Auction 90 Judaica - Books, Manuscripts, Letters, Ceremonial Art
One of the first books printed by R. Yisrael Bak in Safed, about one year after he established his printing press in the city.
On verso of the title page is the introduction of the printer R. Yisrael Bak with blessings for those who purchase books printed in Eretz Israel and especially this Tehillim.
Kavanat HaMeshorer is printed at the beginning of each Psalm. The volume also contains prayers recited before and after reading Tehillim on weekdays, Shabbat, Yom Tov and Hoshanah Rabbah night and a prayer on behalf of the sick and Seder Pidyon Nefesh.
Handwritten inscriptions on the title page.
[4], 108, 110-152 leaves. Lacking leaf 109. 14.5 cm. Fair condition. Stains, including dampstains. Extensive worming, affecting text, mostly repaired with paper. Marginal open tears to title page and other leaves, slightly affecting text, repaired with paper (some leaves presumably supplied from other copies). New leather binding.
PLEASE NOTE: Item description was shortened in translation. For further information, please refer to Hebrew text.
• Malachei Kodesh. Jerusalem, [1862]. Sh. HaLevi, no. 66.
• Menorat Zahav, by R. Yisrael Ankaoua. Jerusalem, [1864]. Sh. HaLevi, no. 99.
• Tzavaah Yekarah – will of R. Alexander Ziskind of Horodna, the Yesod VeShoresh HaAvodah. Jerusalem, [after 1863]. Sh. HaLevi, no. 100.
• Toldot Yaakov by R. Yaakov Castro. Jerusalem, 1865. Sh. HaLevi, no. 118.
• Shaar HaMitzvot, by R. Chaim Vital. Jerusalem, [1872-1873]. Many glosses and additions in Oriental script. Sh. HaLevi, no. 199.
• Moadei Hashem and Keriei Mo'ed Machzor, Part I. Jerusalem, [1844]. Two title pages. Gatherings bound out of sequence, and lacking several leaves. Sh. HaLevi, no. 20.
• Toldot Adam, by R. Moshe David Ashkenazi Rabbi of Tolcsva and Safed. [Jerusalem, 1845 – copy lacking [2] leaves, title page and foreword]. Sh. HaLevi, no. 33. Stamps of the Beit Midrash of R. Michael Cypres HaKohen (a famous Beit Midrash in Kraków).
• Likutei Moharan Tinyana, by R. Nachman of Breslov. Jerusalem, [1874]. Somewhat damaged copy. Sh. HaLevi, no. 213. Without [3] leaves at end, with errata and additional tale (these leaves were presumably added after the printing, and appear in some copies only). Stamps and signatures.
8 books. Size and condition vary. Overall good condition. New bindings.
PLEASE NOTE: Item description was shortened in translation. For further information, please refer to Hebrew text.
The book was printed between 1875 and 1881 in two printing houses. The printing began in the printing house of R. Yoel Moshe Solomon, who refused to continue printing the book once he became aware of its polemic content. The printing was resumed in the HaIvri printing house (owned by R. Yitzchak Gościnny). Parts of the book were distributed before the printing was finished, which resulted in many variations between the copies of the book.
There are two known title pages (one with full text and one abridged), not appearing in all copies. The present copy contains the abridged title page. This copy also includes many leaves not found in most copies, see Hebrew description for details.
The author, R. Akiva Yosef Schlesinger (1835-1922), author of Lev HaIvri, disciple of leading Hungarian rabbis. He was one of the most prominent zealots who fought the Reform and Haskalah movements, and continued this struggle after immigrating to Jerusalem in 1870. He was active in support of the Jewish settlements throughout Eretz Israel, and came into conflict with leaders of the Old Yishuv over his opposition to the methods of the Chalukah (distribution of funds), and over other matters. His opposition is voiced in the present book, which aroused a fierce dispute, with polemic booklets being published on both sides.
[1], 2-124, [17] leaves. Without one of the title pages, which was not included in all copies (see above). 27.5 cm. Printed in part on dry paper. Overall good condition. Stains. Minor tears, including minor open tears, slightly affecting text in a few places. Leaves trimmed close to text in several places. Stamps. New leather binding.
PLEASE NOTE: Item description was shortened in translation. For further information, please refer to Hebrew text.
Seven books and publications published by R. Mordechai Eliezer Weber of Ada: Talmudic novellae, aggadic novellae, and polemic booklets. Jerusalem, 1882-1891:
• Milchemet Chovah, polemic against R. Shlomo Ganzfried. Jerusalem: [Israel Frumkin], [1882]. First edition. Sh. HaLevi, no. 403.
• Milchemet Chovah, polemic against R. Shlomo Ganzfried. Expanded edition, Jerusalem: Isaac Gościnny, [1885]. Lacking final two leaves. Sh. HaLevi, no. 508.
• Ofel UBochen, response to the Michseh LaOhel booklet by R. Shlomo Ganzfried. [Jerusalem: Shmuel Zuckermann, 1889]. Sh. HaLevi, no. 637.
• Erech Dal, on Tractate Arachin. Jerusalem: Isaac Gościnny, [1885]. Sh. HaLevi, no. 522.
• Etz Avot, Part I, Aggadic novellae on Tractate Arachin and Pirkei Avot (chapters I-III). Jerusalem: Isaac Gościnny, [1885]. Sh. HaLevi, no. 523.
• Temurat Todah, on Tractate Temurah. Jerusalem: Elchanan Tenenbaum, 1887. Sh. HaLevi, no. 607.
• Proclamation concerning the Corfu etrogim polemic. Jerusalem, 1891.
7 items, size and condition vary. New bindings.
R. Mordechai Eliezer Weber of Ada (1822-1892), disciple of the Divrei Chaim of Sanz. Served as rabbi in various Hungarian communities, later immigrating to Jerusalem where he published several works, including polemic writings against those at variance with the rulings of his teacher the Divrei Chaim. The main polemic he was involved in was against R. Shlomo Ganzfried, who disagreed with teachings of the Divrei Chaim in his book Oholei Shem. Several polemic works were published on both sides during the course of this controversy.
PLEASE NOTE: Item description was shortened in translation. For further information, please refer to Hebrew text.
• Chosen Yeshuot, kabbalistic commentary on Tractate Bava Kama. [Jerusalem: Isaac Gościnny, 1879-1889]. The printing of the book was never completed, and it ends in the middle of a sentence (the book was published in installments between 1879 and 1889). Sh. HaLevy, no. 320.
• Or LaYesharim – Or Zarua LaTzadik, commentary on a passage of Tractate Yoma, based on the Zohar. Jerusalem: Isaac Hirshensohn, [1889]. Sh. HaLevy, no. 639.
• Or LaYesharim, novellae on Tractate Pesachim and other Talmudic topics, with Petil Techelet, against R. Gershon Chanoch Leiner of Radzhin's identification of Techelet. Jerusalem: Y.D. Frumkin, [ca. 1882-1890]. Sh. HaLevy, no. 690.
• Siddur with Kavanot of the Arizal, with the Tefillah LeMoshe commentary. [Jerusalem: Yisrael David Frumkin and others], 1898. The book was printed in installments in various Jerusalem printing presses. The printing presumably began in 1879, and ended in 1902.
• Mishkenot LaAvir Yaakov, Part I. Jerusalem: Isaac Gościnny and partners, [1881-1888].
• Mishkenot LaAvir Yaakov, Part II, with novellae on Tractate Berachot. Jerusalem, 1894.
• Mishkenot LaAvir Yaakov, Part II, with laws of mikvaot and techelet. Jerusalem: printer not indicated, [after 1900].
7 volumes. Size and condition vary. New bindings.
R. Hillel Moshe Meshel Gelbstein (1832-1908), disciple of the Seraf of Kotsk and the Tzemach Tzedek of Lubavitch. In 1868, he immigrated to Jerusalem, where he concentrated on the study of topics related to the Temple, using his books to strengthen the fulfillment of the commandment of guarding the holy site.
PLEASE NOTE: Item description was shortened in translation. For further information, please refer to Hebrew text.
Se'u Minchah, Sephardi rite siddur for weekday and Shabbat evening prayers, with Tikkun Shabbat. Jerusalem: Shmuel HaLevi Zuckermann and partners, 1885.
224 leaves. 7 cm. Dry paper. Good-fair condition. Stains, including marginal dark stains to many leaves. Final leaf detached. Handwritten inscriptions and stamp. Original binding, partially detached, with defects.
Not listed by Sh. HaLevy.
Leaf 224 at end of siddur, with incantation against the evil eye, is not listed in the Bibliography of the Hebrew Book, nor in the NLI catalog.
PLEASE NOTE: Item description was shortened in translation. For further information, please refer to Hebrew text.