Sefer HaTakanot VeHaskamot, public regulations and halachic customs established by Jerusalem rabbis throughout the generations, by R. Chaim Avraham Gagin. Jerusalem: R. Yisrael Bak, 1842.
Two title pages. The first title page is decorated with a woodcut. The second title page is on leaf [5], after R. Gagin's preface.
The second Hebrew book printed in Jerusalem. Printed in the printing press established by R. Yisrael Bak of Berditchev and Safed, disciple of R. Levi Yitzchak of Berditchev and R. Yisrael of Ruzhin.
This book is comprised of two parts: the first contains R. Gagin's preface and a long responsum (dated 1824) by R. Shlomo Moshe Suzin regarding the authority of the Beit Din to issue public regulations. The second part includes a compilation of the regulations and customs of Eretz Israel following the order of the four sections of Shulchan Aruch. At the end of the book, approbations dated 1841 and 1842, by rabbis and community officials, according R. Yisrael Bak the exclusive rights to printing in Eretz Israel. The approbations describe how R. Yisrael established a new printing press in Jerusalem after his press in Safed was destroyed by vandals. [There are some copies without the final leaf - approbation from 1842. See Bibliography of the Hebrew Book listing 123175, and Sh. HaLevy, HaSefarim HaIvriim Shenipesu BiYerushalayim, no. 3].
The bibliographer A. Tauber, in his article "History of the Printing Press in Eretz Israel" (Mechkarim Bibliographim, pp. 10-11; Kovetz Yerushalayim - Lechakirat Eretz Israel, Jerusalem 1928, pp. 179-192), posits that the main purpose of this book was to reinforce several controversial public regulations (especially regulations regarding estate and ownership titles). In order to be able to print this book, R. Gagin and the Sephardic community officials encouraged the establishment of R. Yisrael Bak's printing press, intending that this would be the first book to be published there. R. Gagin, who was persecuted by his opponents, initiated the printing of this book in order to answer their contentions. In order that this should not be obvious, R. Gagin instructed R. Yaakov Capiloto and R. Avraham Ashkenazi, two Jerusalemite scholars, to research the customs and ordinances of Eretz Israel, arrange them in the order of the four sections of Shulchan Aruch, and combine them with the responses to those who questioned the abovementioned ordinances.
This book was presumably printed in stages, according to the progress of the abovementioned editors. According to Tauber, the first part of Sefer HaTakanot was already printed in 1841 (before the printing of Avodat HaKodesh, which is recognized as the first Hebrew book printed in Jerusalem). The printing was only concluded after R. Capiloto and R. Ashkenazi completed compiling and editing the second part of the book.
[16], 13-72 leaves. Lacking [4] final leaves (replaced in photocopy). 15 cm. Good-fair condition. Stains. Worming. Tears repaired with paper. New binding.