Auction 85 - Judaica: Books, Manuscripts, Rabbinical Letters, Ceremonial Art
Urim VeTumim, on Shulchan Aruch Choshen Mishpat, Parts I and II, by R. Yehonatan Eybeschutz. Karlsruhe, [1775-1777]. First edition. Two parts in one volume.
R. Yehonatan Eybeschutz arranged his works on Shulchan Aruch, yet due to lack of funding, he only published the first part of Kreiti UPleiti on Yoreh De'ah, in 1764. His grandson, R. Yisrael Eybeschutz published the rest of his works, including the present book. R. Yehonatan Eybeschutz mentions this work in his preface to Kreiti UPleiti.
Ownership inscriptions and signatures on the title pages.
[1], 204; [1], 205-381, [5] leaves. 35.5 cm. Most leaves in good condition. Stains, including dampstains. Worming affecting text and open tears to title page of Part II, repaired with paper (the title page may have been supplied from another copy). Stamps. New binding.
PLEASE NOTE: Item descriptions were shortened in translation. For further information, please refer to Hebrew text.
Ketzot HaChoshen, on Shulchan Aruch Choshen Mishpat, parts I and II, by R. Aryeh Leib HaKohen Heller. Lviv, [1788-1796]. First edition. Two volumes.
The first volume was printed by Rebbetzin Yehudit Rosanes.
With Kuntres HaSefekot by the author's brother, R. Yehuda HaKohen (author of Terumat HaKeri), at the end of vol. I.
Ketzot HaChoshen is a classic work of scholarly Torah study, and for over two hundred years, has been considered the key guide for yeshiva in-depth Torah study throughout the world.
Signatures and inscriptions in vol. II: On endpaper – signatures and ownership inscriptions of R. Chaim Shmuel HaKohen Rappaport of Liska and of his son R. Shlomo Yaakov; gloss on p. 98b and several inscriptions on index leaves.
Two volumes. Part I: [2], 129; 15 leaves. Part II: [2], 64, 67-111, [3] leaves. 34-36 cm. Vol. I in fair condition. Vol. II in good-fair condition. Stains. Many dampstains to vol. I. Wear. Open tears, including large open tears to margins of the first four leaves of vol. I; margins repaired with paper. Small open tears to margins of title page of vol. II. Worming affecting text in vol. I, and minor worming to vol. II. Stamps on vol. I. New, leather bindings.
PLEASE NOTE: Item descriptions were shortened in translation. For further information, please refer to Hebrew text.
Responsa of R. Akiva Eger, Sefer HaPesakim (responsa on halachic questions) and Part I of Sefer HaKetavim (responsa on Talmudic topics). Warsaw, 1834. First edition, printed in the author's lifetime. Two title pages.
Copy of R. Gershon Tanchum of Minsk, author of Ilana D'Chayei. Ownership inscriptions attesting that the book belonged to R. Gershon Tanchum posek in Minsk. Three scholarly glosses in his handwriting and with his signatures in section 66 (p. 47b), in which he refers to responsa in his manuscript work Etz HaDaat on Yoreh Deah (never printed), and to two responsa he wrote in the month of Tishrei 1871.
R. Gerson Tanchum Pozniak (1802-1881), a leading Torah scholar in his times. He served as posek and yeshiva dean in Minsk and was considered the supreme rabbinic authority in the city. His works on Orach Chaim were printed in the three-part book Ilana D'Chayei (Halberstadt, 1860 – Vilna, 1865). However, his work Etz HaDaat on Yoreh Deah and the rest of his responsa (mentioned in the glosses in the present book) are still in manuscript form.
Stamps of R. Mordechai Yehonatan Katzenellenbogen (uncle of the Chazon Ish) and of R. Binyamin Benzion son of R. Moshe Leib – Kosava".
[2], 222 leaves. 33 cm. Thick high-quality paper. Wide margins. Good-fair condition. Many stains. Wear and a few tears. Marginal worming to many leaves, not affecting text. Many stamps. New leather binding.
PLEASE NOTE: Item descriptions were shortened in translation. For further information, please refer to Hebrew text.
Shulchan Aruch Orach Chaim, Part II, with Ba'er Hetev commentary, and with the works Shaarei Teshuva and Yad Efraim. [Dubno]: R. Chaim Mordechai Margolies, [1820].
First edition of Yad Efraim by R. Efraim Zalman Margolies of Brody, and Shaarei Teshuva by his brother R. Chaim Mordechai Margolies, rabbi of Dubno. This book was printed in the printing press in Dubno which was re-established by R. Ch.M. Margolies after the printing press in his city closed down for several years. R. Ch.M. wished to print all four parts of the Shulchan Aruch with the Ba'er Hetev commentary in his new press, together with his work Shaarei Teshuva, meant to complete and supplement the Ba'er Hetev commentary and to summarize the responsa of later poskim on each topic. However, R. Ch.M. only managed to print Part I of Orach Chaim before his passing and did not complete the printing of Part II. R. Efraim Zalman concluded the printing of Part II after his brother's death. (Vol. I opens with the approbation of the Mitteler Rebbe of Chabad Lubavitch – the only approbation known to have been given by him).
Title page printed in red and black.
[2], 325, [1] leaves. Approx. 20 cm. Good-fair condition. Many stains. Margins of title page and several other leaves reinforced with paper. Old binding.
PLEASE NOTE: Item descriptions were shortened in translation. For further information, please refer to Hebrew text.
Moreh Tzedek, sources for the 613 commandments following the order of the Parashiot. [Amsterdam]: Moshe son of Avraham [Avinu] of Nikolsburg, [1690].
This book is actually Avodat HaLevi by R. Shlomo HaLevi, first printed in Constantinople, ca. 1515. In the present edition, the name was changed to Moreh Tzedek, and the author's name and concluding words were omitted.
Signature extending over several leaves.
[2], 34 leaves. 15.5 cm. Fair condition. Stains, including many dampstains. Worming affecting text, with minor damage to engraved title page. Traces of paper repairs to title page border. Minor tears slightly affecting text on one leaf, repaired with paper. Inscriptions. New binding.
PLEASE NOTE: Item descriptions were shortened in translation. For further information, please refer to Hebrew text.
Lechem Shamayim, on the Mishnayot, Part I, with Binyan Beit HaBechirah, by Rabbi Yaakov Emden (the Ya'avetz). Wandsbek, [1733]. First edition.
The Yaavetz's first published book and the only one of his books not printed in Altona, where he established his printing press.
Handwritten inscriptions on the endpaper and title page. Stamps.
[1], 118, 120-122 leaves. Approx. 34 cm. Overall good condition, several leaves in fair condition. Stains, including dampstains. Wear. Tears, including open tears to title page and following leaf, repaired with paper. Open tears to other leaves. Worming. Handwritten inscriptions. New binding.
PLEASE NOTE: Item descriptions were shortened in translation. For further information, please refer to Hebrew text.
Shemirat HaLashon (Part I), complement to the book Chafetz Chaim, words of inspiration and ethics on guarding one's tongue and Torah study. Vilna, 1876. First edition.
One of the first books by R. Yisrael Meir HaKohen of Radin, the Chafetz Chaim, published anonymously (the author's name was printed in Russian at the foot of the title pages).
[1] printed front wrapper, 76 pp. 22 cm. Good condition. Stains and wear. Original binding with leather spine, damaged.
The front wrapper is rare; not listed in the Bibliography of the Hebrew Book.
PLEASE NOTE: Item descriptions were shortened in translation. For further information, please refer to Hebrew text.
Large volume of stenciled and handwritten leaves – notes taken of lectures delivered by R. Yosef Leib Bloch and by R. Chaim Rabinowitz (R. Chaim Telzer) in the Telshe Yeshiva in 1922-1926 – from the estate of the yeshiva student R. Mordechai Bohrer, rabbi of Gailingen.
The notes cover dozens of lectures delivered to the entire yeshiva body (shiur klali), by R. Y.L. Bloch, and the lectures of R. Chaim Telzer to the students of the various levels (primarily the second and third levels). Most are stenciled, others are handwritten. The notes were collected and bound by the yeshiva student R. Mordechai Bohrer, who later served as rabbi of Gailingen and Randegg in Baden.
The stenciled notes were distributed among the yeshiva student (printed from handwritten notes of one of the students). Faded ink in many places, reinforced by pen. The notes of about 18 lectures on Tractate Bava Batra are handwritten.
The volume opens with a title page made by R. Mordechai Bohrer, reading: "Lectures of R. Y.L… on eight tractates: Yevamot, Ketubot, Nedarim, Gittin, Kiddushin, Bava Kama, Bava Metzia, Bava Batra, which I had the privilege of hearing in Telshe Yeshiva in Lithuania from Shavuot 1922 until Elul 1926, Koenigsberg, Elul 1927, Mordechai son of Meir".
On the title page, R. Bohrer pasted a group photo of the student body and the rabbis and managers of the yeshiva taken in 1925.
Each tractate opens with a title page. An index is bound at the beginning.
Ownership inscriptions of yeshiva students, most of R. Mordechai Bohrer. Several leaves bear the signature of R. Azriel Rabinowitz, one of the yeshiva heads, son of R. Chaim. Other leaves are signed by Chaim Leib Bernstein and by Koppel Vitkin.
Rabbi Dr. Mordechai Bohrer (1895-1938) was born in Ansbach to a non-observant Jewish family, and later moved to Munich. There, Dr. Bohrer adopted a religious way of life under the guidance and tutelage of the community rabbi, R. Chanoch HaKohen Ehrentreu, eventually continuing his studies at the Telshe Yeshiva, which was one of the most important yeshivas in Lithuania, producing leading Torah scholars and yeshiva heads. He was a prominent educator and rabbi in various communities. During the Nazi regime, he assisted in the escape of hundreds of Jews, for which he was imprisoned. On Kristallnacht he was arrested and sent to Dachau, where he died.
244 leaves (approx. 470 pages). Most are stenciled, some 50 leaves are handwritten. 33 cm. Fair condition. Stains. Marginal wear and tears. Detached and loose gatherings. The ink on some stencils has faded and the letters are reinforced by pen. Damaged binding, partially detached, without a spine.
PLEASE NOTE: Item descriptions were shortened in translation. For further information, please refer to Hebrew text.