rabbi of the city "Aharon Grünberger, rabbi of Michalovitz and the district", in which he objects to the audacity of a community member who dared speak up against the community leader R. Chaim Yosef Sh.B. [Schönberger], and rules to expel him from the community.
The Jewish community of Michalovitz, eastern Slovakia, was founded in the 18th century. The first known rabbi of the community was R. Aharon Grünberger of Bistritz (Bistrița; 1811-Tishrei 1892), disciple of the Chatam Sofer and a student in his yeshiva for close to a decade. He authored the Daat Sofer books (Michalovitz, 1891; Michalovitz 1929). In his preface to his book, he writes that he named his books Daat Sofer after his teacher, the Chatam Sofer. "His love for his teacher the Chatam Sofer knew no bounds… not a day would go past without him repeating a Torah thought heard from him [the Chatam Sofer] or an anecdote about him (HaChatam Sofer VeTalmidav, pp. 38-40). He served as rabbi of Michalovitz for over forty years until his passing. In 1894, he was succeeded by R. Shimon Ehrenfeld (1856-1931), grandson of the Chatam Sofer. His son R. Simcha Chaim Grünberger (d. 1913) and his grandson R. Moshe Grünberger served as dayanim in the Michalovitz Beit Din.
Michalovitz hosted the famous rabbinic congress in Kislev 1865, initiated by R. Hillel Lichtenstein of Kolomyia. The Beit Din ruling recording the decisions reached at that conference was signed amongst others by R. Aharon Grünberger Rabbi of the city (see enclosed material, photocopy from HaKera Shelo Nit'acheh by Yaakov Katz, pp. 92-99; see also article by Netanel Katzburg, Ruling of Michalovitz 1865, in Perakim BeToldot HaChevra HaYehudit BiYemei HaBeinayim UVaEt HaChadasha. Magnes Press 1980, pp. 272-273, 284-286).
[128] leaves (including: 156 written pages. Many blank leaves). 40 cm. Bluish paper. Good-fair condition. Stains. Dampstains with traces of mold. Wear and a few tears. New binding.
Category
Pinkasim of Jewish Communities and Societies
Catalogue
Auction 74 - Judaica - Books, Manuscripts, Rabbinical Letters, Ceremonial Art
September 15, 2020
Opening: $500
Sold for: $813
Including buyer's premium
Handwritten ledger, recording births, circumcisions and marriages in the Jewish community of Montreal, Canada. 1918. English and French, with some Yiddish (signatures of Jews who couldn't sign in English – in such cases it is noted at the end of the entry that so-and-so signed in Yiddish).
The ledger includes 36 long entries (in English), each on its own page, recording births during the years 1900-1908 and marriages during 1918 of members in the United Orthodox Congregations of Montreal. Each entry is signed by the couple (in the marriage records) or the parent (in the birth records), by witnesses and by the chief rabbi of the United Orthodox Congregations of Montreal, R. Simon Glazer. The entries recording births of boys include details related to circumcision, such as the name of the mohel and the name of the rabbi who performed the naming ceremony.
On the first page, a printed form (in French), filled-in by hand (in English and French), stating the purpose of the ledger and that it was presented by "Rev. Simon Glazer, Chief Rabbi of the United Congregations".
R. Simon Glazer (1878-1938), a prominent Orthodox rabbi in the United States and Canada in the first half of the 20th century. He was born in Erzvilik (Eržvilkas), Lithuania, studied in a number of Lithuanian yeshivot and was rabbinically ordained by R. Alexander Moshe Lapidot. In order to avoid conscription to the army, he escaped to Eretz Israel, and shortly thereafter (in ca. 1897) moved to the United States. R. Glazer served as rabbi in many congregations in the United States and Canada, including the United Orthodox Congregations of Montreal (1907-1918). He was one of the founders and heads of the Assembly of Hebrew Orthodox Rabbis of America and of the Council of Orthodox Rabbis, and was instrumental in lobbying for the Balfour Declaration, leading to its endorsement by the United States Congress in 1922.
[100] leaves (37 written pages, the rest remain blank). Approx. 35 cm. Overall good condition. Stains. Several loose leaves. Original binding, damaged.
The ledger includes 36 long entries (in English), each on its own page, recording births during the years 1900-1908 and marriages during 1918 of members in the United Orthodox Congregations of Montreal. Each entry is signed by the couple (in the marriage records) or the parent (in the birth records), by witnesses and by the chief rabbi of the United Orthodox Congregations of Montreal, R. Simon Glazer. The entries recording births of boys include details related to circumcision, such as the name of the mohel and the name of the rabbi who performed the naming ceremony.
On the first page, a printed form (in French), filled-in by hand (in English and French), stating the purpose of the ledger and that it was presented by "Rev. Simon Glazer, Chief Rabbi of the United Congregations".
R. Simon Glazer (1878-1938), a prominent Orthodox rabbi in the United States and Canada in the first half of the 20th century. He was born in Erzvilik (Eržvilkas), Lithuania, studied in a number of Lithuanian yeshivot and was rabbinically ordained by R. Alexander Moshe Lapidot. In order to avoid conscription to the army, he escaped to Eretz Israel, and shortly thereafter (in ca. 1897) moved to the United States. R. Glazer served as rabbi in many congregations in the United States and Canada, including the United Orthodox Congregations of Montreal (1907-1918). He was one of the founders and heads of the Assembly of Hebrew Orthodox Rabbis of America and of the Council of Orthodox Rabbis, and was instrumental in lobbying for the Balfour Declaration, leading to its endorsement by the United States Congress in 1922.
[100] leaves (37 written pages, the rest remain blank). Approx. 35 cm. Overall good condition. Stains. Several loose leaves. Original binding, damaged.
Category
Pinkasim of Jewish Communities and Societies
Catalogue
Auction 74 - Judaica - Books, Manuscripts, Rabbinical Letters, Ceremonial Art
September 15, 2020
Opening: $500
Unsold
Pinkas Hazkarat Neshamot (memorial book), for the recital of the Yizkor (memorial) prayers by the synagogue gabbai, in one of the communities of Budapest (presumably the Chassidic Beit HaMidrash). Budapest (Hungary), [Tishrei 1921].
Pinkas in calligraphic script, with Hazkarat Neshamot (memorial) prayers and list of names. The first leaf states that the purpose of this pinkas is to recite Yizkor prayers for the souls of the community philanthropists on every festival. The four subsequent leaves contain the Yizkor prayers in square script, with decorative initials. The sixth leaf features a list of names of the deceased from 1921-1946 (rest of leaves blank).
The first leaf mentions the gabbaim of the synagogue, R. Gedalia Yosef son of Menachem Katz Steiner and R. Yitzchak son of Yonatan Traubner. The synagogue in question is presumably the Beit HaMidrash HaSfardi (Chassidic synagogue, where the prayers were held following the Sfard rite) in Budapest. The Yeshiva Ahavas Torah Baranovich catalog (November 2005 Auction, item 316) features a certificate from that same synagogue in Budapest, accorded to the gabbai R. Yitzchak son of Yonah[!] Traubner in 1933, in honor of his fifteen years of service as gabbai. That certificate was scribed by the sofer R. Naftali Laks of Budapest, author of Yoma Tava LeRabbanan (Budapest, 1935).
Signature on the front endpaper of "Mordechai Rubinfeld", 1923.
Pinkas, [6] written leaves, rest of leaves blank. 30 cm. Fair condition. Stains. Open tears, affecting text with loss. Leaves detached and loose. Original binding, loose.
Pinkas in calligraphic script, with Hazkarat Neshamot (memorial) prayers and list of names. The first leaf states that the purpose of this pinkas is to recite Yizkor prayers for the souls of the community philanthropists on every festival. The four subsequent leaves contain the Yizkor prayers in square script, with decorative initials. The sixth leaf features a list of names of the deceased from 1921-1946 (rest of leaves blank).
The first leaf mentions the gabbaim of the synagogue, R. Gedalia Yosef son of Menachem Katz Steiner and R. Yitzchak son of Yonatan Traubner. The synagogue in question is presumably the Beit HaMidrash HaSfardi (Chassidic synagogue, where the prayers were held following the Sfard rite) in Budapest. The Yeshiva Ahavas Torah Baranovich catalog (November 2005 Auction, item 316) features a certificate from that same synagogue in Budapest, accorded to the gabbai R. Yitzchak son of Yonah[!] Traubner in 1933, in honor of his fifteen years of service as gabbai. That certificate was scribed by the sofer R. Naftali Laks of Budapest, author of Yoma Tava LeRabbanan (Budapest, 1935).
Signature on the front endpaper of "Mordechai Rubinfeld", 1923.
Pinkas, [6] written leaves, rest of leaves blank. 30 cm. Fair condition. Stains. Open tears, affecting text with loss. Leaves detached and loose. Original binding, loose.
Category
Pinkasim of Jewish Communities and Societies
Catalogue
Auction 74 - Judaica - Books, Manuscripts, Rabbinical Letters, Ceremonial Art
September 15, 2020
Opening: $500
Sold for: $625
Including buyer's premium
Large volume, Pinkas Hazkarat Neshamot (memorial book) of the Chevra Kadisha in the Raab community (Győr, Hungary), 1947.
Pinkas in calligraphic script from various writers. On the first leaf: "This Pinkas was produced by the Chevra Kadisha of the Raab community in 1947". On the second and third leaf, Mi Sheberach and El Maleh Rachamim in very large letters. The next leaves contain lists of people who passed away. Many of the lists comprise the names of parents alongside many of their descendants – presumably a documentation of entire families who perished in the Holocaust.
(Interestingly, in one of the long lists of names from one family, a strip of paper was pasted over one name in the middle of the list – presumably, the person who was assumed to have perished reappeared, and his name was therefore deleted from the list).
Raab (as it was known amongst the Jews; presently: Győr) was home to one of the oldest Jewish communities in Hungary, recorded already in the 15th century. In the beginning of May 1944, the Jews of in a ghetto, and in June, deported to the Auschwitz extermination camp. In 1946, after the war, several hundred refugees from the city and the surroundings reinstated the community, and R. Akiva Eisenberg was appointed to serve as their rabbi. Following the anti-Soviet Hungarian revolution in 1956, many emigrated, and today only a handful of Jews remain there (Kehillot Hungaria, pp. 100-101).
Large volume, 41 cm. 24 written leaves (and dozens more blank leaves). Thick paper. Good condition. Stains. New binding.
Pinkas in calligraphic script from various writers. On the first leaf: "This Pinkas was produced by the Chevra Kadisha of the Raab community in 1947". On the second and third leaf, Mi Sheberach and El Maleh Rachamim in very large letters. The next leaves contain lists of people who passed away. Many of the lists comprise the names of parents alongside many of their descendants – presumably a documentation of entire families who perished in the Holocaust.
(Interestingly, in one of the long lists of names from one family, a strip of paper was pasted over one name in the middle of the list – presumably, the person who was assumed to have perished reappeared, and his name was therefore deleted from the list).
Raab (as it was known amongst the Jews; presently: Győr) was home to one of the oldest Jewish communities in Hungary, recorded already in the 15th century. In the beginning of May 1944, the Jews of in a ghetto, and in June, deported to the Auschwitz extermination camp. In 1946, after the war, several hundred refugees from the city and the surroundings reinstated the community, and R. Akiva Eisenberg was appointed to serve as their rabbi. Following the anti-Soviet Hungarian revolution in 1956, many emigrated, and today only a handful of Jews remain there (Kehillot Hungaria, pp. 100-101).
Large volume, 41 cm. 24 written leaves (and dozens more blank leaves). Thick paper. Good condition. Stains. New binding.
Category
Pinkasim of Jewish Communities and Societies
Catalogue