- (-) Remove Auction 96 Early Printed Books, Chassidut and Kabbalah, Books Printed in Jerusalem, Letters and Manuscripts filter Auction 96 Early Printed Books, Chassidut and Kabbalah, Books Printed in Jerusalem, Letters and Manuscripts
Printed Aleph-Bet chart, with morning prayers, an abridged Birkat HaMazon and other blessings, Shema and other prayer texts. Livorno: Moise ed Israel Palagi e Salomone Belforte, 1846. Hebrew, Italian and some Ladino.
Chart for the instruction of Hebrew and Italian to children. The upper part of the leaf shows the letters of the Hebrew alphabet with various vowel points, as well as the Latin alphabet and the digits. The alphabet is flanked on the right by the morning prayers, Shema and blessings recited over food; and on the left by an abridged version of Birkat HaMazon and other blessings. The chart also contains Torah Tzivah Lanu Moshe and other verses.
Adjacent to the center of the leaf, in two separate columns, the letters of the Latin alphabet with various vowels are shown in a smaller size, with basic texts for learning to read in Italian. There also appear numbers (Arabic and Roman numerals), a multiplication table, and the days of the week, months and seasons, in Italian.
The short titles introducing the blessings and prayer sections are printed in Ladino.
The center of the leaf is occupied by an illustration of a class of students. Several students are shown studying by a table, with a winged figure hovering over them and showering them with treats. Near them is a teacher brandishing a whip, ready to hit a disobedient student.
Charts such as this one were printed in Italy from the mid-17th century until the 19th century. Most of the charts were printed in a similar format, with the Aleph-Bet chart in the center and accompanying texts (with typographic variations). The illustration at the center of this leaf also appears in all other charts, with minor variations in the details (in earlier charts the illustration is a woodcut, while in later ones it is engraved). Charts printed from the mid-19th century, such as the present item, along with the Hebrew text, which was left practically unchanged over the years, added the letters of the Latin alphabet, digits and numbers, syllables, words and short texts for beginning to learn to read in Italian.
Approx. 55X42 cm. Somewhat dark paper. Good condition. Stains. Folding marks. Small open tears to folds and margins, slightly affecting text. Framed. Not examined outside of the frame.
For details about other Aleph-Bet charts printed in Italy, and about the variations between the illustrations, see: Y. Yudlov, Italian Alphabet Charts, Kiryat Sefer, 62, 1988-1989, pp. 930-932 (Hebrew; the present chart is no. 10 in Yudlov's list).
Large parchment ketubah. 7th Adar I, 1815.
Ink on large parchment membrane, with top decoratively trimmed. Decorated with a title and frame with verses of blessing.
On margins, signature of bridegroom, his father and witnesses. Official stamps at top of ketubah.
R. Yaakov Menachem Cracovia (d. 1819), Rabbi of Venice, one of three Venetian rabbis to participate in Napoleon's Sanhedrin.
75 cm. Good condition. Stains and creases.
Collection of parchment ketubot – Italy, 18th-19th century:
• Ketubah with tena'im. Pisa, 6th Tevet 1735. Ink on parchment. Sephardic and square script. The ketubah and tena'im are written next to each other, in two columns. Signature of bridegroom and witnesses in Italian. Maximum size: 60 cm.
• Ketubah. Pisa, 12th Kislev 1817. Ink on parchment. Sephardic script. Frame with verses and blessings. Signature of bridegroom and witnesses in Italian. Official stamps. 42 cm.
• Ketubah. Mantua, 1st Sivan 1837. Ink on parchment. Square script. Signatures of witnesses. Top decoratively trimmed. Maximum size: approx. 47 cm.
• Ketubah. Mantua, 30th Nisan 1839. Ink on parchment. Square script. Decorated frame with verses of blessing. Signatures of witnesses. Open tears affecting text and frame. 49.5 cm.
• Ketubah. Rome, 13th Sivan 1893. Ink on parchment, square script. Decorated frame in the colors of the Italian flag. Trimmed at bottom for decoration (with remains of red ribbon). Signatures of witnesses. Maximum size: approx. 59 cm.
• Ketubah. Mantua, 3rd Adar 1863. Ink on parchment, square script. Frame with verses. Signatures of witnesses. Tear to center of ketubah, slightly affecting text. 51 cm.
• Tena'im document for an engagement. 4th Kislev 1863. Ink on parchment. Signatures of groom and witnesses, including R. Shmuel Chaim son of Yehudah Yisrael Ghiron [rabbi in Turin]. 20 cm.
7 items. Varying size and condition.
Collection of four ketubot and a tena'im document from Venice, 19th century:
• Parchment ketubah in large format (top decoratively trimmed). Venice, 12th Cheshvan, 1803. Maximum size: 68 cm.
• Parchment tena'im document for an engagement. Venice, 15th Av, 1803. 39 cm.
• Paper ketubah. Venice, 14th Adar II, 1859. 28.5 cm.
• Parchment ketubah. Venice, 21st Adar II, 1886. 39 cm.
• Paper ketubah. Venice, 12th Adar I, 1897. 36 cm.
4 ketubot; 1 tena'im document. Varying condition.
Three leaves printed in large format – riddles for a wedding. Italy, 18th century.
1. Riddle leaf for a wedding – "Eftechah BeMashal Pi…", for the wedding of Asher Yaakov son of Uri Chefetz of Venice and Sarah daughter of the physician Menachem Noveira of Verona, by R. Natan son of R. Yitzchak Ashkenazi. Verona, 1770.
2. Riddle leaf for a wedding – "Mi Yuchal Laamod BeEleh…", for the wedding of Yitzchak son of Kalonymus Noveira and Esther daughter of Menachem Consiglio, by R. Shmuel son of R. Natan Chaim Ashkenazi. [Verona?, 18th century].
3. Riddle leaf for a wedding – "El Kol Teruat Am…", for the wedding of Moshe Chaim son of Nechemiah Katz and Nechamah daughter of Shmuel Menachem Katz, by Zerach Yaakov son of R. Refael Naftali Katz. [Mantua, 18th century].
3 large leaves, two of them: 44-46 cm, and the other (Verona, 1770): 56 cm. Overall good condition. Stains. Folding marks.
1. "Anshei Chayil Yirei Elohim…" – poem leaf on the passing of R. Chizkiyah Mordechai Bassan, Rabbi of Livorno, and for the establishment of a Torah school, by R. Shlomo Bassan. [Verona, 1704].
2. Riddle leaf for a wedding – "Shemesh UMagen Hu…", for the wedding of Yosef son of Shimshon Grego and Chanah daughter of Pinchas HaKohen, by R. Shlomo Bassan. [Verona, 18th century].
Not in the National Library of Israel.
3. Riddle leaf for a wedding – "Yosef Ben Sheva Esreh Shanah…", for the wedding of Yosef son of Shimshon Grego and Chanah daughter of Pinchas HaKohen, by R. Shlomo Bassan. [Verona, 18th century].
The copy in the National Library of Israel is damaged, missing the upper portion of the leaf with the introduction and full details of the couple.
4. "HaAsiri Yihyeh Kodesh…" – poem in honor of the establishment of the Asiri society, by R. Shlomo son of Yisrael Bassan. [Verona, 18th century].
Another poem composed by R. Menachem Noveira in honor of this society is preserved in the autograph manuscript in the Leeds University Library, Cecil Roth Ms. 102.
R. Shlomo Bassan (ca. 1670/1680 – after 1757), rabbi in Verona, presumably the brother of R. Yeshayahu Bassan.
4 large leaves, 46-53 cm. Overall good condition. Stains. Folding marks. A few tears to one leaf, slightly affecting text.
• Large leaf, Shirei Zahav – two sonnets in honor of the marriage of Yehoshua Chai Raba and Eugenia Sorani. Cento, 1878. Signature of author in margins. Square script, inside a printed frame. 45.5 cm.
• Large leaf, Shir Lichvod HaTorah – ten-stanza poem by an unknown author. The word "Malachi" highlighted in the last stanza. Square script, in decorated frame (blue). Approx. 38x52 cm.
• Prayer of the Turin community for the success of the Italian army, a printed leaflet (4 pages) in Hebrew and Italian. Contains special prayer for Victor Emmanuel II during the Wars of Italian Unification in the 19th century, followed by three psalms and an Italian translation of the above prayer. Lithograph for Hebrew sections and normal printing for Italian section.
• Manuscript leaf, 8-stanza poem for a wedding. Signature of author on margins of leaf.
• Poem by R. Mordechai Momigliano. Bologna, [1877]. Printed leaflet for the inauguration of the Bologna synagogue. Poem in Hebrew and Italian. Contains corresponding title page in Italian.
• Printed leaf, letter of blessing for a wedding. Padua, [1853]. Signed (in print) by Moshe Yaakov Ottolengi.
• Manuscript leaf, poem "BeMar Evkeh BeToch Golah…" by R. Shimshon Chaim Nachmani [author of Zera Shimshon], written on both sides. Only half of the poem appears, with the leaf with the continuation missing.
• Manuscript leaf, supplication by R. Yehudah HaLevi beginning "Hashem Yom Lecha E'eroch Techinah".
• Poem for Simchat Torah, gift for the leaders of the Levantine community, by R. Eliyahu Aharon Lattes. [Venice, 1833]. Later facsimile of original lithograph.
9 paper items. Varying size and condition.
Two certificates of ordination for shochatim, members of the Bianchini family in Ferrara:
• Certificate of shechitah ordination for the shochet Moshe son of Shlomo Bianchini. Ferrara, 1842. Scribal writing (semi-cursive Sephardic script) signed by R. Yehudah Aryeh Reggio (Rabbi of Ferrara from 1837) and R. Yitzchak Eliyahu Menachem Ascoli (a rabbi in Ferrara, author of Reshit Daat). 24 cm.
• Certificate of shechitah ordination for the shochet Yosef Yehoshua son of Shmuel Bianchini. Ferrara, 1889. Square script, partly in colored ink (red and green). Signed
by R. Yosef Chaim Yare (Rabbi of Ferrara from 1880), with official stamps of the rabbinate. 36 cm.
2 certificates. Overall good condition.
Yavin Shemuah, commentary on Halichot Olam by R. Yeshuah HaLevi, by R. Nissim Shlomo Algazi, and Talmudic principles by R. Yosef Karo. Livorno: Yaakov Nunez and Refael Meldola, [1792].
The book was given as a reward to a student for diligence in studying Talmudic principles, by the Or Torah society, apparently in Livorno.
Original elegant gilt-decorated leather binding, and original colorful endpaper. Gilt inscription on front of binding: "Reward for diligence in studying Talmudic principles", to "R. Avraham Binyamin Sananitz". Additional engraving on top of binding: "Or Torah Society" [a 1724 poem in honor of the Livorno Or Torah society is extant in manuscript in the National Library of Israel, former Valmadonna Collection, no. D45].
139, [5] leaves. 28.5 cm. Several leaves somewhat dark. Interior of book in good condition, binding in fair-good condition. Stains. Light worming to several leaves. Front binding and spine mostly detached. Wear and damage to binding (tears to spine and edges of binding).
Toldot Gedolei Yisrael UGeonei Italia by R. Mordechai Shmuel Ghirondi, with Zecher Tzadikim Livrachah by R. Chananel Neppi. Trieste: Marenigh, 1853. Only edition.
This book is composed of two works: a biographical work on Italian rabbis by R. Chananel Neppi, edited and expanded by R. Mordechai Shmuel Ghirondi; and an independent work by R. Ghirondi.
At the beginning of the present copy are bound four leaves (6 pages) handwritten by R. Shmuel Yitzchak Finzi, a posek in Ferrara, disciple of R. Neppi and the first copyist of Zecher Tzadikim Livrachah. The present leaves contain a foreword authored by R. Finzi to his teacher's work, as well as a foreword to Toldot Gedolei Yisrael containing a eulogy for R. Ghirondi. The next pages contain addenda to Zecher Tzadikim Livrachah, and the last leaf contains a poem authored by R. Finzi in honor of the book.
R. Finzi's first foreword appears in another extant manuscript of Zecher Tzadikim Livrachah, with slight variants (which appear to indicate that the present version is the later of the two), as well as the same addenda also containing variants. The poem in honor of the book was also copied by R. Finzi in an extant manuscript anthology of his poems. The second foreword in the present item is not known from any other source.
The present copy belonged to R. Chaviv son of R. Eliezer Toledano (born 1800), a rabbi of Meknes who immigrated to Livorno. His signature (in Latin script) appears on the binding and title page, as well as a few glosses in his handwriting, one mentioning a book he published (Derech Emunah, Livorno 1838) and two sharply attacking R. Shmuel David Luzzatto. Interestingly, R. Ghirondi dedicated an entry in his book to R. Chaviv Toledano, citing R. Chaviv's introduction to the abovementioned work, which contains a detailed genealogy of the Toledano family.
The present copy was later in the possession of R. Prof. Eliyah Shmuel Hartom (1887-1965), a rabbi and educator in Ferrara and other Italian cities, and author of the Cassuto commentary on the Bible. Prof. Hartom added glosses and notes to the book, and many leaves are included along with the book, containing handwritten notes by R. Hartom, referenced by notations in the book (in pencil). These leaves contain additions and glosses from a manuscript of Zecher Tzadikim Livrachah examined by R. Hartom in Ferrara in 1913-1914, which were published by R. Hartom in the Memorial Volume for Shlomo Sally Meir, Jerusalem 1956; however, the present leaves contain several glosses and additions that were not printed there.
376 pages. 21 cm. Good condition. Some stains. Original binding, with some damage. + [4] leaves handwritten by R. Shmuel Yitzchak Finzi + approx. 25 leaves and paper scraps handwritten by R. Hartom. Overall good-fair condition.
Large manuscript leaf, Regolamento della Santa Scuola Italiana di Venezia – ordinance of the Italian synagogue in Venice, 6th Adar II, 1636. [Venice, first half of 19th century]. Italian, with some words in Hebrew.
The present item is a fine, decorated copying of an early ordinance, accepted by the board members of the Italian synagogue in Venice, which was signed by R. Yehudah Aryeh of Modena. The board members, whose names are listed at the top of the leaf, declare that the Italian Jews are forbidden to take part in the prayers of the other (Levantine and Sephardi) synagogues in the city, which impacted the donations received by the synagogue for aliyot, and they detail the fine for contravening the ordinance.
The present leaf was copied by R. Eliyahu Aharon Lattes, whose signature appears on the margins. R. Lattes, who served as Rabbi in Venice until his death in 1840, evidently sought to reenact the ordinance, as the number of Italian congregants had already dwindled in the early 19th century.
This ordinance was published, based on the present leaf, by Abramo A. Piattelli, Una severa disposizione in un Tempio veneziano del '600, La Rassegna Mensile di Israel, terza serie, 35, 1, gennaio 1969, pp. 36-39.
This ordinance does not appear in the ledger (pinkas) of the committee of the Italian community published by Daniel Carpi.
Leaf, 46 cm. Fair condition. Stains, including marginal dark stains. Large tears and open tears to margins, slightly affecting text. Tears in the center of the leaf repaired with paper to verso.
Detailed twenty-page legal document stating that Avraham son of Mordechai Graziano of Modena leases two residences in the Jewish ghetto of Modena from R. Shmuel Cavi through his Jewish agent Lelio Benventi of Ancona. The document details all the conditions of the deal, the location of the residences (including two cellars), the price and more.
The lessee is apparently R. Avraham Shlomo Yosef Graziano (d. 1684), a Jewish rabbi and scholar who served as a rabbi in Modena, author of various works still in manuscript and an avid bibliophile. Known as "Ish Ger".
[10] leaves + paper wrapper. Good condition. Stains. Some wear and tears to margins. Official stamps and former library stamps.