Auction 72 - Rare and Important Items
Displaying 13 - 14 of 14
![Responsa on Even HaEzer (of the Shulchan Aruch), by R. Shmuel de Medina (Maharashdam). Salonika: Avraham Yosef Basevi, [1594]](https://files.kedem-auctions.com/files/Sale72-public/140_1.jpg "Responsa of the Maharashdam – Salonika, 1594 – Gloss in the Handwritin")
![Responsa on Even HaEzer (of the Shulchan Aruch), by R. Shmuel de Medina (Maharashdam). Salonika: Avraham Yosef Basevi, [1594]](https://files.kedem-auctions.com/files/Sale72-public/140_2.jpg "Responsa of the Maharashdam – Salonika, 1594 – Gloss in the Handwritin")
Auction 72 - Rare and Important Items
July 7, 2020
Opening: $5,000
Estimate: $10,000 - $15,000
Sold for: $10,625
Including buyer's premium
Responsa on Even HaEzer (of the Shulchan Aruch), by R. Shmuel de Medina (Maharashdam). Salonika: Avraham Yosef Basevi, [1594]. First edition.
Page 53b bears a long handwritten scholarly gloss, identified as that of R. Akiva Eger. The gloss deals with the topic of "safek sefeka".
The title page bears the signature of R. Akiva Eger's son-in-law, R. "Zeev Wolf Schiff of Wolsztyn" (who possessed an extensive library of books and manuscripts used on occasion by his father-in-law, see below).
The responsa of the Maharashdam were very favored by R. Akiva Eger, as evident from the many times they are cited in his works. To the best of our knowledge, this gloss was never printed.
R. Akiva (Güns) Eger (1761-1837) was the most prominent Torah scholar of his generation. In 1792, he was appointed rabbi of Märkisch Friedland (Mirosławiec) and established a yeshiva there. In 1815, he began serving as rabbi of Posen (Poznań), a position he held for over 20 years, until his passing. In Posen as well, he founded a yeshiva and taught many disciples. He was a holy person with Divine Inspiration. He replied to the thousands of questions addressed to him from around the world and recorded many novellae.
His son-in-law, whose signature appears on the title page of this book, was R. Zeev Wolf Schiff of Wolsztyn. See a responsum addressed to him in Responsa Rabbi Akiva Eger, Mahadura Kama, chapter 178 (see also chapter 160). After his wife Rodisch passed away in Breslau in 1849, R. Zeev Wolf moved to Königsberg. The author of Shoel UMeshiv recounts a visit to the house of R. Wolf in Königsberg in 1855, at which time he had the opportunity to view a manuscript of the Vilna Gaon's book Maase Torah which was in the possession of R. Wolf. (approbation to the book Maase Torah of the Vilna Gaon, Warsaw, 1864). He relates in the name of R. Wolf that he "could not fully comprehend [the Gaon of Vilna]… and he said that his father-in-law too, upon seeing the manuscript was amazed… " (see also Kedem catalog 62, item 241).
R. Akiva Eger devoted his entire life to Torah study and was known for his amazing proficiency and profound definitions which became basic tenets of Torah learning until our times. His books and novellae are key Torah texts for yeshiva students and poskim alike. R. Elazar Menachem Shach, author of Avi Ezri, writes in his approbation to the book Pote'ach She'arim – Teachings of R. Akiva Eger (Jerusalem, 1985) "For us, R. Akiva Eger, his opinions and reasoning are as conclusive as one of the Rishonim…". The glosses of R. Akiva Eger are valued in the yeshiva world and by Torah scholars for their perspicacity and profundity, and they invest much effort in studying them. He himself considered his glosses a composition worth publishing, as is apparent from his letters to his son R. Avraham Eger, printed at the beginning of Hagahot Rabbenu Akiva Eger, Berlin 1862. Especially renowned are his glosses to the Talmud, named Gilyon HaShas (first printed in his lifetime in the Prague and Vilna editions of the Talmud), his glosses to the Shulchan Aruch, and Tosefot R. Akiva Eger on the Mishna. Over the years, his glosses to various books were published in later editions of those books and in Torah anthologies.
Early signature at the top of the title page: "Koppel Segal[?]".
Ownership inscriptions of "Alexander Sender Zeltenreich" on the front endpaper. On the verso of the title page is a penciled inscription: "Belongs to the Rebbe… Moshe Weiss, his disciple Menachem Yaakov Zeltenreich[?]"(apparently, R. Moshe Weiss, Rabbi of Zborov – 1850-1916, see item 138).
Enclosed is a slip of paper with a handwritten testimony of the book’s discovery in a cowshed in the city of Munkatch (Mukacheve) among a pile of books discarded by the Communists: "I have found this important and rare book among thousands of books which were removed and thrown out from the Munkatch synagogue by the evil Red government and discarded into a cowshed in 1863/4 [seemingly, i.e: 1963/4], Yaakov son of R. Moshe HaCohen Kaplan" (his signature also appears at the top of the title page, with the year 1964). Several leaves at the end of the book are torn and missing, noticeably torn deliberately and crudely.
15, [1]; 1-162 leaves (originally: 15, [1]; 204 leaves). Lacking leaves 163-204, torn from the book (apparently deliberately, see above). 29.5 cm. Overall good condition. Stains, dampstains. Minor worming. Original binding (leather-covered wood), damaged and torn. Lacking one metal clasp.
Stefansky Classics, no. 291.
Page 53b bears a long handwritten scholarly gloss, identified as that of R. Akiva Eger. The gloss deals with the topic of "safek sefeka".
The title page bears the signature of R. Akiva Eger's son-in-law, R. "Zeev Wolf Schiff of Wolsztyn" (who possessed an extensive library of books and manuscripts used on occasion by his father-in-law, see below).
The responsa of the Maharashdam were very favored by R. Akiva Eger, as evident from the many times they are cited in his works. To the best of our knowledge, this gloss was never printed.
R. Akiva (Güns) Eger (1761-1837) was the most prominent Torah scholar of his generation. In 1792, he was appointed rabbi of Märkisch Friedland (Mirosławiec) and established a yeshiva there. In 1815, he began serving as rabbi of Posen (Poznań), a position he held for over 20 years, until his passing. In Posen as well, he founded a yeshiva and taught many disciples. He was a holy person with Divine Inspiration. He replied to the thousands of questions addressed to him from around the world and recorded many novellae.
His son-in-law, whose signature appears on the title page of this book, was R. Zeev Wolf Schiff of Wolsztyn. See a responsum addressed to him in Responsa Rabbi Akiva Eger, Mahadura Kama, chapter 178 (see also chapter 160). After his wife Rodisch passed away in Breslau in 1849, R. Zeev Wolf moved to Königsberg. The author of Shoel UMeshiv recounts a visit to the house of R. Wolf in Königsberg in 1855, at which time he had the opportunity to view a manuscript of the Vilna Gaon's book Maase Torah which was in the possession of R. Wolf. (approbation to the book Maase Torah of the Vilna Gaon, Warsaw, 1864). He relates in the name of R. Wolf that he "could not fully comprehend [the Gaon of Vilna]… and he said that his father-in-law too, upon seeing the manuscript was amazed… " (see also Kedem catalog 62, item 241).
R. Akiva Eger devoted his entire life to Torah study and was known for his amazing proficiency and profound definitions which became basic tenets of Torah learning until our times. His books and novellae are key Torah texts for yeshiva students and poskim alike. R. Elazar Menachem Shach, author of Avi Ezri, writes in his approbation to the book Pote'ach She'arim – Teachings of R. Akiva Eger (Jerusalem, 1985) "For us, R. Akiva Eger, his opinions and reasoning are as conclusive as one of the Rishonim…". The glosses of R. Akiva Eger are valued in the yeshiva world and by Torah scholars for their perspicacity and profundity, and they invest much effort in studying them. He himself considered his glosses a composition worth publishing, as is apparent from his letters to his son R. Avraham Eger, printed at the beginning of Hagahot Rabbenu Akiva Eger, Berlin 1862. Especially renowned are his glosses to the Talmud, named Gilyon HaShas (first printed in his lifetime in the Prague and Vilna editions of the Talmud), his glosses to the Shulchan Aruch, and Tosefot R. Akiva Eger on the Mishna. Over the years, his glosses to various books were published in later editions of those books and in Torah anthologies.
Early signature at the top of the title page: "Koppel Segal[?]".
Ownership inscriptions of "Alexander Sender Zeltenreich" on the front endpaper. On the verso of the title page is a penciled inscription: "Belongs to the Rebbe… Moshe Weiss, his disciple Menachem Yaakov Zeltenreich[?]"(apparently, R. Moshe Weiss, Rabbi of Zborov – 1850-1916, see item 138).
Enclosed is a slip of paper with a handwritten testimony of the book’s discovery in a cowshed in the city of Munkatch (Mukacheve) among a pile of books discarded by the Communists: "I have found this important and rare book among thousands of books which were removed and thrown out from the Munkatch synagogue by the evil Red government and discarded into a cowshed in 1863/4 [seemingly, i.e: 1963/4], Yaakov son of R. Moshe HaCohen Kaplan" (his signature also appears at the top of the title page, with the year 1964). Several leaves at the end of the book are torn and missing, noticeably torn deliberately and crudely.
15, [1]; 1-162 leaves (originally: 15, [1]; 204 leaves). Lacking leaves 163-204, torn from the book (apparently deliberately, see above). 29.5 cm. Overall good condition. Stains, dampstains. Minor worming. Original binding (leather-covered wood), damaged and torn. Lacking one metal clasp.
Stefansky Classics, no. 291.
Category
Books with Handwritten Glosses
Catalogue
![Teshuvot R. Akiva Eger, Sefer HaPsakim [responsa to halachic questions] and part I of Sefer HaKetavim [responsa to Talmudic t](https://files.kedem-auctions.com/files/Sale72-public/141_1.jpg "Teshuvot R. Akiva Eger – First Edition – Warsaw, 1834 – Copy of Rabbi")
![Teshuvot R. Akiva Eger, Sefer HaPsakim [responsa to halachic questions] and part I of Sefer HaKetavim [responsa to Talmudic t](https://files.kedem-auctions.com/files/Sale72-public/141_2.jpg "Teshuvot R. Akiva Eger – First Edition – Warsaw, 1834 – Copy of Rabbi")
Auction 72 - Rare and Important Items
July 7, 2020
Opening: $1,000
Estimate: $2,000 - $3,000
Sold for: $1,750
Including buyer's premium
Teshuvot R. Akiva Eger, Sefer HaPsakim [responsa to halachic questions] and part I of Sefer HaKetavim [responsa to Talmudic topics]. Warsaw, 1834. Two title pages. First edition, printed in the author's lifetime.
Copy of R. Gershon Tanchum of Minsk, author of Ilana D'Chayei. Ownership inscriptions attesting that book belonged to R. Gershon Tanchum posek in Minsk. Chapter 66 (p. 47b) bears three scholarly glosses in his handwriting, signed by him – "G.T." His glosses refer to responsa in his manuscript work Etz HaDaat on Yoreh Deah (never printed), and to two responsa he wrote in the month of Tishrei 1872.
R. Gerson Tanchum Pozniak (1802-1881), a leading Torah scholar in his generation, was a posek and yeshiva dean in Minsk and was considered the supreme rabbinic authority in the city (a large city replete with Torah scholars which for many years did not appoint an official chief rabbi). He served for many years as yeshiva dean of Blumke's Kloiz in Minsk and many rabbis in Lithuania and Belarus were his disciples, including the kabbalist R. Shlomo Elyashiv, author of the Leshem. In his youth, R. Shlomo Elyashiv left his hometown to study in R. Gershon Tanchum's yeshiva in Minsk, where he stayed for six years. A beloved student of R. Gershon Tanchum, he became his study partner; together the studied the entire Talmud and the Rambam. R. Gerson Tanchum was a renowned Torah scholar who issued responsa to queries he received from all over the world. His works on Orach Chaim were printed in the three-part book Ilana D'Chayei (Halberstadt, 1860 – Vilna, 1865). However, his work Etz HaDaat on Yoreh Deah and the rest of his responsa are still in manuscript form (mentioned in these glosses).
Stamps of R. Mordechai Yehonatan Katzenelbogen: "Mordechai Yehonatan Katzenelbogen, son of R. Shaul HaLevi, rabbi of Kobryn, formerly of Kosava". Ownership inscriptions of R. "Binyamin Benzion son of R. Moshe Leib – Kosava".
R. Mordechai Yehonatan HaLevi Katzenelbogen, brother of the mother of the Chazon Ish. In 1892, he printed the book Givat Shaul with the lamentation of his brother-in-law R. Shemaryahu Yosef Karelitz rabbi of Kosava, for the passing of their father R. Shaul HaLevi Katzenelbogen rabbi of Kobryn. His brother R. Avraham Meir HaLevi Katzenelbogen, author of Mincha Belula, was the son-in-law of R. Gershon Tanchum of Minsk.
The first edition printed in the lifetime of the author, R. Akiva Eger, who requested his sons to print the book "on beautiful paper in black ink and fine lettering, because, in my opinion, the soul responds and the mind and concentration are awakened when studying from a fine high-quality book" (from the introduction). This book was indeed printed on thick, high-quality paper, manufactured especially for this printing (the watermarks of the paper bear the name of the manufacturer and the name of the person who ordered the print: "Eiger").
[2], 222 leaves. 33 cm. Thick high-quality paper. Wide margins. Good-fair condition. Many stains. Wear and a few tears. Worming to the margins of many leaves, not affecting text. Many stamps. New leather binding.
Stefansky Classics, no. 310.
Copy of R. Gershon Tanchum of Minsk, author of Ilana D'Chayei. Ownership inscriptions attesting that book belonged to R. Gershon Tanchum posek in Minsk. Chapter 66 (p. 47b) bears three scholarly glosses in his handwriting, signed by him – "G.T." His glosses refer to responsa in his manuscript work Etz HaDaat on Yoreh Deah (never printed), and to two responsa he wrote in the month of Tishrei 1872.
R. Gerson Tanchum Pozniak (1802-1881), a leading Torah scholar in his generation, was a posek and yeshiva dean in Minsk and was considered the supreme rabbinic authority in the city (a large city replete with Torah scholars which for many years did not appoint an official chief rabbi). He served for many years as yeshiva dean of Blumke's Kloiz in Minsk and many rabbis in Lithuania and Belarus were his disciples, including the kabbalist R. Shlomo Elyashiv, author of the Leshem. In his youth, R. Shlomo Elyashiv left his hometown to study in R. Gershon Tanchum's yeshiva in Minsk, where he stayed for six years. A beloved student of R. Gershon Tanchum, he became his study partner; together the studied the entire Talmud and the Rambam. R. Gerson Tanchum was a renowned Torah scholar who issued responsa to queries he received from all over the world. His works on Orach Chaim were printed in the three-part book Ilana D'Chayei (Halberstadt, 1860 – Vilna, 1865). However, his work Etz HaDaat on Yoreh Deah and the rest of his responsa are still in manuscript form (mentioned in these glosses).
Stamps of R. Mordechai Yehonatan Katzenelbogen: "Mordechai Yehonatan Katzenelbogen, son of R. Shaul HaLevi, rabbi of Kobryn, formerly of Kosava". Ownership inscriptions of R. "Binyamin Benzion son of R. Moshe Leib – Kosava".
R. Mordechai Yehonatan HaLevi Katzenelbogen, brother of the mother of the Chazon Ish. In 1892, he printed the book Givat Shaul with the lamentation of his brother-in-law R. Shemaryahu Yosef Karelitz rabbi of Kosava, for the passing of their father R. Shaul HaLevi Katzenelbogen rabbi of Kobryn. His brother R. Avraham Meir HaLevi Katzenelbogen, author of Mincha Belula, was the son-in-law of R. Gershon Tanchum of Minsk.
The first edition printed in the lifetime of the author, R. Akiva Eger, who requested his sons to print the book "on beautiful paper in black ink and fine lettering, because, in my opinion, the soul responds and the mind and concentration are awakened when studying from a fine high-quality book" (from the introduction). This book was indeed printed on thick, high-quality paper, manufactured especially for this printing (the watermarks of the paper bear the name of the manufacturer and the name of the person who ordered the print: "Eiger").
[2], 222 leaves. 33 cm. Thick high-quality paper. Wide margins. Good-fair condition. Many stains. Wear and a few tears. Worming to the margins of many leaves, not affecting text. Many stamps. New leather binding.
Stefansky Classics, no. 310.
Category
Books with Handwritten Glosses
Catalogue