Volume comprising two kabbalistic books printed in Jerusalem by R. Aharon Refael Chaim Ferrera, a Torah scholar of the Beit El yeshiva:

• Toldot Aharon UMoshe and Efer Yitzchak, kabbalistic responsa by R. Aharon Refael Chaim Ferrera. Jerusalem: [R. Yisrael Bak, 1870 / Tennenbaum and Lilienthal, 1888]. After title page, [3] pages with prayer for livelihood and Parashat HaMan.

• Tomer Devorah by R. Moshe Cordovero – the Ramak. With Efer Yitzchak, on kabbalah, by R. Aharon Refael Chaim Moshe Ferrera. Jerusalem: R. Yisrael Bak, 1870.

In center of first title page, dedication in square and calligraphic script by author's son: "A first-fruits gift to… R. Matitiah – from me, servant of G-d, Yitzchak Moshe Ferrera".

The author,
R. Aharon Refael Moshe Ferrera (d. 1887), son of R. Yitzchak Ferrera of Salonika, immigrated to Eretz Israel in 1848, becoming one of the outstanding kabbalists of the Beit El and Chesed El yeshivas. He often signed alongside the rabbis of Jerusalem.

His son,
R. Yitzchak Moshe Ferrera (ca. 1840-1917), immigrated as a child from Salonika to Jerusalem together with his father. He was an outstanding kabbalist of the Beit El yeshiva. He would deliver sermons every night in the yeshiva for laymen in the Old City. He was one of the scribes of the Beit El yeshiva for kabbalists, copying the kabbalistic works of the Rashash and of his father. He earned a living from writing amulets. He authored several ethical works in Ladino, and published his father's Me'il Kodesh UBigdei Yesha (Jerusalem, 1888), adding his profound kabbalistic comments.

[2], 52 leaves; [8], 9-30 leaves. 29 cm. Good-fair condition. Stains, wear and tears. Marginal open tears to several leaves, not affecting text. New leather binding.

Sh. Halevy, no. 163, 164.

Includes the [2] rare leaves, with the first title page and three pages with prayer for livelihood, which do not appear in most copies.

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.