Mishneh Torah by the Rambam, with Hasagot of the Raavad and Maggid Mishneh commentary, and with Kesef Mishneh commentary by R. Yosef Karo. Venice: Bragadin, 1574-1575. Complete set, four parts in four volumes. Divisional title pages.

First edition of Kesef Mishneh, most of which was printed during the lifetime of the author. On title page of Part III, R. Yosef Karo's name appears with a blessing for the living, while the title page of Part IV mentions him with a blessing for the deceased. The end of Part IV concludes with a statement by the proofreader R. Chizkiyah Fano announcing the author's death in the middle of the printing (on 13th Nisan 1575). After the conclusion of R. Chizkiyah Fano is printed a poem authored by R. Avraham Chayun, the author's disciple, praising the Kesef Mishneh work.

Glosses and inscriptions in all four volumes, by several writers, in Italian script. Some glosses trimmed. Ownership inscriptions and signatures: "Refael son of Menachem Blanis" (title page of first volume), "Avraham Chai Levi… Verona" (on title page of second volume), "R. Pinchas", "Heirs of R. Ya.K." (on title page of third volume); "My own purchase, Eliezer Bacchi" (on title page of fourth volume); "…Purchased by me, Eliezer Shimon Baruch son of R. Yamin Baruch, 1583", "Delivered to R. Benayahu of Baruch by the chosen R. Yosef Yehudah of Lodi, R. Menachem Katzigin, R. Elazar Montayana, from the property of the orphans of the above R. Eliezer Shimon" (on verso of title page of fourth volume).

On last leaf of third volume, signature of censor "Domenico Gerosolimitano", dated 1598.

On penultimate leaf of fourth volume, signature of censor "Benaia a nome de Giusta", dated 1590.

Four volumes. First volume (Mada-Zemanim): [22], 316 leaves. Second volume (Nashim, Kedushah): [10], 217, [1] leaves. Third volume (Haflaah-Taharah): [20], 451, [1] leaves. Fourth volume (Nezikin-Shoftim): [10], 297, [9] leaves. 26.5 cm. Browning of paper in several places. Overall good-fair condition, several leaves in fair condition. Stains, including dark stains and dampstains (large stains to third volume). Tears and open tears, including open tears to title page of first volume, slightly affecting text, repaired with paper. Worming to some volumes, slightly affecting text in several places. New bindings (uniform), with defects.

Provenance: Yosef Weinman collection.

Three books by R. Shlomo Luria (the Maharshal), printed in Basel, 1599-1600, by the famous kabbalist R. Eliyahu Baal Shem Loans: Shaarei Dura, with commentary of the Maharshal, and Amudei Shlomo, commentary of the Maharshal on the Smag – two parts.

• Sefer HaShearim, Shaarei Dura with commentary of R. Shlomo Luria (Maharshal). Basel: Konrad Waldkirch, [1599]. At beginning of book, introduction by publisher and proofreader, R. "Eliyah son of R. Moshe Loans of Frankfurt am Main", who writes that the present work is the final recension of the Maharshal's work, with added novellae in laws of Niddah by the publisher R. Eliyahu Baal Shem.

• Amudei Shlomo, commentary of Maharshal to Sefer Mitzvot Gadol (Smag). Part I (negative commandments). Basel: Konrad Waldkirch, [1599-1600]. Introduction by publisher R. "Eliyah son of R. Moshe Loans of Frankfurt am Main".

• Amudei Shlomo, commentary of Maharshal to Sefer Mitzvot Gadol (Smag). Part II (positive commandments). Basel: Konrad Waldkirch, [1599-1600].

Stamps, signatures and ownership inscriptions, and some short glosses, handwritten by several writers.

Distinguished copies, from the library of Rebbe Yoel Teitelbaum of Satmar, including signatures and stamps of earlier rabbis: R. Moshe, head of the Cracow Beit Din, son of the Maginei Shlomo, R. Tzvi Hirsch HaKohen [of Cracow?]; R. Yisrael Yonah HaLevi Landau, Rabbi of Kępno, author of Meon HaBerachot, and his son R. Yosef Shmuel HaLevi Landau, Rabbi of Kępno, author of Kur HaBechinah.

On title page of Shaarei Dura, signature in Ashkenazic script contemporaneous with date of publication [early 17th century]: "Moshe son of my father the Gaon R. Yehoshua" – signature of R. Moshe, head of the Cracow Beit Din (before 1618-Adar 1688), written during the lifetime of his illustrious father, R. Yehoshua Charif, author of Maginei Shlomo (ca. 1577-1648). R. Moshe served as head of the Cracow Beit Din for forty years, beginning in 1648. The Chevra Kadisha ledger of Cracow says of him: "The chief of Torah, prince of the capital city, elder and sated of days, who was head of the Beit Din his entire life…" (see: R. Reuven Margaliot, LeToldot Anshei Shem BeLvov, Sinai, 1951, p. 221).

On verso of title page, early ownership inscription, written in Ashkenazic script contemporaneous with time of printing (covered by paper repair), of R. Tzvi Hirsch HaKohen: "I, Tzvi Hirsch, originating from the seed of Aaron, sign on this book, to grant proof of my sale of my book to someone else, which I gave for this book… and it is invaluable, 'for the Torah of your mouth is more precious to me than thousands of pieces of gold and silver'" [the signature may be that of R. Tzvi Hirsch HaKohen of Cracow, a member of the Beit Din of the Maginei Shlomo in Cracow, who signs alongside him between 1640-1647; see: Responsa Pnei Yehoshua, section 65; Kelilat Yofi, I, leaf 46; II, leaves 20-21].

A century later, the present three volumes reached the father and son, Rabbis of Kępno – the last pages of all three books bear the stamps of R. Yisrael Yonah Segal Landau, Rabbi of Kępno (1750-1824), a leading Torah scholar of his generation, author of Meon HaBerachot and Ein HaBedolach, as well as the signatures of his son R. "Shmuel Yosef Segal Landau" (1800-1836), who succeeded him as Rabbi of Kępno (until his untimely death at the age of 36), author of Kur HaBechinah – Mishkan Shilo (Breslau, 1837). In his approbation to that book, the Chatam Sofer calls him "a great man among giants, who draws water from deep wells… I too was privy to the depths of his knowledge, when we enjoyed discussions of common halachot… and his words accord with law and practice…".

On the last page of second volume, stamp of: "Yaakov Chaim Ashkenazi, Nagyberezna" [Ungvár region; present-day Velykyi Bereznyi].

These books later reached the library of the Satmar Rebbe. All three books bear stamps of "Yoel Teitelbaum, Rabbi of Irshava and the region" [we surmise that these stamps were made and stamped on the books at a later date than his rabbinic tenure in Irshava – see next lot, and see Kedem, Auction 99, November 5, 2024, Lot 185].

Rebbe Yoel Teitelbaum of Satmar (1887-1979), author of Divre Yoel, a leader of his generation, president of the Edah HaCharedit in Jerusalem and leader of American Orthodox Jewry, one of the founding pillars of Chassidic Jewry after the Holocaust. Born in Sighet, he was the son of Rebbe Chananiah Yom Tov Lipa, the Kedushat Yom Tov, and grandson of Rebbe Yekutiel Yehudah, the Yitav Lev, who both served as rabbis of Sighet (Sighetu Marmației) and were leaders of Chassidic Jewry in the Maramureș region. He was renowned from his youth for his sharpness and intellectual capacities, as well as for his holiness and outstanding purity. After his marriage to the daughter of Rebbe Avraham Chaim Horowitz of Polaniec, he settled in Satmar and taught Torah and Chassidut to an elite group of disciples and followers. He later served as Rabbi of Irshava (1911-1915, 1922-1926), Karoly (Carei; from 1926) and Satmar (Satu Mare; from 1934), managing in each of these places a large yeshiva and Chassidic court. He stood at the helm of faithful, uncompromising Orthodox Jewry in the Maramureș region. During the Holocaust, he was rescued through the famous Kastner Train, and after a journey through Bergen-Belsen, Switzerland and Eretz Israel, he reached the United States, where he established the largest Chassidic group in the world.

Three volumes. [1], 2-97, [1] leaves; 2-114 leaves (lacking leaf 115); [1], 40, 43-49 leaves (lacking leaves 41-42). 18-18.5 cm. Varying condition of volumes, good-fair to fair. Stains. Wear and tears. Paper repairs. On first and third volume, worming, affecting text. In first volume, large tears to first six leaves, repaired with paper; throughout most of first volume, small tears (from a sharp object) in center of text. Stamps. New leather bindings, uniform.

Tikunei HaZohar. Slavita (Slavuta): R. Moshe Shapira, [1826]. Name of book and location of printing in red.

Edition for customary reading of Tikunei Zohar during the forty days from Rosh Chodesh Elul until Yom Kippur. The chapter headings include the date for this study program. On leaf 3, title: "Introduction of Tikunei Zohar, for Erev Rosh Chodesh Elul". On leaf 19, title: "Another introduction to Tikunei Zohar – for first day of Rosh Chodesh". On p. 19b: "Tikun 1 – for second day", and so on throughout titles of book. On leaf 147 begins the study for day 40, with the title: "Eighth Tikun, for Yom Kippur".

Various stamps. On front endpaper and leaves 123 and 143, ownership inscriptions of "Yosef son of R. Eliyahu Aharon Ash Matratznik of Yelisavetgrad" [present-day Kropyvnytskyi, Ukraine].

[2], 3-50, 49-154 leaves (lacking leaf 155, with end of Kelalim at end of book). 20 cm. Fair-good condition. Stains, including dampstains. Wear and signs of heavy use. Light worming to inner margins of last leaves (after leaf 140). Close trimming, affecting headers with foliations of leaves 150-151. Stamps. Early binding, with leather spine, damaged and detached.

The Slavita Printing Press, Founded by R. Moshe Shapira, Rabbi of Slavita

The Jewish printing press in Slavita (present-day Slavuta, Khmelnytskyi Province, Western Ukraine) operated between 1790 and 1836. The founder of the printing press was the Rabbi of the city, R. Moshe Shapira (1762-1840), son of the renowned R. Pinchas of Korets. Already in his youth, he showed exceptional talent in scribal writing, tracing, carving and etching. His illustrious father encouraged him to develop his talent to master these skills. In the early 1790s, R. Moshe was appointed Rabbi of Slavita, yet he concurrently established his famous printing press, not wishing to utilize Torah as a livelihood. The typeface used in the printing press was fashioned by R. Moshe. Apart from the printing press, he also established workshops for production of the paper and type. A large portion of Slavita's Jews earned their livelihood honorably in one of the many divisions of the printing firm. Slavita books were reputed in the Jewish world for their beauty, splendor and accuracy; as well as for the owner of the press, R. Moshe, who was revered by the great Chassidic leaders. R. Moshe of Slavita was close to the Baal HaTanya, R. Shneur Zalman of Liadi, who commended him: "Exceptional in Torah, fear of G-d is his treasure, of holy descent". Sipurim Nora'im by R. Yaakov Keidner (Lviv, 1875) relates the wondrous account of how the Baal HaTanya assisted R. Moshe in attaining a government license for his printing press.

A special advantage of this printing press was that it only produced sacred books, and its type was never desecrated by secular books. Most of the workers were G-d-fearing Jews. According to a famous Chassidic tradition, the equipment and type were immersed in a mikveh before use (regarding the printing press in Slavita, see [in Hebrew]: Haim Dov Friedberg, History of Printing in Poland, Tel Aviv, 1950, p. 104; Ch. Lieberman, Ohel Rachel, I, New York, 1980, pp. 199-202; Sh.D.B. Levine, History of Chabad in Tsarist Russia, Brooklyn, 2010, p. 61). Chassidic masters especially prized siddurim and books printed in holiness in the Slavita press for prayer and study, especially the Tikunei HaZohar edition, which was meant for those with the custom to study the present book of Tikunim between Rosh Chodesh Elul and Yom Kippur.

Miniature portrait of a Galician-Jewish man.

Oil on panel. Signed, upper right: "Isidor Kaufmann, Wien".

Miniature portrait of an elderly Galician-Jewish man, depicted with a thin beard, eyeglasses, a top hat, and slightly worn clothing. Cecil (Bezalel) Roth describes Kaufmann as an artist who "made a great career as the chronicler of Galician Jewish types and customs" (Jewish Art, 1961, p. 619). Kaufmann’s oeuvre features numerous figures similar to the subject of the present portrait, particularly in his depictions of daily life scenes of Jewish characters known to him from the Shtetl. These were much requested in the Viennese Market during the 1900s.

Never before at auction.

For Kaufmann's genre paintings featuring similar character types, see: The Chess Players (Die Schachspieler, 1886; Natter, p. 179); The Chess Player (Der Schachspieler; Sotheby's, New York, October 23, 2007, Lot 62); At the Notary (Sotheby's, London, June 21, 1989, Lot 274).

Wood panel: 9X7.6 cm. Original gilt frame: 29X27.5 cm.

Reference:

• G. Tobias Natter, Rabbiner, Bocher, Talmudschüler, Bilder des Wiener Malers, Isidor Kaufmann, 1853-1921, Vienna: 1995.

• Cecil Roth, Jewish Art: an Illustrated History, New York, Toronto and London: McGraw-Hill, 1961.

Provenance:

1. Oscar and Regina Gruss Collection, New York.

2. Heirs of the above.

Certified by the Art Loss Register (ALR); certificate enclosed.

Isidor Kaufmann (1853-1921)

One of the foremost Jewish painters of the 19th century, Isidor Kaufmann was born in Arad, then part of Hungary, and was active in Vienna. Initially working as a clerk, he pursued private studies in painting before enrolling at the Academy of Fine Arts in Vienna. Kaufmann embarked on extensive journeys through Jewish communities in Poland, Galicia, and Ukraine, capturing the impressions of these encounters in his works. His most significant paintings include portraits of Jewish men and women, Rabbis and Yeshiva students, genre scenes depicting daily life in the shtetls of Eastern Europe, and evocative renderings of synagogues and study halls, characterized by meticulous detail and a vivid palette.

The Oscar and Regina Gruss Collection

In 1939, Oscar and Regina Gruss fled their hometown of Lvov (then part of Poland, now in Ukraine), narrowly escaping the Holocaust, and eventually settling in the United States. In the years following the war, they devoted themselves to assembling one of the finest collections of Jewish ceremonial art in the USA, with a particular focus on silverwork and 19th-century Jewish paintings.

Their collection featured masterpieces by celebrated artists such as Isidor Kaufmann, Moritz Daniel Oppenheim, and Solomon Alexander Hart. Many of these works were generously donated to The Jewish Museum, New York, while others remained within the family. The paintings in this catalogue are being offered at auction for the first time.

For additional items from the collection of Oscar and Regina Gruss in the present catalogue, see lot nos. 133, 144, 147, 153, 154, 204 and 205.