Maamar Baruch SheAsah Nisim (5664), with two dollar bills for charity, distributed by Rebbe Menachem Mendel Schneerson, the Lubavitcher Rebbe. Brooklyn, New York: Kehot Publication Society, 1991. "Forty years of the Rebbe's leadership".

The discourse Baruch SheAsah Nisim was delivered by the Rebbe Rashab on Tuesday, eve of 20th Kislev 1903, and was recorded in writing by his son, the Rebbe Rayatz, with additional explanations. The discourse was first printed in this booklet, directly from the manuscript of the Rayatz, on the occasion of 10th Shevat – the yahrzeit of the Rebbe Rayatz and the day the Lubavitcher Rebbe took on the mantle of leadership. The booklets were distributed by the Rebbe along with two dollar bills for charity. Inscription on title page and margins of both dollar bills: "From the hand of the Rebbe".

The distribution ceremony of the present booklet is described in Kovetz LeChizuk HaHitkashrut – 29 (pp. 47-48). The Rebbe returned from the gravesite of the Rayatz and led the Maariv prayer, where the synagogue was especially crowded in anticipation of the distribution. The distribution was officially announced and took place next to the Rebbe's room for about three and a half hours.

Maamar Baruch SheAsah Nisim is a discourse by the Rebbe Rashab on the blessing SheAsah Nisim delivered in 1903. The fine binding is dated "10th Shevat, 1991". The discourse contains an in-depth explanation on the deeper meaning of the concept of miracles, and explains at length the difference between the revelation of divinity in supernatural miracles and in miracles concealed in nature, along with other foundational Chassidic concepts.

20 pages. 22.5 cm. Light green wrapper. Booklet and dollar bills in good condition.

Sod Hashem with Sharvit HaZahav, prayers, halachot and customs of circumcision, by R. David of Lida, with halachot in Yiddish. Amsterdam: Shlomo Proops, 1709.

After the printed book appears a handwritten mohel ledger (on the blank leaves originally bound with the book to that end). The ledger begins with prayers, in neat handwriting (square and vocalized), with colophon at end of prayers, dated 1722, "[Shmuel] HaLevi son of the official R. Shimshon Segal, written by Yisrael the Sofer Stam". Next are inscriptions of 40 circumcisions performed by the mohel, from 1722 to 1725, evidently in the Ashkenazic community of Amsterdam.

On blank leaf after printed book (before mohel ledger), family inscriptions of birth and death dates, dated 1797-1803.

Sod Hashem: 32 leaves. Mohel ledger: [13] leaves. Approx. 15 cm. Good condition. Stains. Original parchment binding, with stains and light defects.

Bookplate of Mozes Heiman Gans.

Sod Hashem with Sharvit HaZahav, prayers, halachot and customs of circumcision, by R. David of Lida, with halachot in Yiddish. Amsterdam: Shlomo Proops, 1709.

After the printed book appears a handwritten mohel ledger (on the blank leaves originally bound with the book to that end). The ledger documents 331 circumcisions performed by the mohel R. Michael Frankel in Hanau, Germany. R. Michael was the son of R. Binyamin Frankel, Rabbi of Hanau, and a disciple of R. Moshe Tuviah of Sontheim, who succeeded R. Binyamin as Rabbi and is mentioned several times in the ledger.

The first page contains the signature of the mohel: "Michael son of… R. Binyamin" and an introductory inscription, relating that he studied circumcision under the Rabbi of the city R. Moshe Tuviah of Sontheim. R. Moshe Tuviah of Sontheim is mentioned several times in the inscriptions as assisting in circumcision. The present inscriptions also include hundreds of names, dates and genealogical details of distinguished German families, particularly those of Hanau and the region.

The inscriptions include many events, personal details and expressions relating to the number of the circumcision.

Inscription no. 155, dated 15th Cheshvan 1813, contains a lengthy description of the Battle of Hanau when it was besieged by Napoleon, describing three days of warfare, the battle on the Kinzig, and cannons shot into the Jewish quarter, burning many homes until the fire subsided. He praises G-d for the miraculous salvation from the fire and from the looting by enemy soldiers.

On front endpaper, several inscriptions (in the handwriting of the same mohel), mostly in Yiddish. The first: "Cures for the mohel".

Signature on title page of Sod Hashem.

Sod Hashem: 32 leaves. Mohel ledger: [34] leaves. 15 cm. Overall fair condition. Some leaves in Sod Hashem in fair-poor condition. Stains, including dark stains. Heavy stains to leaves of Sod Hashem, affecting text in several places. Wear and several tears. Original binding, with wear and defects.

Bookplate of Mozes Heiman Gans.

Handwritten notebook, by an unidentified writer, Talmudic and Torah novellae in the name of R. Baruch Frankel, Rabbi of Leipnik, author of Baruch Taam, and R. Tzvi Hirsch Heller, Rabbi of Bonyhád, author of Tiv Gittin. [Central Europe, ca. 1826-1932].

Ashkenazic cursive script, with lengthy glosses and additions to margin [critique by another writer].

The writer appears to be a disciple of the Baruch Taam, mentioning him with a blessing for the living. The manuscript includes copyings from his illustrious teacher's manuscripts and sermons delivered orally by R. Baruch Frankel in his yeshiva and community.

Most copyings were later printed as part of the works Baruch Taam, Ateret Chachamim, and the Talmudic novellae of R. Baruch Frankel. Some of the sermons and lectures in the present manuscript appear to have never been printed, while others have been printed with variations.

The notebook also quotes novellae of other rabbis of his generation, including the "Rabbi of Halberstadt" (p. [40]) and "R. Tzvi Hirsch Rabbi of Bonyhád" (pp. [42]-[43]).

R. Baruch Fränkel-Teomim, Rabbi of Leipnik (1760-1828), author of Baruch Taam. A prominent leader of his generation, he was renowned for his brilliance and wit. He was a disciple of R. David Tevele of Lissa and R. Meshulam Igra. At the age of 19, he was appointed rabbi of Vishnitza (Nowy Wiśnicz), and following the passing of R. Binyamin Wolf Eger, he was summoned to succeed him as rabbi of Leipnik (Lipník nad Bečvou), a position he held for some thirty years.

R. Tzvi Hirsch Heller (1776-1835), leading Hungarian rabbi, known as "R. Hirsch Charif" for his brilliance and sharp wit. He served as rabbi of Brigel, Galicia (present-day Brzesko, Poland), and later as prominent yeshiva dean in Brody. He was compelled to flee the city after he was informed on, whereupon he reached Hungary and served as rabbi of Bonyhád, Ungvár (Uzhhorod) and Óbuda (Budapest). He edified prominent disciples, including Rebbe Tzvi Hirsch of Liska and R. Shlomo Ganzfried, author of Kitzur Shulchan Aruch. He authored Chidushei Tiv Gittin and other works. His widow married the Chatam Sofer [who apparently brought part of his library with her to her second husband].

The present manuscript was written in the lifetime of R. Tzvi Hirsch Charif, and was apparently written during his tenure as Rabbi of Bonyhád, before he moved to Ungvár in 1832.

23, [24-51] pages. 22 cm. Fair condition. Many stains and traces of former dampness. Wear and tears. Worming. Dark stains and fading of ink to first and last leaves. Without binding.

Notebook handwritten by R. Shmuel Rozovsky, Torah novellae on Tractate Bava Metzia chapters 2-3. [Eretz Israel, ca. 1945-1950].

On first page, handwritten inscription by a family member: "Manuscript of my father, apparently from the beginning of his Ponevezh period", noting to check whether there are additions not printed in Shiurei R. Shmuel on Bava Metzia. Another handwritten inscription on the cover mentions the name of his father R. Shmuel.

Notes on various topics, written over a long period. Autograph writing, with additions and deletions. Discusses extensively the comments of Rishonim and Acharonim on the topics dealt with, including the Rosh, the Shitah Mekubetzet, the Noda BiYehudah, the Machaneh Efraim, the Minchat Chinuch, his teacher the Shaarei Yosher and others.

R. Shmuel Rozovsky (1913-1979) was the son of R. Michel David Rozovsky, a rabbi in Grodno (1869-1935). He studied under R. Shimon Shkop in the Shaar HaTorah yeshiva in Grodno (his hometown), in the Mir yeshiva in Poland and in the Lomza yeshiva in Petach Tikva. He was the son-in-law of R. Tzvi Pesach Frank, Rabbi of Jerusalem. He served as lecturer in the Lomza yeshiva as a young man. In Kislev 1943 he moved over with his disciples to the newly founded Ponevezh yeshiva in Bnei Brak, and was the first lecturer in the Ponevezh yeshiva. His lectures were the focal point of the Ponevezh yeshiva, where he transmitted the Torah of the Lithuanian yeshivot to the new generation in Eretz Israel. His impact on the Torah world in our times was highly significant, and until this day the lectures in most yeshivot are based on the principles and approaches of R. Shmuel, which he absorbed from his teachers in the Grodno yeshiva and in the yeshivas in Lithuania.

Already in his lifetime, his lectures were published based on his students' notes, which were photocopied and printed in various mimeograph editions. After his passing, his novellae and lectures were edited by his descendants and leading disciples, and published in Chidushei Rabbi Shmuel, Shiurei Rabbi Shmuel and Zichron Shmuel. When compiling these books, they mainly used the notes which his disciples took during the lectures, referring only minimally to R. Shmuel's own manuscripts, since he wrote very little of his own notes. Thus, most of his teachings were transmitted through his disciples' oral and written records.

Small-format notebook. 16 cm. [19] written pages, and more blank pages. Good condition. Open tears to blank leaves. Original Bristol wrapper.