Responsa and commentaries – She'erit Yosef, by R. Yosef Katz, rabbi of Kraków (brother-in-law of the Rema). Kraków: Isaac Prostitz, [1590]. First edition.
Early handwritten inscriptions on the title page: "Elyakum son of R. Baruch Gershon of ---", "Moshe son of R. Yitzchak Aharon Wermaiz – 1700" – "I acquired this book from the community leader R. Shlomo son of R. Chaim for… so says Moshe Wermaiz" (his father R. Yitzchak Aharon Wermaiz was rabbi of Trier, Breisach and Mannheim; his approbation to the book Mekor Chaim by R. Yair Chaim Bacharach was published at the end of Responsa Chavot Yair).
The author, R. Yosef son of R. Mordechai Gershon Katz (ca. 1511-1591), rabbi of Kraków, brother-in-law of the Rema and leading Torah scholar in his times. He served as dayan in Kraków Beit Din, alongside R. Moshe Segal Landau and R. Moshe Isserles – the Rema (author of HaMapah on the Shulchan Aruch). The Rema later became his brother-in-law when he married Kreindel, the sister of R. Yosef Katz (in 1542, after the passing of the first wife of the Rema, Golda daughter of R. Shachna of Lublin). Apart from his position as dayan, R. Yosef Katz served as yeshiva dean in Kraków, and after the passing of the Rema, he was recognized as the foremost Torah disseminator and community leader in Kraków. He was reputed throughout the Jewish world as an outstanding Torah scholar, posek and halachic authority, and even his brother-in-law the Rema took his rulings into consideration and accepted his teachings. Amongst the Torah leaders who sent R. Yosef Katz their rulings and asked for his opinion was the Maharshal, who wrote of him with admiration, presenting himself as his disciple. A year before his passing, R. Yosef Katz brought to print his book She'erit Yosef, comprising for the main part responsa, as well as novellae and commentaries on the Mordechai (on various tractates) and on Tur Choshen Mishpat. She'erit Yosef spread rapidly after its publication amongst the Torah scholars of the generation, who discussed the novellae and rulings found in the book and quoted them in their works. These include his contemporaries (disciples of the Rema and the Maharsha) R. Binyamin Aharon Slonik in his book Mas'at Binyamin and R. Yehoshua Falk, the Sema, in his book Derisha UPerisha. R. Yoel Sirkis, the Bach, who succeeded him as rabbi of Kraków, mentions him in his work; followed by R. Shabtai Katz, the Shach, who discusses his teachings several times in his work on the Shulchan Aruch.

92, [2]; 32 leaves. Leaf [2] blank. 19 cm. Good condition. Stains. Minor marginal tears to several leaves. Worming, slightly affecting text. New leather binding.

The present copy contains [1] additional leaf at the end of the response part, comprising three responsa, followed by an additional blank leaf. There are other copies with a page containing an additional responsum, instead of (or pasted onto) the blank leaf. These responsa, which were only printed after the printing of the book was completed, were added to a few copies only, and were therefore not included in most subsequent editions of the book (see: Y. Yudlov, Ginzei Yisrael, no. 724).

Year-round machzor following Roman rite, Part I – weekday, Shabbat and Rosh Chodesh prayers, prayers and selichot from Chanukah until Shabbat Nachamu, Passover Haggadah, Shemoneh Perakim by the Rambam and Tractate Avot with the foreword and commentary of the Rambam; and Part II – prayers for Elul and the Tishrei holidays, selichot for public fasts, and other prayers. [Rimini: Gershom Soncino, 1521]. Two parts in one volume.
Third and rare edition of the Roman rite machzor, printed based on the first edition of the machzor, Soncino-Casalmaggiore 1486, with emendations.
Part I includes the Mi Kamocha piyyut for the Shabbat preceding Purim; and Azharot by R. Shlomo ibn Gabirol and R. Eliyahu HaZaken. Part II includes Megillat Kohelet and laws for various occasions.

Incomplete copy. Two parts in one volume. [2]-[5], [13]-[18], [25]-[72], [74]-[77], [79]-[132], [134]-[151]; [1]-[102], [104]-[137] leaves. Originally: [151;139] leaves. Lacking 20 leaves: title page, leaves [6]-[12], [19]-[24], [73], [78], [133] of part I; leaf [103] and final two leaves of part II. All missing leaves replaced in photocopy. 25.5 cm. Fair-good condition. Stains, including dampstains. Tears, including open tears to many leaves (large tears to several leaves), affecting text, mostly repaired with paper. Leaves trimmed with damage to text in some places. Censorship deletions in several places. Endpapers (presumably original) with many inscriptions bound at beginning and end of book. New, ornate leather binding. Slipcased.

The machzor was printed by the renowned Hebrew printer Gershom Soncino, one of the most prominent Italian Hebrew printers. Soncino traveled with his family and printing equipment through various Italian cities, printing Hebrew books wherever he settled.
See: A. Piattelli, Bibliografia shel Mahzorim ve-sidurim ke-minhag bene Roma, no. 9.
Provenance: Valmadonna Trust Library.

Roman rite machzor, Part I – weekday, Shabbat and Rosh Chodesh prayers, prayers and selichot from Chanukah until Shabbat Nachamu, Passover Haggadah, Pirkei Avot and Azharot; Part II – selichot and prayers for Elul and the Tishrei holidays, selichot for public fasts and other prayers. Venice: Giovanni Caleoni for Pietro, Alvise & Lorenzo Bragadin, 1626. Two parts in two volumes.
Printed based on the Venice 1587 edition, with printed marginal notes (see previous item).
Two leaves with a handwritten poem for shofar blowing were bound between leaves 40-41 of vol. II.
On the title page of vol. II, calligraphic signature of R. Avraham Chai Vivanti (1806-1876; rabbi of Ancona). Other inscriptions on the same leaf: "Yisrael Shlomo Chai". Additional inscriptions in Italian (mentioning Ancona) on the back endpaper of this volume.

Two volumes. Vol. I: 333, [2] leaves. Vol. II: 344 leaves. 14.5-15.5 cm. Gilt edges in vol. II. Vol. I in fair condition, vol. II in good-fair condition. Stains, including dampstains. Worming, slightly affecting text. Wear to vol. I. Title page and some other leaves in vol. I detached. Tears, including open tears affecting text in several places, repaired in part with paper. Paper repair to title page of vol. I, affecting border. Early leather bindings (non-uniform), with gilt ornaments (owner's initials lettered on front and back board of vol. I: "R. S"; fine gilt ornaments to binding and spine of vol. II, with emblem of priestly hands topped with a crown on front and back boards). Blemishes to bindings (worming to binding of vol. II). Placed in slipcases (non-uniform).

See: A. Piattelli, Bibliografia shel Mahzorim ve-sidurim ke-minhag bene Roma, no. 36.

Provenance of vol. II: Valmadonna Trust Library.

Siddur following Italian rite. Venice: [Bragadi., 1731]. Miniature format.
Vocalized siddur for weekdays, Shabbat and festivals. Bound in original, gilt-decorated leather binding (decorations somewhat faded), with metal clasps.
The title page states: "Printed upon the request of the wealthy… R. Shimshon Canton".

195, 195-199 leaves. 6.5 cm. Gilt edges. Good condition. Stains. Leaves trimmed with damage to text. Wear and blemishes to binding.

Rare edition, listed in the Bibliography of the Hebrew Book based on a copy from a private collection; not listed in the NLI catalog.
See also: A. Piatelli, Bibliographia shel Mahzorim ve-sidurim ke-minhag bene Roma, no. 55.

Two books – "Third Light" and "Fourth Light" of the Or Olam series, by R. Meir Margolies Rabbi of the Lviv region and Ostroh, author of Meir Netivim, leading disciple of the Baal Shem Tov. First editions.
1. Sod Yachin UBoaz – the will of R. Meir Margolies to his sons, with many profound kabbalistic and Chassidic thoughts. Ostroh: printer not indicated, [1794]. First edition. With approbations by R. Levi Yitzchak of Berditchev, R. Aryeh Leib of Apta and Sochatchov, R. Zusia of Anipoli, R. Chaim of Krasni, R. Yisrael "Maggid of Koznitz", and others.
Signature on the title page: "Shimon son of R. Avraham…".

[2], 3-22 leaves. 19.5 cm. Fair condition. Stains, including dampstains. Wear. Tears to upper margins of all leaves, including open tears affecting text, repaired with paper. Worming affecting text. Stamps. New binding.

2. Or Olam – Fourth Light – HaDerech HaTov VehaYashar (the good and straight path), a long poem composed of good practices and laws, briefly summarizing the four parts of the Shulchan Aruch and the 613 commandments. Polonne: Schneur son of Betzalel MiGeza Schorr, [1795]. First edition. With approbations by R. Meir of Konstantin – son of the Yaavetz, R. Levi Yitzchak of Berditchev, R. Avraham Yehoshua Heshel Rabbi of Kolbuszowa (later rabbi of Apta), and others.
This work was written by the author in response to a request by his son R. Shaul Margolies that he briefly summarize the four parts of the Shulchan Aruch. R. Meir wrote a long alphabetical acrostic poem, also forming his name Meir and the name of his son Shaul. The poem contains all the laws and practices of the four parts of the Shulchan Aruch and the 613 commandments.
Stamp on the title page: "Naftali Hertz son of R. Sh.Feivel [Shraga Feivel] of Kraków". Handwritten inscriptions on the title page.

[2], 3-40 leaves. 21 cm. High-quality greenish paper. Good condition. Stains, including dark stains. Minor marginal tears to several leaves. Many stamps (including censorship stamps) to title page. New leather binding.

The author, R. Meir Margolies (ca. 1707?-1790), a leading disciple of the Baal Shem Tov and one of the first to cleave to him, even before the Baal Shem Tov became famous. R. Meir is considered a "colleague-disciple" of the Baal Shem Tov and mentions him in several places as "my teacher" and "my friend". In his book Sod Yachin UBoaz (Ostroh, 1794), he writes of "my teachers, prominent in Torah and Chassidut, headed by my friend the pious R. Yisrael Baal Shem Tov… and from my youth, when I attached myself with bonds of love to my teacher and friend R. Yisrael Baal Shem Tov… I knew with absolute certainty that his conduct was in holiness and purity, piety and ascetism… occult matters were revealed to him…". His son R. Betzalel, who succeeded him as rabbi of Ostroh, writes in his approbation to the book Shivchei HaBaal Shem Tov (Berditchev 1815 edition): "…as I heard from my father… who from his youth was part of the holy entourage of the Baal Shem Tov, and R. Meir would frequently speak in his praise…".
R. Meir Margolies was a leading and prominent rabbi in his times. In his youth, he served as rabbi of Yazlovets and Horodenka. In 1755, he was appointed rabbi of the Lviv region. In 1766, he was appointed by the King of Poland as chief rabbi of Ukraine and Galicia. In 1776, he received an official letter of appointment from the King of Poland, Stanisław August Poniatowski (the rabbinical appointment, in gilt letters, is preserved until this day in the Dubnow archives in New York). In 1777, he was appointed rabbi of Ostroh and the region, in addition to his position as rabbi of the Lviv region.