Three books featuring the teachings of R. Yitzchak Kahana of Kolno, Jerusalem kabbalist and close disciple of R. Yitzchak Eizik Chaver, a transmitter of the kabbalistic teachings of the Vilna Gaon:

• Sefer Yetzirah, with commentary of Vilna Gaon and Toldot Yitzchak commentary by R. Yitzchak Kahana of Kolno. Jerusalem: Michel HaKohen and Yitzchak Gościnny, 1874[-1875]. First edition of Toldot Yitzchak. Large folding plate with diagram of the "231 gates".

[5], 82, [6] leaves, [1] large folding leaf. 20 cm. Good-fair condition. Stains, wear and tears. Worming to first leaves, affecting text. Tears to folding plate. New binding.

• Toldot Yitzchak, Part II – supercommentary to the Vilna Gaon's commentary on Sefer Yetzirah. Jerusalem: Yitzchak Gościnny and Avraham Gagin, [1879]. Second edition, with expanded and revised supercommentary on the Vilna Gaon's commentary to Sefer Yetzirah.

[2], 64, 63-72, 71-96, 100-101 leaves. 20.5 cm. Dry paper. Overall good condition. Stains. Small marginal open tears to title page and several other leaves, repaired with paper filling. Pencil inscriptions. New binding.

• Toldot Yitzchak – Part II, continuation of commentary on Sefer Yetzirah by R. Yitzchak Kahana of Kolno, with index Petach Tikvah, and with Mareh Kohen, explanation of Aspaklaria HaMeirah Ilan Sefirot by R. Yaakov Temerles. Jerusalem: Shmuel HaLevi Zuckerman and partner Nachman Betito and Chizkiyah Shabtai, 1884-1885. Numbered as "Part II" like the previous volume, as explained in author's introduction.

[2], 8 leaves; 102-194 leaves; 13 leaves; 8 leaves, [1] folding leaf (Aspaklaria HaMeirah Ilan Sefirot), [1] leaf (corrigenda). 20.5 cm. Dry paper. Overall good condition. Stains. Small marginal tears to title page and several other leaves, repaired with paper filling. Marginal open tear to Ilan Sefirot, affecting text. Pencil inscriptions. New binding.

R. Yitzchak Kahana of Kolno (Lithuania; present-day Poland) was a close disciple of R. Yitzchak Eizik Chaver, and authored several books on the kabbalistic teachings of the Vilna Gaon. He immigrated to Eretz Israel and settled in Jerusalem, where he published (in 1874-1885) the three parts of his work Toldot Yitzchak, on the Vilna Gaon's commentary to Sefer Yetzirah and his other kabbalistic teachings.

Sh. Halevy, no. 334; Vinograd, Otzar Sifrei HaGra, no. 685.

Collection of five books by R. David HaKohen of Vilna, author of Ir David – printed in Jerusalem, in the 1880s.

R. David HaKohen, author of Ir David, lived in Jerusalem and printed several books in the 1870s-1880s composed of sentences which all have the numerical value of the year.

The books' purpose is clarified in the approbation of R. Yechiel Michel Pines to the 1886 part of Sukat David (not in the present volumes). Sick and unable to work, the author would make a living from his book with chronograms for the current year, which he was able to produce effortlessly.

See Hebrew description for a detailed list of books.

5 books. Varying size and condition. New bindings. The books have not been thoroughly examined, and are being sold as is.

Pirkei Heichalot, by the Tannaim R. Yishmael the High Priest and R. Akiva, and Testament of Naftali son of Jacob to his sons. Jerusalem: [Zichron Shlomo, established by the brothers Löwy, 1889]. Published for the first time from an ancient manuscript by R. Shlomo Aharon Wertheimer0

[1], 3-13 leaves. 20 cm. Fair-good condition. Stains. Tears and open tears to title page and other leaves, slightly affecting text. Stamps. New binding.

Sh. Halevy, no. 674.

"Anshei Emet ShePeulatan Emet VaTzedek…", a printed emissary letter calling for support for the Beit El kabbalistic yeshiva – with signatures of six rabbis and kabbalists of Jerusalem, and three stamps. Jerusalem: [Yoel Moshe Salomon, 1868].

Emissary letter and call for donations, addressed to donors, rabbis and philanthropists of Constantine (northeastern Algeria), for the emissary R. Avraham Chaim Penso, traveling on behalf of the Beit El kabbalistic yeshiva.

The letter is hand-signed by: R. Chaim David Chazan [the Chief Rabbi, son of the Chikrei Lev, immigrated from Izmir to Eretz Israel in 1855 and served as Chief Rabbi and Rishon LeTzion until his passing in 1869], R. Rachamim Chaim David Antebi [d. 1874], R. Chanoch Angel [d. 1885, father of R. Vidal Chanoch Angel, a leader of the Beit El yeshiva and head of the Jerusalem Beit Din, d. 1907], R. Yosef Bechor Vital [published some of the Shemonah Shearim by R. Chaim Vital in 1866], R. Yitzchak Kalamaro [partner of R. Yosef Bechor Vital in publication of the Shemonah Shearim], R. Aharon Refael Chaim Moshe Ferrera [author of Toldot Aharon UMoshe and other books; for more information on him see Lot 420].

Stamps: R. Chaim David Chazan, the Chief Rabbi; stamp of the yeshiva; and another stamp in the form of another individual's signature.

The Beit El kabbalistic yeshiva, also known as Midrash Chassidim or Kehal Chassidim, was founded in Jerusalem in 1737 by R. Gedalia Hayun, and was designated as a place for studying Kabbalah. Ever since, the kabbalists of Jerusalem have gathered to study there, directed by foremost kabbalists. Of particular prominence were R. Shalom Sharabi (the Rashash), who headed the yeshiva, and his successor R. Yom Tov Algazi. Reputedly, R. Gershon of Kitov, brother-in-law of the Baal Shem Tov, also studied there. Following the passing of R. Chaim Avraham Gagin in 1848, R. Yedidiah Refael Abulafia (1806-1869), was appointed in his stead, a position he held until his passing. R. Abulafia's disciples include the sons of Rebbe Moshe of Lelov; the Imrei Binah, Rabbi of Jerusalem (who, at R. Abulafia's advice, instituted the prohibition of playing musical instruments in Jerusalem); R. Shalom Moshe Chai Gagin, who succeeded him as dean of the Beit El yeshiva; and others. The kabbalists who signed this letter were among the elite of the yeshiva studying alongside R. Abulafia.

[1] double leaf. 30 cm. Good-fair condition. Stains and wear.

Sh. Halevy, no. 139.

Printed leaf from the Ashkenazic Perushim kollels in Jerusalem, report on travel expenses of emissaries to Russia and Siberia on behalf of the Bikur Cholim – Shelom Yerushalayim society. Jerusalem, Tevet 1868-1869 [end of 1868 or beginning of 1869].

Copy of accounts of Bikur Cholim – Shelom Yerushalayim society, with detailed listing of financial expenses of emissaries to inner Russia and Siberia – Yitzchak of Volozhin and Ze'ev Wolf of Slutsk.

On margins of leaf, stamp of the Ashkenazic Perushim kollel.

The Shelom Yerushalayim society was founded in Minsk in 1861 by the emissary of the Perushim society R. Moshe Chashin (Chaslowitzer), in order to raise funds in Russia on behalf of the Bikur Cholim society and an establishment of a Jewish hospital in Jerusalem, to prevent the dependence of the poor of Jerusalem on the hospital of the English mission. The hospital eventually opened in 1867.

26.5 cm. Good condition. Folding marks and light creases. Inkstains.

Rare. Not recorded by Sh. Halevy or NLI library.