Auction 85 - Judaica: Books, Manuscripts, Rabbinical Letters, Ceremonial Art
Ginat Egoz – kabbalah, by R. Yosef Gikatilla. [Hanau: Eliezer son of Chaim and Eliyahu son of Seligman Ulma, 1614]. First edition.
Many kabbalistic glosses in Ashkenazic script (some trimmed), with original commentaries and novellae. The writer is unidentified, though he was obviously well-versed in kabbalah.
2-44, 43-58, 58-75 leaves (misfoliation). Lacking title page. 28 cm. Fair condition. Stains, including dampstains. Tears and wear to several leaves. Large open tears to first and final leaves, affecting text, repaired in part with paper and handwritten text replacement. Old binding with leather spine, slightly damaged.
PLEASE NOTE: Item descriptions were shortened in translation. For further information, please refer to Hebrew text.
Arzei Levanon, compendium of seven works. Venice: Giovanni (Zuan) di Gara, 1601. First edition.
The book comprises seven works, all first editions: Midrash Konen; HaEmunah VehaBitachon by the Ramban; Sefer HaNikud; Sod HaChashmal by R. Yosef Gikatilla; Maayan HaChochmah; Pirkei Hechalot by Rabbi Yishmael Kohen Gadol; Klalei Midrash Rabbah by R. Avraham Akra.
The book contains several kabbalistic diagrams.
50 leaves. 19.5 cm. Good condition. Stains. Dampstains. Small holes to leaves 4 and 13 (presumably caused by a burning candle), affecting text. Two erased stamps on title page, not affecting text. Original parchment binding, damaged.
PLEASE NOTE: Item descriptions were shortened in translation. For further information, please refer to Hebrew text.
Shenei Luchot HaBrit (Shelah), by R. Yeshaya HaLevi Horowitz. Amsterdam: Immanual son of Joseph Athias, 1698. Engraved title page (by Avraham son of Yaakov HaGer).
Shenei Luchot HaBrit contains many halachic novellae, kabbalistic principles, homiletics and ethics, and incorporates all realms of the Torah. The book was received with awe throughout the Jewish world, and its teachings are quoted in the books of leading poskim and kabbalists. Many renowned Chassidic leaders were extraordinarily devoted to the study of the books of the Shelah.
This edition of the Shelah was printed in Amsterdam in 1698, birth year of the Baal Shem Tov, and Chassidic lore ties these two events.
Stamps (very faded) on second title page of Rebbe Pinchas Hager of Borşa, and stamp of his son Rebbe Chaim Ben Tzion Hager (another of his stamps on following leaf). Stamps of the Vizhnitz Beit Midrash in Shotz.
Rebbe Pinchas Hager of Borşa (d. 1941), son of Rebbe Baruch Hager of Vizhnitz, renowned as a tremendous Torah scholar, wonder-worker and philanthropist.
His son, Rebbe Chaim Ben Tzion Hager, succeeded his father as rebbe, perished in the Holocaust in 1944.
Several brief handwritten glosses, by different writers.
[4], 422; 44 leaves. Lacking [12] leaves of indexes at end of book. Approx. 30 cm. Good-fair condition. Stains, including dark stains and dampstains. First title page damaged – tear across leaf (repaired); large, marginal open tears, affecting engraving, repaired with paper (illustration completed by hand); minor stains and traces of tape. Open tears to second title page and other leaves. Worming, slightly affecting text. Detached leaf. Stamps. New leather and cloth binding, slipcased.
PLEASE NOTE: Item descriptions were shortened in translation. For further information, please refer to Hebrew text.
Semichat Chachamim, two parts. Part I: Birkat Hashem, Part II: Kedushah UVerachah, by R. Naphtali HaKohen Katz, rabbi of Frankfurt am Main. Frankfurt am Main, [1704-1706].
Both parts constitute one book, titled Semichat Chachamim. The first part constitutes a lengthy Kabbalistic introduction, while the second part contains novellae on tractate Berachot.
Printed in the lifetime of the author, the celebrated Ashkenazi kabbalist R. Naftali Katz (1650-1719), rabbi of Ostroh, Posen and Frankfurt am Main.
Two elaborate engraved title pages. The first title page is followed by a plate featuring a star-shaped poem (wider leaf, folded).
Ownership inscriptions on endpapers. Ownership inscription of R. Moshe Schuster Katz of Frankfurt am Main on front endpaper, partially deleted, with his signature on p. 40a (d. 1814, see his epitaph in Horowitz, Avnei Zikaron – HaKetav VeHamichtav, p. 568). Another (deleted) ownership inscription on first title page. In center of title page, inscription of R. Yitzchak Refael Finzi, rabbi of Padua (disciple of R. Yitzchak Lampronti author of Pachad Yitzchak, and member of Napoleon's Grand Sanhedrin), dated 1792. Glosses in Italian script on pp. 40a and 114b.
79; [1], 140 leaves. 33 cm. Thick, high-quality light-colored paper. Good condition. Some stains. Worming to lower margins of many leaves, generally not affecting text, apart from minor damage to title page of part II. Marginal tears to title page of part I, slightly affecting print, repaired with paper. Marginal tears to leaf 2 (star-shaped poem), affecting text, restored. New leather binding.
PLEASE NOTE: Item descriptions were shortened in translation. For further information, please refer to Hebrew text.
Shaar HaHachanah, laws pertaining to the ill and dying person, supplications and confessions for the deceased, and testament of the author, R. Naftali Katz, author of Semichat Chachamim. Constantinople: Yonah [Ashkenazi, 1734]. First edition.
The author, the kabbalist R. Naftali Katz (1650-1719), passed away in Constantinople on his way to Eretz Israel. The manuscript of the present composition was preserved by R. Chaim Alfandari of Constantinople. The book concludes with 12 leaves of the author's testament, based on either the original testament or an accurate copy of it. The testament later became very popular and was reprinted in dozens of editions.
Ownership inscription on title page.
[1], 36; 12 leaves. 15.5 cm. Fair-good condition. Stains, including dampstains. Worming, affecting text. Tear affecting text to one leaf. Title page trimmed close to heading on verso. Early binding, with damage and worming. Bookplate.
PLEASE NOTE: Item descriptions were shortened in translation. For further information, please refer to Hebrew text.
Shaarei Orah, kabbalistic principles, by the kabbalist R. Yosef Gikatilla, with a commentary by R. Matityah Delacrut. Offenbach, [1715].
Ownership inscription of R. Wolf Tevin on the title page. Ownership inscription of R. Hirsh son of R. Wolf Tevin extending over leaves 5-6 and 9-10 (using the leaf numerals). Several handwritten glosses (one in ink, the rest in pencil).
R. Binyamin Wolf Tevin (1733-1809) was philanthropist who successfully lobbied on behalf of Austo-Hungarian Jewry. He was renowned for his righteousness, and for the exceptional care with which he fulfilled the mitzvah of Milah. Mechutan of the Noda BiYehuda. His son R. Tzvi Hirsh Tevin served as rabbi of Lauschbrünn (Lovasberény; ca. 1798-1818). In a responsum addressed to him, the Chatam Sofer refers to him with great esteem.
[4], 112 leaves. 19.5 cm. Fair-good condition. Stains, including dampstains. Wear and creases. Worming. Minor marginal open tears to title page and other leaves. Handwritten inscriptions in several places in body of text. Binding old and worn.
PLEASE NOTE: Item descriptions were shortened in translation. For further information, please refer to Hebrew text.
Sefer Yetzirah, with various commentaries and the commentary of the Gaon of Vilna. Horodna, 1806. With kabbalistic diagrams. First edition of the commentary of the Gaon of Vilna.
First kabbalistic book published from the teachings of the Gaon of Vilna. Brought to print by his disciple R. Menachem Mendel of Shklow.
Sefer Yetzirah, attributed to Adam HaRishon, is an early kabbalistic book, and serves as basis for kabbalistic teachings.
12, [2], 42, [30] leaves. 18.5 cm. Fair-good condition. Stains, including dampstains. Minor wear. Worming, affecting text. Leaves trimmed with damage to text in several places. Minor tears, repaired with paper. Minor open tear, slightly affecting text. Stamps. Old binding.
Vinograd, Thesaurus of the Books of the Vilna Gaon, no. 682.
PLEASE NOTE: Item descriptions were shortened in translation. For further information, please refer to Hebrew text.
Manuscript, Siddur Kavanot HaAri, with kabbalistic commentaries and kavanot, based on the redaction of R. Meir Poppers. Including: daily prayers, prayers for Shabbat, the festivals and High Holidays, daily conduct, Tikkun Chatzot, kavanot for the Passover Haggadah, Sefirat HaOmer and Hakafot, commentary on Shabbat songs and more. [Europe (Russia-Poland?), ca. first half of 18th century].
Neat Ashkenazic script. Illustrations of menorahs and various kabbalistic tables. Illustrated initials and other illustrations and decorations.
Many glosses alongside the text. Seemingly, the scribe was a kabbalist himself. Two glosses mention "the book of the rabbi of Shklow" or "the book of R. Yisrael Shklower", referring to the book Or Yisrael (Frankfurt an der Oder 1702) by the kabbalist R. Yisrael son of R. Aharon Yoffe rabbi of Shklow.
In many places in this manuscript, the scribe decorated the letter "lamed", perhaps alluding to his name.
Several marginal glosses by other writers (unidentified).
Ownership inscription on last leaf: "…Moshe[?] son of R. Yitzchak Rosenhaus[?] of Eihumen [Chervyen]".
2-270 (i.e. 269), [2] leaves (total of 270 leaves). Seemingly lacking one leaf at beginning of manuscript. 19 cm. Overall good condition. Torn and detached leaves, with loss of text. Stains and wear. Tears (primarily to margins). Without binding.
PLEASE NOTE: Item descriptions were shortened in translation. For further information, please refer to Hebrew text.
Manuscript, fine copying of Siddur HaRashash, with kabbalistic kavanot on the Shabbat prayers. [Jerusalem, early 20th century. Presumably before 1916].
Particularly fine handwriting and layout, with ornamental elements. Some of the prayer text was written in large, square characters, while most of the kavanot and explanations were written in cursive Oriental script. Written in a ruled notebook.
A separate gathering (written on thicker paper) was bound between leaves 51 and 52, with Kavanot for Birkat Kohanim.
The present manuscript was presumably scribed by the Torah scholars of the Beit El yeshiva of kabbalists in Jerusalem, who produced various copyings of Siddur HaRashash, and entrusted them to reliable kabbalists only.
Siddur HaRashash was compiled by R. Shalom Sharabi, dean of the Beit El yeshiva, in the mid-18th century, based on the writings of the Arizal and R. Chaim Vital. It was intentionally not printed for many years, and was kept in manuscripts only. Prayer using the manuscripts of the siddur was the privilege of just a few kabbalists. Only in 1911-1916 were the various parts of the siddur finally brought to print.
The present manuscript was presumably scribed before 1916, when the part of the siddur containing Shabbat prayers was published.
1-51, [6] 52-67, [1], 68-69, 71-78, [2] leaves. 24.5 cm. Good-fair condition. Stains and wear. Worming. Original binding, with leather spine. Paint stains on endpapers. Wear and damage to binding.
PLEASE NOTE: Item descriptions were shortened in translation. For further information, please refer to Hebrew text.