Auction 89 - Rare and Important Items
Simlat Binyamin – Fürth, 1840-1841 – Copy of the Ktav Sofer – Dedicated by the Author Rabbi Wolf Hamburg
Opening: $1,000
Estimate: $3,000 - $5,000
Sold for: $4,000
Including buyer's premium
Simlat Binyamin, two parts, responsa on the four parts of Shulchan Aruch, Aggadic novellae and homilies, by R. Wolf Hamburg dean of the Fürth yeshiva. Fürth: David Zürndorfer and son-in-law Yehuda Sommer, 1840-1841. First edition.
Copy of the Ktav Sofer – the title page is inscribed by the author, dedicating the book to the Ktav Sofer who had recently been appointed as rabbi of Pressburg: " …sent to the great luminary, rabbi of Pressburg, son of R. Moshe Sofer, from the author".
The elderly 70-year-old Torah scholar sent his book to his young colleague, who had been selected to succeed his father, the Chatam Sofer, as rabbi of Pressburg and dean of the yeshiva. It is interesting to note that in Responsa Ktav Sofer (Yoreh De'ah part, responsum 7), there is a responsum from the Ktav Sofer to R. Wolf Hamburg, in which he thanks him for the book and discusses one of the responsa found in the present book.
R. Avraham Shmuel Binyamin (Wolf) Sofer (1815-1871), eldest son of the Chatam Sofer and his successor as rabbi of Pressburg and dean of the Pressburg Yeshiva. A Torah leader of his generation. His disciples were prominent rabbis in Hungary and the region. His works of responsa, Talmudic and Torah novellae were titled Ktav Sofer. Even before his birth, his illustrious father the Chatam Sofer foresaw that the soul of a tzaddik was to descend to the world and indeed, his holiness and devotion to Torah were evident already in his youth. At the young age of 17-18, he exchanged halachic correspondence with his father's leading disciples. He at first concealed his tremendous diligence and his vast Torah knowledge from his father, but with time, his father discerned his Torah stature and designated him as his successor in delivering discourses in the yeshiva and in responding to the halachic queries received from various rabbis throughout the world. His illustrious father guided him down the path to greatness in revealed Torah and kabbalah, and sent him kabbalistic works to peruse. After his father's sudden death in 1839, he succeeded him as rabbi and yeshiva dean at the young age of 24 and he gained recognition as a Torah leader of his times. He stood at the helm of the battles against the Neolog movement in Hungary and instructed the Hungarian communities to secede and form independent Orthodox communities. His halachic authority was widely accepted even by the elder Torah leaders of his times. The Pressburg yeshiva which he headed was the most prominent Hungarian yeshiva – during the Ktav Sofer's tenure, 300-400 students attended the yeshiva, most of them the elite products of other Hungarian yeshivot. A substantial percentage of the rabbis serving in Hungary and central-Europe were alumni of the Pressburg yeshiva.
R. Avraham Binyamin Zev Wolf Hamburg (1770-1850) was a leading German rabbi in his generation. A close disciple of R. Meshulam Zalman HaKohen, author of Bigdei Kehuna, and his successor as rabbi and yeshiva dean of Fürth. An outstanding Torah scholar and leader of German Jewry, he was also a wealthy figure. He authored Shaar HaZekenim (two parts), Simlat Binyamin and other works. He battled against the Reform movement, and during his tenure, the yeshiva was shut down due to his refusal to introduce secular subjects and transform it into a modern seminary for rabbinical training. He expended almost all his wealth on this battle. He edified many disciples, including R. Yaakov Yukev Ettlinger, the Aruch LaNer. The Chatam Sofer in his letters to him addresses him as "The outstanding and renowned Torah scholar… a double-edged sword… first to speak up in every place…". The Ktav Sofer eulogized him: "The prominent Torah scholar, erudite and sharp… who served as yeshiva dean for many years in Fürth, he was the leading Torah scholar of the generation and a righteous man, pillar of the world, stood in the breach to stave off destructive forces, he gave up his life for Torah and fulfilled the commandment of loving G-d with all one's being and possessions – even if He takes one's life and wealth" (see: Kinstlicher, Ishim UTeshuvot Chatam Sofer, pp. 39-40; see Hamburger, HaYeshiva HaRama BeFiurda, vol. III, pp. 35-144 for a detailed biography of R. Wolf Hamburg).
[5], 2-176 leaves; [2], 134, [3] leaves. 20.5 cm. Good-fair condition. Stains. Worming, affecting text in several places. Stamps. New leather binding.
The title page mentions three parts, though the third part, Shaar Binyamin, was ultimately not printed. See Bibliography of the Hebrew Book.
Copy of the Ktav Sofer – the title page is inscribed by the author, dedicating the book to the Ktav Sofer who had recently been appointed as rabbi of Pressburg: " …sent to the great luminary, rabbi of Pressburg, son of R. Moshe Sofer, from the author".
The elderly 70-year-old Torah scholar sent his book to his young colleague, who had been selected to succeed his father, the Chatam Sofer, as rabbi of Pressburg and dean of the yeshiva. It is interesting to note that in Responsa Ktav Sofer (Yoreh De'ah part, responsum 7), there is a responsum from the Ktav Sofer to R. Wolf Hamburg, in which he thanks him for the book and discusses one of the responsa found in the present book.
R. Avraham Shmuel Binyamin (Wolf) Sofer (1815-1871), eldest son of the Chatam Sofer and his successor as rabbi of Pressburg and dean of the Pressburg Yeshiva. A Torah leader of his generation. His disciples were prominent rabbis in Hungary and the region. His works of responsa, Talmudic and Torah novellae were titled Ktav Sofer. Even before his birth, his illustrious father the Chatam Sofer foresaw that the soul of a tzaddik was to descend to the world and indeed, his holiness and devotion to Torah were evident already in his youth. At the young age of 17-18, he exchanged halachic correspondence with his father's leading disciples. He at first concealed his tremendous diligence and his vast Torah knowledge from his father, but with time, his father discerned his Torah stature and designated him as his successor in delivering discourses in the yeshiva and in responding to the halachic queries received from various rabbis throughout the world. His illustrious father guided him down the path to greatness in revealed Torah and kabbalah, and sent him kabbalistic works to peruse. After his father's sudden death in 1839, he succeeded him as rabbi and yeshiva dean at the young age of 24 and he gained recognition as a Torah leader of his times. He stood at the helm of the battles against the Neolog movement in Hungary and instructed the Hungarian communities to secede and form independent Orthodox communities. His halachic authority was widely accepted even by the elder Torah leaders of his times. The Pressburg yeshiva which he headed was the most prominent Hungarian yeshiva – during the Ktav Sofer's tenure, 300-400 students attended the yeshiva, most of them the elite products of other Hungarian yeshivot. A substantial percentage of the rabbis serving in Hungary and central-Europe were alumni of the Pressburg yeshiva.
R. Avraham Binyamin Zev Wolf Hamburg (1770-1850) was a leading German rabbi in his generation. A close disciple of R. Meshulam Zalman HaKohen, author of Bigdei Kehuna, and his successor as rabbi and yeshiva dean of Fürth. An outstanding Torah scholar and leader of German Jewry, he was also a wealthy figure. He authored Shaar HaZekenim (two parts), Simlat Binyamin and other works. He battled against the Reform movement, and during his tenure, the yeshiva was shut down due to his refusal to introduce secular subjects and transform it into a modern seminary for rabbinical training. He expended almost all his wealth on this battle. He edified many disciples, including R. Yaakov Yukev Ettlinger, the Aruch LaNer. The Chatam Sofer in his letters to him addresses him as "The outstanding and renowned Torah scholar… a double-edged sword… first to speak up in every place…". The Ktav Sofer eulogized him: "The prominent Torah scholar, erudite and sharp… who served as yeshiva dean for many years in Fürth, he was the leading Torah scholar of the generation and a righteous man, pillar of the world, stood in the breach to stave off destructive forces, he gave up his life for Torah and fulfilled the commandment of loving G-d with all one's being and possessions – even if He takes one's life and wealth" (see: Kinstlicher, Ishim UTeshuvot Chatam Sofer, pp. 39-40; see Hamburger, HaYeshiva HaRama BeFiurda, vol. III, pp. 35-144 for a detailed biography of R. Wolf Hamburg).
[5], 2-176 leaves; [2], 134, [3] leaves. 20.5 cm. Good-fair condition. Stains. Worming, affecting text in several places. Stamps. New leather binding.
The title page mentions three parts, though the third part, Shaar Binyamin, was ultimately not printed. See Bibliography of the Hebrew Book.
Books of Important Ownership – Glosses, Signatures and Dedications
Books of Important Ownership – Glosses, Signatures and Dedications