Auction 98 Early Printed Books, Chassidut and Kabbalah, Books Printed in Jerusalem, Letters and Manuscripts, Jewish Ceremonial Art
Yismach Moshe on the Torah – Chassidic and kabbalistic homilies on the Torah portions, by Rebbe Moshe Teitelbaum, Rabbi of Ujhel (Sátoraljaújhely). Part III, on Vayikra. Lviv: Franz Galinski, [1851]. First edition.
Handwritten glosses, some with references to Chassidic books (such as Degel Machaneh Efraim). These glosses appear to be handwritten by R. Abish Aryeh Shapiro, Rabbi of Hummené (1790-1872), son and successor of R. Yaakov Shapiro, Rabbi of Hummené (d. 1828), both leading disciples of the Rabbi of Rimanov.
[1], 2-42 leaves. 22.5-23.5 cm. Good condition. Stains. Uneven trimming. Handwritten glosses to sides (some slightly trimmed). New binding.
The Yismach Moshe book series was edited and prepared for press by the author's grandson and close disciple Rebbe Yekutiel Yehudah Teitelbaum, Rabbi of Sighet, author of Yitav Lev, and his glosses and additions are printed in several places.
PLEASE NOTE: Some lot descriptions were shortened in translation. For further information, please refer to the Hebrew text.
Heshiv Moshe, responsa on the four parts of the Shulchan Aruch, by Rebbe Moshe Teitelbaum, Rabbi of Ujhel (Sátoraljaújhely), author of Yismach Moshe. Lviv (Lemberg): U. W. Salat, 1866. First edition.
On verso of title page, approbations of the Shoel UMeshiv and the Divrei Chaim of Sanz, and introduction by the author's grandson, Rebbe Yekutiel Yehudah Teitelbaum, Rabbi of Sighet, author of Yitav Lev, recounting how the responsa were gathered and prepared for press.
Copy of R. Meir Shapiro, Rabbi of Lublin, with his stamps on title page, from his tenure as Rabbi of Glina and Piotrków, and stamps of the bookbindery of the Chachmei Lublin yeshiva, library stamps, and stamps of Ministry of Religion from remains of books of Polish Jews. On p. 16a (in first sequence), handwritten gloss [apparently handwritten by R. Meir Shapiro].
R. Meir Shapiro (1887-1933), Rabbi of Glina, Sanok, Piotrków and Lublin, dean of the Chachmei Lublin yeshiva and founder of Daf Yomi, one of the founders of Agudat Yisrael and leading rabbi in his times. He was one of the youngest and most dominant rabbis in the Moetzet Gedolei HaTorah. An excellent orator, and an active communal worker, he was also a member of the Polish Sejm. R. Meir passed away without leaving behind any offspring, yet he himself would say that he has two children – the first being Daf Yomi, and the second the Chachmei Lublin yeshiva.
[1], 38; 74, 77-78, 77-82, [1] leaves. 35 cm. Good-fair condition. Stains, wear and minor tears. On leaf 26 (of second sequence), open tear in center of leaf, affecting text. Ex libris label at top of title page. Various stamps. New binding.
Contains [1] leaf at the end with a copy of a responsum of R. Meshulam Igra of
Pressburg and an index to Even HaEzer and Choshen Mishpat sections. This leaf is lacking in some copies.
PLEASE NOTE: Some lot descriptions were shortened in translation. For further information, please refer to the Hebrew text.
Yitav Lev, Chassidic, homiletical and ethical discourses on the Five Books of the Torah, by Rebbe Yekutiel Yehudah Teitelbaum, Rabbi of Sighet. Sighet (Sighetu Marmației): Maramaroscher Actien-Buchdruckerei, 1875. First edition.
All five parts in two volumes. Main title page at beginning of the first volume, and five abbreviated divisional title pages for each book of the Torah.
The book was printed anonymously in the author's lifetime. The book title is an acronym alluding to the name of the author – "Yitav" stands for Yekutiel Yehudah Teitelbaum. In his introduction, the author explains why he published his work anonymously. He cites the introduction of the Panim Meirot, who was in doubt "whether it's better for a person not to reveal who the author is, or whether there is an obligation to mention the author…". Rebbe Yekutiel Yehudah humbly offers a resolution: "Regarding halachot that pertain to law, it is important to know who the author is and whether he can be relied upon… but regarding aggadah and ethics, what do we need to know the author's name for? The words are proven if they penetrate their listeners' hearts… So I decided it was better to conceal it, since I am ashamed to stand among the ranks of Torah scholars, since my soul knows my little worth…".
Five parts in one volume: [4], 2-141, [2] leaves; [2], 3-91 leaves; [4], 2-55, [2] leaves; [3], 2-80 leaves; [3], 2-52, 55-70 leaves. 24 cm. Good-fair condition. Stains and wear. Tears and worming to first and last leaves, slightly affecting text. New binding.
Includes all corrigenda leaves for all five parts, bound in various places in this volume.
PLEASE NOTE: Some lot descriptions were shortened in translation. For further information, please refer to the Hebrew text.
Collection of books by Rebbe Yekutiel Yehudah Teitelbaum, Rabbi of Sighet, author of Yitav Lev:
• Yitav Panim, sermons and Chassidic discourses on the festivals by Rebbe Yekutiel Yehudah Teitelbaum, Rabbi of Sighet, the Yitav Lev. Part I – Lviv, 1881; Part II – Munkacs, 1883. First edition. Two parts in two volumes.
Chassidic discourses and sermons on the festivals. The author's name does not appear on the title page, and is alluded to only in the word "Yitav" (initials of Yekutiel Yehudah Teitelbaum).
First edition, printed in the lifetime of the author. Part II of the book was published days before his passing, in Elul 1883, and when the new book was brought to his sickbed, he kissed it on every side and "shed tears of happiness that he merited to see it" (introduction to Avnei Tzedek).
On title page of Part I, signatures and ownership inscriptions.
• Yitav Panim, sermons and Chassidic discourses on the festivals by Rebbe Yekutiel Yehudah Teitelbaum, Rabbi of Sighet, the Yitav Lev. Khust, 1912. Second edition. Two parts in two volumes. First edition to identify the author.
• Rav Tuv LeBeit Yisrael, commentaries on the Torah by Rebbe Yekutiel Yehudah Teitelbaum, the Yitav Lev, Rabbi of Sighet. Lviv, 1889. First edition.
On the last leaf are printed two letters from the author: "Regarding the problem that has arisen in winemaking… so as not to transgress the prohibition of Chametz on Pesach and Yein Nesech".
On title page, signature in pencil: "A. Y. Weinberger" [apparently a descendant of R. Avraham Yitzchak Weinberger, Rabbi of Kleinwardein (Kisvárda, 1805-1885, author of Pnei Yitzchak].
• Responsa Avnei Tzedek, on the four parts of the Shulchan Aruch, by Rebbe Yekutiel Yehudah Teitelbaum, Rabbi of Sighet (author of Yitav Lev). Lviv, 1885-1886. First edition. Both parts in one volume. Deficient copy. Fragile paper with major tears. Title page of Part II bound at beginning of volume, along with a detached title page of Part I (from another copy). Stamps of R. Tzvi Hirsch Friedman (author of Tzvi Chemed), with many handwritten notations by him (on the pages of the book, endpapers and an attached leaf), including notes on mentions of his father R. Menashe Simchah Friedman Rabbi of Sobrance, his grandfather the Gaon of Hajdúnánás, and other rabbis from his family.
Rebbe Yekutiel Yehuda Teitelbaum, Rabbi of Sighet – the Yitav Lev (1808-1883), a close disciple of his grandfather the Yismach Moshe – Rebbe Moshe Teitelbaum Rabbi of Ujhel, and disciple of Rebbe Asher Yeshayah of Ropshitz. In 1833 he was appointed rabbi of Stropkov, and after the passing of his illustrious grandfather, he was selected to succeed him as Rabbi of Ujhel (Sátoraljaújhely), and was later appointed Rabbi of Gorlitz (Gorlice), Drohobych and finally Sighet (Sighetu Marmației), where he founded a large yeshiva and earned worldwide renown, with thousands of Chassidim flocking to seek his counsel and blessings.
6 volumes. Size and condition vary. New bindings. The books have not been thoroughly examined, and are being sold as is.
PLEASE NOTE: Some lot descriptions were shortened in translation. For further information, please refer to the Hebrew text.