Auction 96 Early Printed Books, Chassidut and Kabbalah, Books Printed in Jerusalem, Letters and Manuscripts
Chukei Chaim, responsa and novellae on the Talmud, Rambam and more by R. Chaim Avraham Gagin, Rishon LeTzion and Chacham Bashi. Jerusalem: R. Yisrael Bak, [1842].
The author, R. Chaim Avraham Gagin, "Rav Agan", leading Jerusalem Torah scholar and kabbalist. He was the first Rishon LeTzion (Chief Rabbi of Jerusalem) to receive the official title of Chacham Bashi (official representative of the Jews) from the Ottoman authorities.
Dedication handwritten and signed by author, Rav Agan, on title page: "Given as a gift to R. Asher son of David and his partner Avraham son of Gershon, from me, the author Agan".
Signature on title page: "Shlomo son of David".
[2], 170 leaves. Misfoliation. 30 cm. Good-fair condition. Stains. Wear and creases. Small marginal tears to some leaves. Worming to last leaves, affecting text. New binding.
Section 33 (leaves 57-59) contains a responsum about the printer of the present book, R. Yisrael Bak, who had previously worked as a printer in Safed. The responsum mentions hundreds of books that were lost while being shipped to Izmir, as well as an unfulfilled plan of his to print Chumash and Zohar editions.
Sh. Halevy, no. 9.
Divrei Shalom, commentary on Etz Chaim and Shemonah Shearim, with homilies by R. Refael Avraham Shalom Mizrachi Sharabi, grandson of the Rashash, published by the author's son-in-law R. Chaim Avraham Gagin (Rav Agan). Jerusalem: Yisrael Bak, [1843].
On title page, dedication handwritten and signed by R. Shalom Moshe Chai (Samach) Gagin, son of the publisher Rav Agan, to R. Yosef Nisim Burla. Below, ownership inscription of the recipient.
After the approbations appears an introduction by Rav Agan describing his controversial appointment as Rishon LeTzion. After the introduction are printed kabbalistic responsa.
R. Shalom Moshe Chai [Samach] Gagin (1833-1883), leading Jerusalem Torah Scholar, son of the Rishon LeTzion R. Chaim Avraham Gagin, Rav Agan. Studied in the Beit El kabbalistic yeshiva and served as its emissary, and later succeeded his father as its dean.
R. Yosef Nisim Burla (1828-1903), leading Jerusalem Torah scholar, served as emissary for Eretz Israel in North Africa and later appointed head of the Jerusalem Beit Din.
[6], 154 leaves. 29 cm. Good-fair condition. Stains. Wear and creases. Tears, including open tears to several leaves, affecting text in a few places. Worming, affecting text of last leaves. Large stamp on title page. New leather binding.
Sh. Halevy, no. 11.
Shem Chadash, Parts I-II, commentary on Sefer Yere'im by R. Chaim Daniel Shlomo Penso. Jerusalem: R. Yisrael Bak, [1843]. Divisional title page for Part II.
On title page, handwritten dedication by the publisher, the author's son, R. Rachamim Yisrael Penso, to the philanthropist Chaim Kalev Kalpo.
Additional inscription on title page, on the donation of the book by the latter to the Magen Shaul yeshiva [in Izmir].
Two parts in one volume. Part I: [4], 123, [1] leaves. Part II: [4], 84, [2] leaves. Approx. 29 cm. Fair condition. Stains. Wear. Worming in many places, affecting text. New binding.
Sh. Halevy, no. 15.
Keter Shem Tov – Kenaf Renanim, poems in honor of Sir Moses Montefiore, by R. Yaakov HaLevi Sapir. Jerusalem: Yisrael Bak, [1849].
The book includes four poems in honor of Sir Moses Montefiore, for two of his visits in Eretz Israel and for his efforts in the Damascus blood libel and for Russian Jewry.
On the last page of the book, R. Yaakov Sapir gives a poetic summary of his life in the 17 years since he immigrated to Eretz Israel.
R. Yaakov HaLevi Sapir (1822-1885), traveler, emissary and scholar. Born in Russia, he immigrated to Eretz Israel, where he served as a schoolteacher, secretary of the Perushim community and occasionally a poet. On voyages as an emissary, he kept a detailed travelogue, and his writings comprise the first ethnography of Yemenite Jewry as well as a philological study of their manuscripts.
26, [1] pages. 21.5 cm. Light-colored paper, with fine margins. Good condition. Light stains and traces of former dampness. New binding.
Sh. Halevy, no. 45.
Printed leaf, beginning of Shaar HaYirah of Reshit Chochmah by R. Eliyahu de Vidas. [Jerusalem: Yisrael Bak, ca. 1860s].
Single leaf with the beginning of Shaar HaYirah of Reshit Chochmah, apparently part of an attempted printing that was discontinued.
The font and typography indicate that this leaf was printed by Yisrael Bak, evidently ca. 1860s.
[1] leaf. 21.5 cm. Good condition. Bottom margins repaired with paper. 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.
Printed leaf, Shemirah (protection) for home and childbed. Jerusalem: [Yisrael Bak, 1863].
At the center of the leaf appears Psalm 121. On its right is a prayer from Avodat HaKodesh by the Chida, and on its left an invocation against the evil eye by the Chida. At the bottom of the leaf are verses, invocations and Holy Names. Chronogram for year in margins.
Printed dedication by R. Avraham Charosh with blank space, filled out by hand in square letters: "Benin Menachem" [Menachem Benin, apparently of the Yemenite community in Eretz Israel].
[1] leaf, approx. 17.5x30 cm. Fair-poor condition. Stains. Much worming and open tears, affecting text, repaired with tape and paper filling (tape mounted around entire margins of leaf). Newly bound.
Rare. Undocumented by Sh. Halevy, and documented in the Bibliography of the Hebrew Book based on a photocopy (the NLI website contains a photocopy of the present copy).
Formerly of the collection of Dr. Israel Mehlman, with inscriptions in his handwriting on endpaper.
Shever Poshim, documents and polemics on the kollels in Hebron, by R. Yehudah Papo [grandson of the Pele Yoetz]. Jerusalem: R. Yisrael Bak, [1862].
Printed without title page. Title and imprint at top of first page.
The work relates to an episode beginning in 1854 following the appointment of R. Yosef Shalom of Baghdad as director of the city kollels by the residents of Hebron. R. Yosef Shalom refused to offer an accounting of public funds he had received and went so far as to appeal to the British, leading to the jailing of two rabbis. Rabbis of Hebron, Jerusalem, Safed and Tiberias demanded R. Yosef Shalom's removal from public office, and the signatories appear in this booklet.
32, [2] leaves. Approx. 20 cm. Fair-good condition. Many stains. Light wear. Worming, affecting text. New binding.
Sh. Halevy, no. 69.
Dimat HaAshukim, polemical work of the Sephardi rabbis in Hebron against R. Avraham Chaim Penso, following his support for the Chief Rabbi of the city, R. Eliyahu Mani. Jerusalem: [Yitzchak Gościnny and Yitzchak Gagin, 1879].
Booklet of Hebron residents against R. Avraham Chaim Penso and his work Minchat Kenaot, a work defending R. Eliyahu Suleiman Mani, the Chief Rabbi of Hebron, whom some Sephardi rabbis attempted to remove from office and appoint R. Rachamim Yosef Franco instead. The book includes an "approbation" signed by 66 residents of Hebron as well as approbations from Jerusalem rabbis. According to Sh. Halevy, the author of the work is R. Shalom Chai Gagin.
[1] title cover, [1[, 55 pages. 17.5 cm. Dry paper. Fair-good condition. Open tears to title cover and additional leaves, repaired with paper filling, and minute open tears to several leaves, slightly affecting text. New binding.
Sh. Halevy, no. 326.
Shaarei Tzedek – Shaar HeChatzer, on the virtues of Eretz Israel, by R. David Ben-Shimon (Rav Devash). Jerusalem: R. Yisrael Bak, [1862].
203 leaves. 32.5 cm. Most leaves in good condition. Stains. Strip of paper mounted on upper margins of title page. Tear to one leaf. New binding and new endpapers, with original leather spine.
Sh. Halevy, no. 72.
This book was printed together with Ulam HaShaar, which was bound with some of its copies. The present copy was not bound with Ulam HaShaar (these books were listed separately by Sh. Halevy; see next lot).
Ulam HaShaar, on the virtue of Eretz Israel, by R. David Ben-Shimon (Rav Devash). [Jerusalem: R. Yisrael Bak, 1862].
28 leaves. 32.5 cm. Overall good condition. Many stains to some leaves. New binding.
Sh. Halevy, no. 73.
Partial title page at beginning of book.
Ulam HaShaar was printed along with the book "Shaarei Tzedek" and was sometimes bound at its beginning or end. The copy in the present lot is not bound with "Shaarei Tzedek" (the two books were listed separately by Sh. Halevy; see previous lot).
Passover Haggadah with commentary Bizat Mitzrayim by R. Akiva, Rabbi of Barysaw. Jerusalem: R. Yisrael Bak, 1865.
Illustration of the Machpelah cave on verso of title page.
Does not contain two last leaves with songs at the end of the Haggadah, commentary on Chad Gadya by the Vilna Gaon and supercommentary by R. Shlomo of Talachyn.
Stamps on title page of the famous kabbalist R. "Aharon Avraham Slotky" (1883-1976), a close disciple of R. Chaim Shaul HaKohen Dweck and R. Alfandari, a leading Jerusalem kabbalist and dean of the Shaar HaShamayim yeshiva and later of the Ahavat Shalom kabbalistic yeshiva.
[1], 3-26, [2] leaves. Missing two final leaves. 21 cm. Fair-good condition. Many stains, including dampstains. Wear. Tears, including open tears to margins of title page and to additional leaves, slightly affecting text, repaired with paper filling. Light worming, affecting text. New binding.
Yaari 932; Otzar HaHaggadot 1257; Sh. Halevy no. 110.
Mizrach poster, with Segulah Niflaah by R. Shimson of Ostropoli. Jerusalem: printer not indicated, [ca. 1875].
Printed poster, captioned "Mizrach" at the top, and below it the Segulah by R. Shimshon of Ostropoli for times of pollution and plague. Below it is printed a kabbalistic chart based on a Holy Name.
On the sides of the poster are printed two illustrations, an illustration of the Western Wall and the Temple Mount, and an overview of the Old City of Jerusalem and its walls. On the bottom part of the leaf are the details of the publisher, R. Yissachar Ber Zwebner, publisher of Ohel Avraham by his father R. Avraham Shag.
40.5X35 cm. Fair-poor condition. Many stains, including dampstains, on both sides of leaf. Many folding marks, and creases, affecting text. Tears to folds and margins of leaf, including open tears affecting frame of leaf and text. Worming. The poster is mounted on old, thick paper.
Rare leaf. Not documented by Sh. Halevy. The Bibliography of the Hebrew Book records this poster based on a copy from the Valmadonna Trust Library.