Manuscript, halachic responsum on the matter of scribal writing of the letter Vav Keti'a in Parshat Pinchas, signed by four Modena rabbis (Italy): Rabbi Menashe Yehoshua son of Rabbi Yehuda Matzliach Padua, Rabbi Moshe Lifschitz, Rabbi Avraham Chai son of Rabbi Netanel Gratziano and Rabbi Yitzchak son of Rabbi Moshe Parmigiani. [Modena, c. 1744]. An argument regarding the writing of the letter Vav of "Briti Shalom" in Parshat Pinchas spread in rabbinic circles in Italy in 1744. The affair began after one of the Rovigo rabbis invalidated a Torah scroll in which the letter Vav in the verse "Briti Shalom" was written like the rest of the letters Vav in the Torah and was not shortened as traditionally done. The question was submitted to Venice rabbis and opinions were divided. Ferrara and Amsterdam rabbis were also involved in the controversy. See enclosed material – article by Rabbi S. Chassida, "Pamphlet on the law of the Vav Keti'a of Shalom", Moriah, Issues 339-340, 2008, pp. 29-56. This responsum is unknown and was not printed in the aforementioned pamphlet. The rabbis who signed the responsum were leading Italian Torah scholars in the first half of the 18th century. The first signature belongs to Rabbi Menashe Yehoshua Padua Rabbi of Modena (c. 1690-1750), son-in-law of the Rabach and brother-in-law of Rabbi Yeshaya Bassan. [His name is mentioned in letters regarding the polemic surrounding the Ramchal a few years previously]. Succeeded his father - Rabbi Yehuda Matzliach - in the Modena rabbinate. Rabbi Menashe Yehoshua Padua signed together with Rabbi Avraham Chai Gratziano an approbation from 1741 to Or HaChaim on the Torah, printed in Venice in 1742. The second signature is by Rabbi Moshe Hirsh Lifschitz (died in 1755), who immigrated to Italy from Chęciny, Poland and taught Torah in Modena. In his books, the Chida quotes Rabbi Lifschitz. For example, in his book Ma’agal Tov, the Chida writes that Rabbi Yishmael HaCohen of Modena showed him various manuscripts including manuscripts of “R’ Moshe Lifschitz of Chęciny”, among which was “a remarkable book on practical kabbalah”. Other signatures by Rabbi Avraham Chai Gratziani and Rabbi Yitzchak Parmigiani, who signed many printed halachic rulings of Modena rabbis. Rabbi Yitzchak Parmigiani later served as Rabbi of Trieste, lived to an old age and died in 1798. Leaf 23 cm. High-quality paper, good-fair condition, stains and wear, burn marks to leaf corners. Provenance: Collection of David Frankel, NY. See page 137.

Manuscript, Piyyutim, songs, and poems of the Cuneo community and its region, written by Refael David Lattes. [Cuneo, Italy], 1792. Contains many Piyyutim for the High Holidays and for the Three Festivals, and Seder Hoshana Raba. Special Piyyutim composed for the Cuneo community and its region: · Poem of the Talmud Torah Society. · Poem for the time of siege" written in 1799 in honor of the salvation of the community during the Napoleon wars, celebrated every year like a second Purim. It is called Purim della bomba (Purim of the bomb). [For more details see Kedem Catalog no. 48, Item 16]. · Poem of the Gemilut Chassadim Society. · Miracle of the 1755 fire. · Poem for the Spanish festival. · Poem for the French festival. Colophon on the last page: “Up until here I have written, Refael David son of R’ Binyamin Chai Lattes…Completed on the 22nd of Adar 1792”. Ownership inscription: “Yitzchak Lattes Ibn Mordechai”, “Chananel ebn Yitzchak Lattes”, etc. [9], 21, [31] leaves. Heavy high-quality paper, 20.5 cm. Good condition. Stains, light wear. Several detached leaves. Contemporary worn leather binding.