Auction 103 Part 2 Early Printed Books | Sabbateanism and Crypto-Jews of Spain and Portugal | Chassidut and Kabbalah | Books Printed in Slavita and Jerusalem | Letters and Manuscripts
Sep 2, 2025
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![Zohar, three parts. Slavita: R. Moshe Shapira, [1815]. Complete three-volume set.
Some words on title page in red ink](https://files.kedem-auctions.com/files/Sale103/364_1.jpg "Zohar – Slavita, 1815 – Three-Volume Set – Printed by Rabbi Moshe Shap")
![Zohar, three parts. Slavita: R. Moshe Shapira, [1815]. Complete three-volume set.
Some words on title page in red ink](https://files.kedem-auctions.com/files/Sale103/364_2.jpg "Zohar – Slavita, 1815 – Three-Volume Set – Printed by Rabbi Moshe Shap")
![Zohar, three parts. Slavita: R. Moshe Shapira, [1815]. Complete three-volume set.
Some words on title page in red ink](https://files.kedem-auctions.com/files/Sale103/364_3.jpg "Zohar – Slavita, 1815 – Three-Volume Set – Printed by Rabbi Moshe Shap")
Auction 103 Part 2 Early Printed Books | Sabbateanism and Crypto-Jews of Spain and Portugal | Chassidut and Kabbalah | Books Printed in Slavita and Jerusalem | Letters and Manuscripts
Sep 2, 2025
Opening: $8,000
Sold for: $21,250
Including buyer's premium
Zohar, three parts. Slavita: R. Moshe Shapira, [1815]. Complete three-volume set.
Some words on title page in red ink.
The present set is in the earlier small format (a large-format Zohar was printed at a later time by the printer's son).
Ownership inscription, signatures and stamps.
Three volumes. Volume I (Bereshit): [3], 253, 253-256, [8] leaves. Volume II (Shemot): 269, [3] leaves. Volume III (Vayikra-Devarim): 115; [1], 117-299, [1] leaves. 19.5 cm. Varying condition; volumes I-II in overall fair-good condition, volume III in fair condition. Stains, including dampstains (mainly to volume III). Wear. Tears and open tears, slightly affecting text. On one leaf in first volume, open tear to center of leaf, affecting text, repaired with paper filling (with handwritten text replacement). Worming, affecting text (in volume III, large hole to many leaves). Stamps and handwritten inscriptions. Title page of volume III detached. Early leather bindings, with defects, much wear and worming.
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.
Category
Slavita and Zhitomir Presses, and Books Printed in Russia-Poland
Catalogue Value
![Tikunei Zohar. Slavita: R. Moshe Shapira, [1821].
Title page printed in red and black.
An edition intended for th](https://files.kedem-auctions.com/files/Sale103/365.jpg "Tikunei Zohar – Printed by Rabbi Moshe Shapira – Slavita, 1821 – Wide")
Auction 103 Part 2 Early Printed Books | Sabbateanism and Crypto-Jews of Spain and Portugal | Chassidut and Kabbalah | Books Printed in Slavita and Jerusalem | Letters and Manuscripts
Sep 2, 2025
Opening: $3,500
Sold for: $8,750
Including buyer's premium
Tikunei Zohar. Slavita: R. Moshe Shapira, [1821].
Title page printed in red and black.
An edition intended for those who follow the custom of studying Tikunei HaZohar over the forty days from Rosh Chodesh Elul through Yom Kippur. The chapter headings include references to the daily study schedule.
Gloss on p. 49b (of second sequence).
50, 49-154 leaves. Approx. 22 cm. Wide margins. Bluish paper. Good-fair condition. Stains, including dampstains and wax stains. Worming to margins of some leaves, partially repaired with paper. Small marginal tear to title page and small tears to other leaves, partially repaired with paper. Stamp and censorship inscriptions on verso of title page. Color edges. New binding, with defects.
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.
Category
Slavita and Zhitomir Presses, and Books Printed in Russia-Poland
Catalogue Value
Auction 103 Part 2 Early Printed Books | Sabbateanism and Crypto-Jews of Spain and Portugal | Chassidut and Kabbalah | Books Printed in Slavita and Jerusalem | Letters and Manuscripts
Sep 2, 2025
Opening: $3,500
Sold for: $7,500
Including buyer's premium
Tikun Leil Shavuot and Hoshana Rabba, based on the Shlah, with Kavanot from the Arizal. Slavita: R. Shmuel Avraham Shapira, son of the Rabbi of Slavita, 1827.
Some words on title page printed in red ink.
[2], 165 leaves. 20.5 cm. Bluish paper. Good-fair condition. Stains, including dampstains and wax stains. Tears to title page, repaired with tape, and marginal tears to several other leaves. Worming and small open tears to several leaves, slightly affecting text. New binding, worn and slightly loose.
Another edition was printed concurrently, with [2], 135 leaves. The present edition has known variants between copies in details of censor's name and slight typographical variants (see Bibliography of the Hebrew Book, listing 000303939).
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.
Category
Slavita and Zhitomir Presses, and Books Printed in Russia-Poland
Catalogue Value
![Chok LeYisrael, with Yosef LeChok by the Chida. Slavita: R. Shmuel Avraham Shapira, [1825-1826]. Complete five-volume set.](https://files.kedem-auctions.com/files/Sale103/367_1.jpg "Chok LeYisrael – Slavita, 1825-1826 – Complete Set – First Edition of")
![Chok LeYisrael, with Yosef LeChok by the Chida. Slavita: R. Shmuel Avraham Shapira, [1825-1826]. Complete five-volume set.](https://files.kedem-auctions.com/files/Sale103/367_2.jpg "Chok LeYisrael – Slavita, 1825-1826 – Complete Set – First Edition of")
Auction 103 Part 2 Early Printed Books | Sabbateanism and Crypto-Jews of Spain and Portugal | Chassidut and Kabbalah | Books Printed in Slavita and Jerusalem | Letters and Manuscripts
Sep 2, 2025
Opening: $4,500
Sold for: $11,250
Including buyer's premium
Chok LeYisrael, with Yosef LeChok by the Chida. Slavita: R. Shmuel Avraham Shapira, [1825-1826]. Complete five-volume set.
This is the first edition of Chok LeYisrael printed in Slavita. This edition bears the approbations of prominent Chassidic leaders: R. Mordechai of Chernobyl, the Ohev Yisrael of Apta, R. Yitzchak of Radvil and R. Avraham Dov of Ovritsh.
One of the noteworthy approbations to this edition was accorded by R. Chaim HaKohen, a Torah scholar of Vilna, later Rabbi of Pinsk. In his approbation, he refers to the Ohev Yisrael of Apta (who also gave his approbation to this book) with great admiration.
Some words on title page in red ink.
Title page decorations and initial panels of most volumes hand-drawn in various colors.
Signatures of R. Yosef Pinchas Krengel of Cracow (1816-1910), a philanthropist and follower of the Tiferet Shlomo of Radomsk; signatures of his son R. Menachem Mendel Krengel, preacher and posek in Cracow and author; additional ownership inscriptions and stamps.
Five volumes. Bereshit: [8], 266, [1] leaves. Shemot: 258 leaves. Vayikra: 6, 5-232 leaves. Bamidbar: 226 leaves. Devarim: [2], 256, [2] leaves. 18.5-19 cm. Varying condition of volumes; volumes I, IV and V in good-fair condition, volumes II and III in fair-good to fair condition. Stains, many stains to some leaves. Wear. Worming to some volumes, affecting text (mainly in volume III). Tears and open tears, including small marginal tears to some title pages, slightly affecting text in several places. Handwritten stamps and inscriptions. Early leather bindings (first volume in a different leather binding), with defects, worming, wear and many tears (spine of volume V lacking entirely).
The Significance and Segulah of Reciting Chok LeYisrael Daily
The custom of reciting passages daily from the Bible, Mishnah, Talmud and Zohar was established by the Arizal, who observed this custom himself. The order printed in Chok LeYisrael is for the most part based on the writings of the Arizal in various places. The Chida added to this regimen daily halachic passages, taken from the Rambam's Mishneh Torah and Shulchan Aruch, as well as passages from ethical books. The Chida's additions are called Yosef LaChok. The purpose of the Chok LeYisrael order of study, as explained in the writings of the Arizal, is both for the perfection and tikkun of the soul, nourishing it through the study of the various parts of the Torah, and for effecting tikkunim and yichudim in the upper spheres.
Many prominent Chassidic leaders, especially the Tzaddikim of the Chernobyl dynasty, spoke in sublime terms of the segulah of the Chok LeYisrael study regimen, and attested that it provides a tikkun for sins in matters of holiness. Rebbe Yisrael Dov of Vilednik writes in his book She'erit Yisrael (Shaar HaShovavim, homily 1) that studying Chok LeYisrael serves as Tikkun HaBrit, "as I received from my master [Rebbe Mordechai of Chernobyl], that true tikkun is achieved by attaching oneself to both the Written and Oral Law, through Chok LeYisrael… and therefore in these times with the approach of the Messiah, the Yosef LaChok book has been published, authored by the Chida, disciple of R. Chaim ibn Attar, the Or HaChaim, who embodies the lights of both Mashiach ben David and Mashiach ben Yosef, akin to the kabbalistic concept of an all-encompassing Tzaddik capable of effecting a tikkun for the imperfections of the entire Jewish people".
Rebbe Avraham of Trisk, son of Rebbe Mordechai of Chernobyl, writes: "And following the prayers, one should recite Chok LeYisrael, every single day unfailingly… and through this he causes G-d to be filled with mercy for the Jewish people" (Magen Avraham, 96a).
Great rabbis of previous generations have spoken of great segulot attained by reciting Chok LeYisrael. Some wrote that it is also a segulah for livelihood (the Rebbe of Shinova is said to have based this on the statement of the Talmud, "Chok means sustenance").
R. Yaakov Rokeach, in his foreword Maaseh Rokeach to Chok LeYisrael, wrote: "It is a mitzvah for every Jew to buy himself a Chok LeYisrael, to read from it every day…".
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.
Category
Slavita and Zhitomir Presses, and Books Printed in Russia-Poland
Catalogue Value
Auction 103 Part 2 Early Printed Books | Sabbateanism and Crypto-Jews of Spain and Portugal | Chassidut and Kabbalah | Books Printed in Slavita and Jerusalem | Letters and Manuscripts
Sep 2, 2025
Opening: $27,000
Sold for: $60,000
Including buyer's premium
Five Books of the Torah, with Targumim and commentaries, and with the Or HaChaim commentary by R. Chaim ibn Attar. Slavita: R. Shmuel Avraham Shapira, son of the Rabbi of Slavita, [1824-1825]. Complete five-volume set.
Some words on title page in red.
The first volume contains approbations by Rebbe Avraham Yehoshua Heshel of Apta, R. Mordechai Margaliot of Brody, R. Yitzchak Eizik of Berditchev, R. Chaim HaKohen of Pinsk and R. Efraim Wohl of Sudylkiv. All approbations were granted to R. Moshe Shapira, father of the printer.
Title page of Bereshit dated 1825; title pages of other parts dated 1824.
The Or HaChaim commentary is printed alongside the commentary of Rashi and the Aramaic Targumim: Onkelos, Yonatan ben Uziel and Targum Yerushalmi. Includes Five Megillot.
Chassidic leaders profusely extol the holiness of the Or HaChaim. The Baal Shem Tov said that every night the Or HaChaim hears Torah directly from G-d and he "was among those who have plunged the depths of the Merkavah and the revelation of souls, and has risen to the level of true divine inspiration". He said further that when his own soul ascends each night, he sees that of all the tzaddikim, only R. Chaim ibn Attar precedes him in the ascent, and all his efforts to overtake him were unsuccessful. Reputedly, the reason the Baal Shem Tov attempted to immigrate to Eretz Israel was in order to meet R. Chaim ibn Attar, who was "a spark of Mashiach", to thereby bring about the redemption.
Five volumes. Bereshit: 82, 89-196 leaves. Shemot: 182; 23, [1] leaves. Vayikra: 144 leaves. Bamidbar: 162 leaves. Devarim: 132; 26 leaves. 25-26.5 cm. Bluish paper. Varying condition of volumes, fair to fair-good. Stains, including dampstains (dark stains to title page of Shemot and other places; wax stains in several places). Wear. Tears and open tears to some title pages and other places, affecting text, partially repaired with paper. Large open tear to margins of last leaf of first volume, not affecting text. Worming, affecting text (worming to inner margins in several places). Inscriptions and stamps. Early bindings, with wear and defects, worming in many places and open tears to spines (volume II has only back binding, detached).
Printing the Or HaChaim in Slavita at the Directive of R. Pinchas of Korets, as a Segulah for Protection
The story goes that "R. Pinchas of Korets… instructed his sons [R. Moshe Shapira Rabbi of Slavita, and his brother R. Yechezkel Shapira, who was also involved in the establishment of the Slavita printing press] to print the Or HaChaim every year… that they might thereby be saved from calamity and misfortune, and they fulfilled his directive. But after the books of the Or HaChaim became so prevalent that they could no longer find buyers for them, they stopped printing them, and that year the infamous slander and misfortune occurred" (Migdal Oz, p. 268). (Today, only seven editions of the Slavita Or HaChaim Chumash are bibliographically known, printed between 1791-1832).
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.
Category
Slavita and Zhitomir Presses, and Books Printed in Russia-Poland
Catalogue Value
Auction 103 Part 2 Early Printed Books | Sabbateanism and Crypto-Jews of Spain and Portugal | Chassidut and Kabbalah | Books Printed in Slavita and Jerusalem | Letters and Manuscripts
Sep 2, 2025
Opening: $1,800
Sold for: $4,750
Including buyer's premium
Mishnah – Seder Zeraim, with commentaries of R. Ovadiah of Bartenura and the Tosafot Yom Tov, with Tosafot Chadashim, with selected novellae by Rebbe Levi Yitzchak of Berditchev. Slavita: R. Moshe Shapira, [1830]. On title page: 1828.
Some words on title page printed in red.
Ownership inscriptions on title page and endpapers.
Lengthy inscription continuing from leaves 14-22.
[4], 132 leaves. 26.5 cm. Fair condition. Stains, including light traces of former dampness, and wax stains. Much wear. Marginal tears and open tears to some leaves (not affecting text). Worming to several leaves, affecting text. Inscriptions and signatures. Original leather binding, with wear and defects.
Seder Zeraim of this Mishnah edition is recorded in the Bibliography of the Hebrew Book, but not in the NLI catalog.
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.
Category
Slavita and Zhitomir Presses, and Books Printed in Russia-Poland
Catalogue Value
Auction 103 Part 2 Early Printed Books | Sabbateanism and Crypto-Jews of Spain and Portugal | Chassidut and Kabbalah | Books Printed in Slavita and Jerusalem | Letters and Manuscripts
Sep 2, 2025
Opening: $3,000
Sold for: $3,750
Including buyer's premium
Zohar, Bereshit-Devarim. Zhitomir: R. Chanina Lipa and R. Yehoshua Heshel Shapira, grandsons of the Rabbi of Slavita, 1863. Complete three-volume set.
Handwritten inscriptions. In second volume (on leaf after title page), signature of kabbalist R. Aharon Slotky.
Three volumes. Volume I (Bereshit): [4], 251, 13, 13-16 leaves. Volume II (Shemot): [1], 1, 3-280 leaves. Volume III (Vayikra-Devarim): 115; [1], 117-309, 11 leaves. 19.5-20 cm. Overall good-fair condition. Stains, including dampstains and dark stains. Marginal tears and open tears to several leaves (including open tear to title page of volume II, not affecting text, repaired with paper). Worming, slightly affecting text (including one title page), partially repaired with paper. Stamp on third volume, and handwritten inscriptions. New bindings.
Category
Slavita and Zhitomir Presses, and Books Printed in Russia-Poland
Catalogue Value
Auction 103 Part 2 Early Printed Books | Sabbateanism and Crypto-Jews of Spain and Portugal | Chassidut and Kabbalah | Books Printed in Slavita and Jerusalem | Letters and Manuscripts
Sep 2, 2025
Opening: $300
Sold for: $1,000
Including buyer's premium
Torat Kohanim, Shulchan Aruch Choshen Mishpat, Parts I-II, with commentators. Zhitomir: R. Chanina Lipa and R. Yehoshua Heshel Shapiro, grandsons of the Rabbi of Slavita, 1856. Two volumes.
Two title pages for each part. Some words on title pages printed in red ink.
In first volume: tens of handwritten glosses, lengthy and short.
In second volume: ownership stamp of R. "Yehudah Leib Chaikin – dayan and posek in Babruysk".
R. Yehudah Leib Chaikin ("Yudel the dayan") was the dayan of the Chabad community of Babruysk in the 1910s-1920s. Posek in the Beit Din of Rebbe Shemaryahu Noach Schneersohn, Rabbi of Babruysk (grandson of the Tzemach Tzedek of Lubavitch).
Two volumes. Part I: 556; 25 pages. Part II: 528 pages. 37.5-38 cm. Overall fair-good condition. Many stains, including dampstains (especially to first volume). Wear. Tears, including many marginal open tears to title page and other leaves of first volume (bordering text). Worming, affecting text (mainly to second volume). Old bindings, with defects.
Part II, and index leaves at end of Part I, not recorded in NLI library.
Category
Slavita and Zhitomir Presses, and Books Printed in Russia-Poland
Catalogue Value
Auction 103 Part 2 Early Printed Books | Sabbateanism and Crypto-Jews of Spain and Portugal | Chassidut and Kabbalah | Books Printed in Slavita and Jerusalem | Letters and Manuscripts
Sep 2, 2025
Opening: $250
Sold for: $1,625
Including buyer's premium
Collection of books printed in Russia-Poland (present-day Ukraine) between 1817 and 1906 – Berditchev, Mohyliv, Zhitomir, Ostroh and more.
See Hebrew description for a detailed list of books.
16 volumes. Varying size and condition. Signatures, stamps and ownership inscriptions. New bindings. The books have not been thoroughly examined, and are being sold as is.
Category
Slavita and Zhitomir Presses, and Books Printed in Russia-Poland
Catalogue Value