Auction 96 Early Printed Books, Chassidut and Kabbalah, Books Printed in Jerusalem, Letters and Manuscripts
Amudei HaTorah, Maalot HaTorah by R. Avraham, brother of the Vilna Gaon, with Or Torah by the kabbalist R. Yitzchak Eizik Chaver. Jerusalem: R. Yoel Moshe Salomon, 1880. First edition of Or Torah.
On verso of title page, approbations of R. Shmuel Salant and R. Moshe Yehoshua Yehudah Leib Diskin (interestingly, disclaiming knowledge of kabbalah).
The author of Or Torah, R. Yitzchak Eizik Chaver (1787-1852), a transmitter of the kabbalistic teachings of the Vilna Gaon. At the young age of 14, R. Menachem Mendel of Shklow (disciple of the Vilna Gaon) deemed him suited to study Kabbalah. In Or Torah (p. 31a) he criticizes Chassidic devotional practices, a passage censored in later editions.
[2], 72 leaves. 20 cm. Dry paper. Most leaves in good condition. Stains. Small open tears to margins of title page and several other leaves. Creases. New binding.
Sh. Halevy, no. 352.
Ir David, ethics and proper conduct, and survey of graves of tzaddikim in Eretz Israel, by R. David HaKohen of Vilna. Jerusalem: Yoel Moshe Salomon, 1880. Bound with: Ir David (Part II), by R. David HaKohen of Vilna. Jerusalem: Yitzchak Gościnny and partners, 1881.
In addition to the above topics, both books contain a special chapter with sentences with chronograms for the dates of printing (1880-1881).
On endpaper at the beginning of the volume, 13-line handwritten dedication by author, first day of Rosh Chodesh Adar 1880.
On the verso of the title pages of both parts, printed dedications, filled in by hand by the author, to "Dr. Levisohn", apparently R. Yehudah Leib Levisohn of Stockholm, who wrote book reviews for periodicals, with words added to the second dedication by the author.
Apparently, the lengthy dedication at the beginning of the volume, asking for a favorable review, is also addressed to him.
At the end of Part I appears a leaf with an estimate of the Ashkenazi Jewish population in Jerusalem, Safed, Tiberias and Hebron.
The book's purpose is clarified in the approbation of R. Yechiel Michel Pines to the 1886 part (not in the present volume). Sick and unable to work, the author would make a living from his book with chronograms for the current year, which he was able to produce effortlessly.
[1], 36 leaves; 40 leaves. 16 cm. Dry, somewhat brittle paper. Overall good condition. Stains. Small marginal tears to several leaves. New binding.
Sh. Halevy, no. 350, 376.
Mishkenot LaAvir Yaakov, on the opening discussion of Tractate Tamid. Part I, by the Jerusalem kabbalist R. Hillel Moshe Meshel Gelbstein. Jerusalem: Yitzchak Gościnny and partner, [1881].
R. Hillel Moshe Meshel Gelbstein (1832-1908), disciple of the Seraph of Kotzk 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 maintain the mitzvah of guarding the holy site. Mishkenot LaAvir Yaakov contains various novellae on Tractates Tamid, Yoma and Pesachim, guarding the Temple and kabbalistic homilies.
[4], 3-59 leaves. 33.5 cm. Dry, somewhat brittle paper. Good-fair condition. Stains. Tears, including open tears, affecting text at bottom margins of several leaves. New leather binding.
Sh. Halevy, no. 373.
She'erit Yaakov, halachic commentary on Tractates Berachot, Shabbat, Ketubot and Bava Metzia, selections on the Rambam and Shulchan Aruch and more, by R. Yaakov Bibas. Jerusalem: Yitzchak Gościnny and his partner Agan, [1881].
The date given on the title page is 1880; according to Sh. Halevy the true date of printing is 1881.
[4], 92 leaves. 17.5 cm. Dry paper. Good condition. Some stains. New leather binding.
Sh. Halevy, no. 381.
Lot 195 Shenat HaSheva (by Rabbi Moshe Nechemiah Kahanov) – Hundred-Copy Print Run – Jerusalem, 1881
Shenat HaSheva, with Be'er Sheva, booklet on laws of the shemitah year by R. Moshe Nechemiah Kahanov. Jerusalem: Yoel Moshe Salomon, 1881.
In a note on p. 31a the author writes that due to the untimely death of his son during the printing of the book, he was compelled to publish it in brief with many omissions, in a limited print run of 100 copies (due to lack of funds).
32 leaves. Missing leaves 33-34. 18.5 cm. Dry, brittle paper. Fair-good condition. Stains. Tears, including open tears to margins of title page and several other leaves, slightly affecting title frame and text on verso (last leaf repaired with paper filling). New binding.
Does not contain leaves 33-34 of Zichron Yosef, with the author's eulogy for his son R. Yosef Chaim Eliyah and with a lament written by the son for another untimely death.
Sh. Halevy, no. 382.
![Prayer before the Western Wall, anthology of prayers, ethics and additional works. [Jerusalem: printer not indicated, 1891?].](https://files.kedem-auctions.com/files/Sale96/196.jpg "Prayer before the Western Wall – Jerusalem, 1891 – Ladino and Some Heb")
Prayer before the Western Wall, anthology of prayers, ethics and additional works. [Jerusalem: printer not indicated, 1891?]. Ladino and some Hebrew.
Anthology of prayers, stories and ethics, most in Ladino. At the beginning of the book appears a prayer to be recited before the Western Wall (in Ladino).
12, 41-72 pages. Missing pages 13-40 (the Hebrew section). Approx. 16 cm. Somewhat dry paper. Good-fair condition. Stains. Tears, including small marginal open tears. New leather binding.
Chronogram for 1881; likely a mistake for 1891.
Sh. Halevy, no. 385.
Chaim MiYerushalayim, homilies for various occasions and selections on the Torah portions (Bereshit-Pinchas) by R. Chaim Avraham Gagin. Jerusalem: Agan and partner, with R. Shmuel HaLevi Zuckerman, [1882].
At the end of the book, after the selections on Torah portions Bereshit-Pinchas, appear several leaves with "separate discourses", followed by an index to Shaarei Yerushalayim, a book by R. Tzadik Tarabulus, the author's grandson.
[4], 212, 233-302, [14] pages. 23.5 cm. Somewhat dry paper. Overall good condition. Stains. Small marginal tears to several leaves. Worming in one place to first leaves, slightly affecting text. Original binding, with leather spine. Wear and damage to spine.
Sh. Halevy, no. 397.
Printed leaf, copy of a letter of the emissary of the Belarus Kollel to Kollel officials, from 19th Adar, 1882. [Jerusalem: printer not indicated, 1882?].
Copy of a letter of the emissary R. Yaakov Berlin, criticizing the polemic involving sharp attacks on R. Yechiel Michel Pines.
Handwritten inscription at the top of the leaf.
[1] leaf. 19.5 cm. Dry paper. Good condition. Stains. Small marginal tears. New leather binding.
Not recorded by Sh. Halevy or in the Bibliography of the Hebrew Book (the NLI catalog contains a photocopy of the present copy).
Previously of the collection of Dr. Israel Mehlman.
Kol Nehi MiTzion, bans and warnings against R. Azriel Hildesheimer, edited by R. Akiva Yosef Schlesinger. Jerusalem: [Shmelke Yosef Shmer and his brother-in-law Yitzchak Gościnny, 1872].
Anthology of bans and warnings opposing R. Azriel Hildesheimer, following his call for founding schools and orphanages in Jerusalem with secular studies. The various notices are signed by 113 rabbis.
Edited by R. Akiva Yosef Schlesinger, who identifies himself with his initials on p. 8b.
[1], 8, [1] leaves. 18.5 cm. Fair-good condition. Stains. Tears to inner margins of several leaves, repaired with tape. Worming, affecting text, partially repaired with tape. Bottom margins of last leaf repaired with paper (apparently supplied from another copy). Handwritten inscriptions. New leather binding.
Sh. Halevy, no. 181.
Printed leaf, Et Tzarah Hi LeYoshvei Yerushalayim, poster opposing R. Azriel Hildesheimer's new method of learning, institutions established by him and innovations in educational institutions in the city. Jerusalem, [1873].
Poster from 18th Tevet 1873, bemoaning the spiritual crisis in Jerusalem educational institutions, particularly attacking the institutions established by R. Azriel Hildesheimer and their method of study. The poster was directed at European rabbis, in the hope that they would arrest R. Hildesheimer's influence on Jerusalem educational institutions.
[1] leaf. 27.5 cm. Good-fair condition. Stains. Small marginal tears, and open tear to upper portion of leaf, slightly affecting text, repaired with tape. New binding.
Not recorded by Sh. Halevy or the Bibliography of the Hebrew Book. The NLI catalog contains a photocopy of the present copy.
Previously of the collection of Dr. Israel Mehlman, with inscriptions in his handwriting (in pencil).
Beit Yosef Chadash, Torah novellae on halachah and aggadah, ethics and communal matters, by R. Akiva Yosef Schlesinger, author of Lev HaIvri. Jerusalem, [1875-1881].
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, resulting 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 both title pages. This copy also includes many leaves not found in most copies; see Hebrew description for details.
In addition, the present copy includes an additional, unnumbered leaf containing an open letter by R. Yehudah Leibish Orenstein, Rabbi of the Ashkenazi communities (with his stamp), and a letter by R. Aharon Moshe Ferrara, defending R. Akiva Yosef Schlesinger. This leaf is recorded by Sh. Halevy based only on a citation in a polemical book (this leaf is recorded in a separate entry in the Bibliography of the Hebrew Book).
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 engendered a fierce dispute, with polemical booklets being published on both sides and R. Schlesinger's book banned and burned. R. Schlesinger eventually reached a compromise with his opponents, and the ban was rescinded.
[2], 2-10, [2], 11-124, [16] leaves. 28 cm. Some leaves printed on dry paper. Overall good condition. Stains. Dark stain on (longer) title page, paper slightly singed. Tears, including small marginal open tears to several leaves, and a large marginal open tear to the rare leaf, not affecting text. Partially repaired with paper filling. New binding.
Sh. Halevy, no. 231.
![Nitutz HaBayit – polemical work against Beit Yosef Chadash by R. Akiva Yosef Schlesinger. Jerusalem: [Yoel Moshe Salomon], 18](https://files.kedem-auctions.com/files/Sale96/202.jpg "Nitutz HaBayit – Rabbi Akiva Yosef Schlesinger Polemic – Jerusalem, 18")
Nitutz HaBayit – polemical work against Beit Yosef Chadash by R. Akiva Yosef Schlesinger. Jerusalem: [Yoel Moshe Salomon], 1875.
Polemical work by the rabbis of Kollel Ungarn (Shomrei HaChomot), against R. Akiva Yosef Schlesinger and his book Beit Yosef Chadash.
The work contains an appeal to the heads of the Hungarian, Austrian, Moravian and Bohemian kollels and the Rabbis of Jerusalem, asking them to rescind their approbations to R. Akiva Yosef Schlesinger's book; the rabbis' decision demanding the author hand over all the prints of his book pending a thorough investigation; a ban on the book by the directors of the Kollel; and a revocation by R. Avraham Ashkenazi and R. Meir Auerbach of their approbations to the book.
Ownership inscription on title page.
[1], 8 pages (including title cover). 19.5 cm. Overall good condition. Title cover in good-fair condition. Stains. Wear, damage and small tears to title page. New binding.
Sh. Halevy no. 232, 244 (mistaken double listing; see next lot).