Chiddushei HaRashba on Tractate Niddah, and Chiddushei HaRashbatz on Tractates Niddah and Kinnim. Metz, [1777]. With a handwritten booklet, containing the glosses of R. Betzalel Ronsburg of Prague, on Chiddushei HaRashbatz to Tractate Niddah. [Cheshvan 1786].
Copy of R. Betzalel Ronsburg. At the top of the title page of the printed book, his signature: " Belongs to me, Betzalel R.B." [Betzalel Ronsburg]. On the margins are some fifteen handwritten glosses and corrections. Several leaves in his handwriting are bound at the end of the book, with a signed preface dated 30th Cheshvan 1786, in which he writes that while studying Chiddushei HaRashbatz, he decided to compose a separate composition for his glosses, rather than recording them in the margins (on the first leaf of this copy of Chiddushei HaRashbatz, there are several glosses in his handwriting, and R. Betzalel Ronsburg presumably later decided to record his glosses as an independent composition).
In his noteworthy preface to this composition, R. Betzalel writes that " when I studied tractate Niddah, I also studied in depth the novellae of the Rashbatz to tractate Niddah", and occasionally succeeded " to relate to his teachings which required notations… and I first considered recording my comments in the margins of the page, but I worried that I may G-d forbid sometimes make a mistake… I therefore decided to designate an independent section for my thoughts… and to carefully review my words, to the best of my ability". He then notes that this is the first time he is studying this tractate: " This is my first time studying this tractate and I have never studied it before nor learned it from my teachers". The preface concludes with an interesting signature: "… these are the words of the smallest of the students, B.R.B. son of R. Y. R.B. [Betzalel Ronsburg son of R. Yoel Ronsburg], Tuesday, Rosh Chodesh Kislev 1786".
R. Betzalel composed his illustrious composition Pitchei Niddah on tractate Niddah in 1786-1806 (published under the title Chochmat Betzalel, Jerusalem 1957), and it covers all the commentaries and teachings of the Rishonim on the Talmudic topics of this tractate. In his preface to Pitchei Niddah, he relates that he only began studying tractate Niddah and its laws after his wedding: "…all the years I lived in the various yeshivot, it didn't work out for my teachers to teach this tractate, and therefore I hurried and didn't delay, as I desired and I finished it in two years… and in 1787-1788, I composed the Mahadura Kama of this work". This manuscript, from the end of Cheshvan 1786, precedes the writing of the Mahadura Kama of Pitchei Niddah, which was written after two years of studying tractate Niddah in 1787-1788, as he writes in his preface to the present manuscript: " This is my first time studying this tractate, I have never studied it before nor learned it from my teachers". R. Betzalel composed the Mahadura Batra of his book Pitchei Niddah in 1802-1806, and it remained in manuscript form for many years, until it was published by Mossad HaRav Kook in 1957. As soon as it was published, it became one of the basic books for studying tractate Niddah, and it has since been reprinted in several editions.
R. Betzalel Ronsburg (R.B.; 1762-1820), a leading rabbi of his generation and a Torah scholar of Prague. He was the close disciple of the Noda BiYehuda. In his preface to his book Horah Gaver, R. Betzalel mentions his teacher: "Every single Shabbat… I did not desist from hearing Torah from him" and in his responsa, he terms him "the greatest of the Acharonim". His books include: Horah Gaver on Tractate Horayot (the only book which was published in his lifetime). Many of his compositions and novellae were lost over the years, and in recent time, his composition Chochmat Betzalel – Pitchei Niddah, and his book of responsa were published. His glosses on the Talmud were printed in the Prague edition of the Talmud, and later in the Vilna edition, under the title Hagahot R. B. Ronsburg. His commentary to the Rosh – Sedeh Tzofim, is also printed in the Talmud editions.
Other inscriptions and signatures: on the front endpaper, an inscription recording the borrowing of the book: "This book was lent to me by R. Betzalel R.B.". Many signatures and stamps of R. David HaKohen Salzer (a rabbi and dayan in Munkacs).
[1], 33 leaves + booklet of [8] additional leaves, containing 5 handwritten pages. 20 cm. Good-fair condition. Large dampstains. Extensive wear. Minor tears. Damage to page corners (repaired with paper). Stamps. New leather binding.

Leaf (two written pages – 63 lines) handwritten by R. Moshe Sofer – the Chatam Sofer. [Mattersdorf, 1805].
Passages of a homily for 7th Adar, 1805, during the Chatam Sofer's tenure as rabbi of Mattersdorf. The heading on the first page reads "With the help of G-d, 7th Adar".
This leaf contains an explanation on the verses in which G-d instructs Moshe to throw his staff to the ground before Pharaoh, and it turned into a snake (Shemot 4:2-3); as well as the verse "and his wise men and Zeresh his wife said to him, if Mordechai, before whom you have begun to fall, is of Jewish stock, you will not prevail against him…" (Esther 6:13).
This homily was printed in Chatam Sofer – Derashot, Vol. I, pp. 335b-336a (Klausenberg 1929), under the heading: "Parashat Vayikra, homily for 7th Adar 1805".
[1] leaf (2 written pages, 63 autograph lines). 24 cm. Good condition. Stains.

Manuscript, Yemenite rite Tiklal siddur, with novellae and commentary by Rabbi Yitzchak (Mahari) Wanneh – prayers for every day, Shabbat, festivals, holidays and fast days. [Yemen, late 17th century or early 18th century].
Early Yemenite script (characteristic of the time of R. Shalom Shabazi), with predominantly supralinear vocalization. Leaves [182-186] and leaves [201-202] were replaced in later handwriting [ca. 19th century]. "Windows" with long commentaries were incorporated by the scribe into the text of most pages, titled "Chiddushin" ("Novellae") and "Perush" ("Commentary"). Most of these commentaries are attributed to Mahari Wanneh. The length of these commentaries (shortened in most copies of the Tiklal from that time) render this manuscript unique.
Several glosses, some long, in other Yemenite hands, containing additional commentary.
The manuscript contains: daily prayers, prayers for Shabbat, Pirkei Avot (with novellae), Tikun Shabbat Malkata, Tikunei Shabbat, songs for Shabbat and Motzei Shabbat, prayers for Rosh Chodesh and Passover, Passover Haggadah (with commentary by the Mahari Wanneh), prayers for Shavuot, Azharot of R. Shlomo ibn Gabirol, prayers for fast days, Megillat Eichah and Kinot, prayers for the High Holidays, Sukkot and Shemini Atzeret, Hoshaanot, prayer for rain, Hakafot and Piyyutim for Simchat Torah, prayers for Chanuka and Purim and Purim songs, Megillat Esther (with Tafsir), eulogies, Selichot, "Maranot", Seder HaAvodah of Yom Kippur (by R. Avraham ibn Ezra), blessings, leap years and calendar of the Tekufot, texts for Ketubot, Gittin and contracts.
[234] leaves, approx. 30 cm. Lacking leaves at the beginning, middle and end. Condition varies, fair to fair-poor. Slightly faded ink on many leaves. Many stains. Wear and tears, affecting text (paper repairs to margins of most leaves). Worming affecting text (repaired). New binding, with leather spine.
The manuscript is missing the beginning of the Tekufot calendars; they begin from the year 1730. Two of the leaves that were replaced in later handwriting (201-202) feature calendars of Tekufot beginning with 1868.

Mishneh Torah by the Rambam, with Hasagot HaRaavad and Maggid Mishneh, and the Kesef Mishneh commentary by R. Yosef Karo. Venice: Bragadin, 1574-1575. Complete set, four parts in four volumes. Separate title page for each part.
First edition of the Kesef Mishneh commentary, the majority of the volumes printed in the lifetime of the author. On the title pages of Parts I, II and III, R. Yosef Karo is mentioned as amongst the living; whilst on the title page of Part IV, he is already mentioned as deceased ("zatzal"). At the end of Part IV, there is a postface from the proofreader, R. Chizkiyah Fano, informing of the passing of the author R. Yosef Karo during the course of the printing (on 13th Nissan 1575). This is followed by a poem composed by R. Avraham Hayun, disciple of the author, in praise of the Kesef Mishneh composition.
All four volumes bear early signatures, ownership inscriptions and glosses by various writers:
The title page of Vol. III bears an ownership inscription in Yemenite script which appears to be the handwriting of the prominent Yemenite rabbi, R. Yichye Tzalach, the Maharitz: " Property of the synagogue of Yichye son of R. Yosef Tzalach, purchased from donations… the donors should merit Torah". Another ownership inscription on the title page: "…Yosef son of Sueliman Al-Iraqi… ". This volume also bears glosses in Sephardi script from the time of printing, by several writers (some glosses refer to the text of the Rambam while others refer to the words of the Kesef Mishneh). Several additional glosses in a Yemenite script (possibly in the handwriting of the Maharitz).
On the verso of the title page of Vol. IV is an ownership inscription in an early Sephardi script: "Purchased by Avraham son of R. Yehuda ibn Yaish" – possibly R. Avraham ibn Yaish, a prominent Constantinople sage that taught Torah in the community of expelled Jews in Bursa and exchanged responsa with R. Yosef Karo. M. Benayahu surmises that he may have immigrated to Safed to study Torah from R. Yosef Karo and from the Mabit (see: Benayahu, Yosef Bechiri, p. 320). This volume bears a few glosses in Sephardi script, by several writers, as well as a a signature on the title page, slightly trimmed: "This book belongs to Refael Yitzchak Yerushal[mi?]", possibly R. Refael Yitzchak Yerushalmi, an 18th century Constantinople dayan.
The title page of Vol. II bear signatures in Italian script: "…In 1771, this fell to my possession, Yisrael Pugliesi son of R. Shlomo", "Purchased by Shimon Yedidya, Yisrael and Matitia Yosef Pugliesi from their private funds". Several glosses in Italian script appear on the leaves of this volume, as well as an ownership inscription on the last page in square script: "G-d has merited me to complete this second part here in Casale, so He should grant me the merit to complete the other books, and above all, G-d should grant me the merit to immigrate to Jerusalem my birthplace… Ch.D.Sh.".
An inscription in Italian script appears on the title page of Vol. I: "…the derogatory words about pagans do not refer to Christians" (Benayahu in Haskama UReshut BiDefusei Venetzia, p. 192, notes that this inscription, which appears in several books, was written by an apostate censor). An Italian censor signature appears alongside this inscription. One leaf bears a gloss in Italian script.
Four volumes. Vol. I: [22], 316 leaves. Vol. II: [10], 217, [1] leaves. Vol. III: [20], 451 leaves. Lacking [1] final leaf. Vol IV: [10], 297, [9] leaves. Approx. 29 cm. Condition varies. Stains. Worming. Vol. I and Vol. II in overall fair condition. Vol. I: Extensive dampstains and traces of past dampness to title page and additional leaves with many signs of mildew. Tears repaired with paper to last leaves. Vol. II: Worming in many places, at times affecting text. Vol. III and Vol. IV are in overall good-fair condition. Repaired tears to title page of Vol. III (the title page is mounted on paper for reinforcement concealing the illustration on verso). Dampstains to last leaves. Vol. IV is printed on light-colored high-quality paper. Worming. Minor traces of past dampness. Stamps to some of the volumes. New, uniform bindings.