Auction 85 - Judaica: Books, Manuscripts, Rabbinical Letters, Ceremonial Art
Halachah Pesukah, novellae on Shulchan Aruch Yoreh De'ah, with the text of the Shulchan Aruch, by R. Todros son of R. Tzvi Hirsh of Rovne (Rivne). Turka, [1765].
This book features the only known approbation by R. Dov Ber, the Maggid of Mezeritch, who writes that although he usually refrains from giving approbations, he considers this book fitting to be printed.
This work is a summary of the laws of Yoreh De'ah, with a short commentary containing the sources of the rulings.
The author, R. Todros of Rovne, was a follower of the Maggid of Mezeritch at the time the latter resided in Rovne.
Ownership inscriptions on pp. 19a and 40a.
[1], 1-6, [1], 10-14; 56 leaves. 35 cm. Fair condition. Stains, including large dampstains. Wear. Tears, including large marginal open tears to title page and other leaves, affecting title page border and some text (damage to approbation by the Maggid of Mezeritch on verso of title page), mostly repaired with paper. Worming, affecting text, repaired in part with paper. Stamp and handwritten inscriptions. New binding.
Stefansky Chassidut, no. 173.
Variant (there are typographic differences between the copies within this edition, in the first eight leaves).
PLEASE NOTE: Item descriptions were shortened in translation. For further information, please refer to Hebrew text.
Keter Shem Tov – selections of the Baal Shem Tov's teachings, Parts I and II, compiled by R. Aharon HaKohen of Żelechów and Apta (Opatów). Zhovkva: Yehuda Leib Meyerhoffer and Mordechai Rabinstein, [1794-1795]. First edition. Two parts in two volumes.
Keter Shem Tov – the renowned compendium of the Baal Shem Tov's teachings, selected from the books of his disciples, R. Yaakov Yosef of Polonne and the Maggid of Mezeritch. This is one of the first compendiums printed of the teachings of the Baal Shem Tov.
The compiler of this book, R. Aharon HaKohen of Żelechów and Apta, authored several popular Chassidic books, including: Or HaGanuz LaTzadikim, the Tefilla Yeshara – Keter Nehora siddur and other books.
Two parts in two volumes. Vol. I: [30] leaves. Approx. 18 cm. Fair condition. Stains, including dampstains and dark stains, slightly affecting text. Tears, open tears and worming, affecting text and title page border (repaired in part with paper and photocopy replacement). New binding. Vol. II: [27] leaves. Lacking 5 leaves (originally: [32] leaves). Approx. 17.5 cm. Good-fair condition. Stains (including dampstains) and wear. Tears to several leaves. Large open tear to one leaf, affecting text. Worming affecting text (primarily to two leaves, presumably supplied from a different copy). Stamps. New leather binding.
Stefansky Chassidut, no. 249.
PLEASE NOTE: Item descriptions were shortened in translation. For further information, please refer to Hebrew text.
Mishnat Chachamim, novellae on the Six Orders of the Mishnah, Parts I-VI, by R. Meshulam Feivish HaLevi Horowitz of Kremenets. Ostroh, [1796]. First edition. Separate title pages for Moed and Nashim.
Approbations by the Noda BiYehuda, the Haflaa and many other leading rabbis of the generation.
The author, R. Meshulam Feivish HaLevi Horowitz (ca. 1710 – Kislev, between 1785 and 1790) was born in Kremenets (Eastern Galicia), and lived there his entire life teaching Torah. Known for his exceptional holiness. The Noda BiYehuda compares him in his approbation to the Torah scholars of early generations.
[3], 33; [1], 15; [1], 22; 4, 9-20; 24; 46 leaves. Lacking four leaves (5-8) of fourth sequence (of tractates Bava Kama and Bava Metzia), and [1] title page of Order Nezikin. Without title pages of Orders Kodashim and Taharot (which appear in some copies only). 20 cm. Fair condition. Stains. Extensive worming, affecting text. Open tears, affecting text, mostly repaired with paper. Printing defect on one leaf, affecting text. Stamps and handwritten inscriptions. New leather binding.
Stefansky Chassidut, no. 369.
PLEASE NOTE: Item descriptions were shortened in translation. For further information, please refer to Hebrew text.
Ginzei Yosef, essays of ethics, homiletics, Chassidut and Kabbalah on the Torah portions, with novellae on tractates Berachot, Shabbat, Pesachim and Sukkah, by R. Yosef Bloch Rabbi of Alesk (Olesko). Lviv, 1792. First edition.
The author, R. Yosef Bloch (1724-1790), was a close associate of the Maggid of Mezeritch. Rabbi of Alesk and maggid in Satanov (Sataniv). He was renowned in the Chassidic world for his book Ginzei Yosef, one of the first Chassidic books.
Signature on title page.
[4], 98; 24 leaves. 33 cm. Fair condition, several leaves in fair-poor condition. Stains, including large dampstains. Extensive wear. Large open tears to title page, affecting border and text on verso, repaired with paper. Open tears to other leaves, affecting text, repaired with paper. Worming, affecting text. Leaves trimmed with damage to headings and text (many headings completely trimmed off). Stamp and handwritten inscriptions. New binding.
Stefansky Chassidut, no. 110.
PLEASE NOTE: Item descriptions were shortened in translation. For further information, please refer to Hebrew text.
Yismach Lev (Part II of Meor Einayim), commentary on Aggadot and Midrashim (following the order of the Talmudic tractates), by Rebbe Menachem Nachum [Twersky] of Chernobyl. Slavita: [R. Moshe Shapira, 1798]. First edition.
Two books by R. Menachem Nachum of Chernobyl – Yismach Lev and Meor Einayim – were published in Slavita in 1798. In later editions (from 1810), both parts were published together under the title Meor Einayim.
The maggid R. Menachem Nachum of Chernobyl (1730-1798) was one of the founders of Chassidut and the progenitor of the Chernobyl dynasty. He studied directly from the Baal Shem Tov and was a close disciple of the Maggid of Mezeritch.
33, [1] leaves (final leaf also numbered 33). Lacking title page (title page from a different copy enclosed, damaged, with loss of half the page; repaired with paper and photocopy replacement). 20.5 cm. Fair condition. Stains, including dampstains (some dark). Open tears and worming, affecting text, repaired with paper. Stamps and handwritten inscriptions. New leather binding.
Stefansky Chassidut, no. 237.
PLEASE NOTE: Item descriptions were shortened in translation. For further information, please refer to Hebrew text.
Bat Eini, Talmudic novellae and responsa, by R. Yissachar Dov Ber MiGeza Tzvi Rabbi of Zlotchov (Zolochiv), disciple of the Maggid of Mezeritch and R. Yechiel Michel of Zlotchov. Dubno, [1798]. First edition.
The author was a friend and cousin of R. Levi Yitzchak of Berditchev. One of his disciples was R. Chaim of Czernowitz, author of Be'er Mayim Chaim, who describes in his book Eretz HaChaim the Divine Inspiration he witnessed in his teacher.
[2], 119, [1] leaves. 19.5 cm. Good-fair condition. Stains, including significant dampstains. Open tears affecting text, repaired with paper. Inner margin of title page repaired with paper. Minor worming, affecting text. Leaves trimmed with damage to text. Stamp and handwritten inscription. New binding.
Stefansky Chassidut, no. 105.
PLEASE NOTE: Item descriptions were shortened in translation. For further information, please refer to Hebrew text.
Or HaMeir, Chassidic and kabbalistic homiletics and allusions on the Torah portions, Megillot and festivals, by Rebbe Ze'ev Wolf of Zhitomir. Korets, [1798]. First edition.
Or HaMeir is one of the first Chassidic books, and contains teachings of the Baal Shem Tov. The author, R. Ze'ev Wolf of Zhitomir was one of the foremost disciples of the Maggid of Mezeritch, and a close disciple of R. Yaakov Yosef of Polonne, R. Nachum of Chernobyl, R. Levi Yitzchak of Berdichev and R. Pinchas of Korets.
[2], 58, 61-80, [2]; 52, 55-98, 101-120; 60; 257-260 leaves. Lacking original four final leaves (61-64), replaced with four final leaves (257-260) of second edition of book printed after 1798. Title page and second leaf presumably supplied from a different copy. 20 cm. Fair condition. Many stains, including dampstains and wax stains. Wear. Open tears to title page and other leaves, affecting border (replaced in photocopy) and text, repaired in part with paper. Worming. Significant worming to four final leaves, with extensive damage to text, repaired with paper. Leaves trimmed close to headings in several places. New leather binding.
Stefansky Chassidut, no. 24.
PLEASE NOTE: Item descriptions were shortened in translation. For further information, please refer to Hebrew text.
Or HaMeir, Chassidic and kabbalistic homiletics and allusions on the Torah portions, Megillot and festivals, by Rebbe Ze'ev Wolf of Zhitomir. Korets, [after 1798]. Second edition.
Or HaMeir is one of the first Chassidic books, and contains teachings of the Baal Shem Tov. The author, R. Ze'ev Wolf of Zhitomir was one of the foremost disciples of the Maggid of Mezeritch, and a close disciple of R. Yaakov Yosef of Polonne, R. Nachum of Chernobyl, R. Levi Yitzchak of Berdichev and R. Pinchas of Korets.
Incomplete copy. [2], 129, 132-248, 257-260 leaves. Lacking 10 leaves: 130-131, 249-256. 21 cm. Fair condition. Stains, including dampstains. Wear. Open tears to title page and other leaves, affecting border and text, repaired with paper (with handwritten replacement of several words on title page). Worming, affecting text, repaired in part with paper. Leaves trimmed close to headings in several places. Stamps and handwritten inscriptions. New leather binding.
Stefansky Chassidut, no. 25.
PLEASE NOTE: Item descriptions were shortened in translation. For further information, please refer to Hebrew text.
Degel Machaneh Efraim, Chassidic teachings on the Torah, by R. Moshe Chaim Efraim Ashkenazi Rabbi of Sudilkov (Sudylkiv), grandson of the Baal Shem Tov. Korets, [1810]. First edition.
An early Chassidic book. This book is one of the first and most reliable sources of the teachings of the Baal Shem Tov, which the author, R. Moshe Chaim Efraim of Sudilkov (d. 1800), grandson of the Baal Shem Tov (son of the Baal Shem Tov's pious daughter Odel), received directly from him.
On p. 100b, inscription dated winter 1941/1942 from the Vizhnitz yeshiva in Grosswardein, under Rebbe Chaim Meir Hager, the Imrei Chaim of Vizhnitz.
Stamp of the Vizhnitz Kloiz in Safed on p. 1a.
Incomplete copy. [1], 109, 111-113 leaves. Lacking three leaves: title page (replaced in photocopy), leaf 110, and final leaf (114). Approx. 20 cm. Bluish paper. Overall fair condition, some leaves in fair-poor condition. Stains, including dampstains. Extensive worming, affecting text, repaired in part with paper. Open tears, affecting text, repaired with paper. Final three leaves detached. Many stamps and handwritten inscriptions. New binding.
Stefansky Chassidut, no. 128.
PLEASE NOTE: Item descriptions were shortened in translation. For further information, please refer to Hebrew text.
Maayan HaChochmah, on the Five Books of the Torah, Neviim, Ketuvim, Tehillim, Pirkei Avot and Likutei Chiddushei Aggadot, by Rebbe Asher Tzvi, maggid of Ostroh. Korets, [1816].
First edition printed in the author's lifetime, a number of weeks before his death (the book was printed during Chanukah 1816, and Rebbe Asher Tzvi passed away on 16th Shevat 1817). With approbations by Rebbe Avraham Yehoshua Heshel of Apta.
Rebbe Asher Tzvi of Ostroh (ca. 1740-1817), a leading disciple of the Maggid of Mezeritch, was a holy person and pious kabbalist. Served as a maggid in Ostroh and was known as one of the foremost rebbes of his times. In 1804, he began serving as rebbe and rabbi in Korets.
Ownership inscriptions on title page; signatures on verso of title page.
[2], 116 leaves. 20 cm. Good-fair condition. Stains, including dampstains. Wear. Tears, including tears to title page (repaired with paper); open tears affecting text to several leaves. Worming. Stamp and handwritten inscriptions. New binding.
Stefansky Chassidut, no. 355.
PLEASE NOTE: Item descriptions were shortened in translation. For further information, please refer to Hebrew text.
Yesod Yosef, allusions and numerical values of the Holy Names and Sefirot, with kabbalistic homiletics, by R. Yosef Yoske HaLevi of Rovne (Rivne), one of the elite and first disciples of the Maggid of Mezeritch. Minkovitz, [1803]. First edition.
Signature on title page; ownership inscriptions on title page and p. 11a.
[4], 9, 11-88, [1] leaves. Extra copies of leaves 57-58. 20 cm. Fair condition. Stains. Tears to title page, affecting border and text on both sides, repaired with paper. Worming to most leaves, with extensive damage to text, mostly repaired with paper. Handwritten inscriptions. New leather binding.
Stefansky Chassidut, no. 232.
PLEASE NOTE: Item descriptions were shortened in translation. For further information, please refer to Hebrew text.
Likutei Yosef, novellae on Talmudic topics, by R. Yosef Yoske HaLevi of Rovne. Minkovitz, [1803]. First edition.
The author, R. Yosef Yoske HaLevi of Rovne (Rivne; d. 1800), was a holy kabbalist, disciple of the Maggid of Mezeritch and R. Michel of Zlotchov.
[1], 26 leaves. 17.5 cm. Fair-good condition. Stains. Marginal open tears to some leaves (affecting text in one place). Strips of paper and tape to margins of many leaves. Stamps. New binding.
Stefansky Chassidut, no. 280.
PLEASE NOTE: Item descriptions were shortened in translation. For further information, please refer to Hebrew text.