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Chiddushei HaRashba on Tractate Niddah, and Chiddushei HaRashbatz on Tractates Niddah and Kinnim. Metz, [1777]. With a handwritten booklet, containing the glosses of R. Betzalel Ronsburg of Prague, on Chiddushei HaRashbatz to Tractate Niddah. [Cheshvan 1786].
Copy of R. Betzalel Ronsburg. At the top of the title page of the printed book, his signature: " Belongs to me, Betzalel R.B." [Betzalel Ronsburg]. On the margins are some fifteen handwritten glosses and corrections. Several leaves in his handwriting are bound at the end of the book, with a signed preface dated 30th Cheshvan 1786, in which he writes that while studying Chiddushei HaRashbatz, he decided to compose a separate composition for his glosses, rather than recording them in the margins (on the first leaf of this copy of Chiddushei HaRashbatz, there are several glosses in his handwriting, and R. Betzalel Ronsburg presumably later decided to record his glosses as an independent composition).
In his noteworthy preface to this composition, R. Betzalel writes that " when I studied tractate Niddah, I also studied in depth the novellae of the Rashbatz to tractate Niddah", and occasionally succeeded " to relate to his teachings which required notations… and I first considered recording my comments in the margins of the page, but I worried that I may G-d forbid sometimes make a mistake… I therefore decided to designate an independent section for my thoughts… and to carefully review my words, to the best of my ability". He then notes that this is the first time he is studying this tractate: " This is my first time studying this tractate and I have never studied it before nor learned it from my teachers". The preface concludes with an interesting signature: "… these are the words of the smallest of the students, B.R.B. son of R. Y. R.B. [Betzalel Ronsburg son of R. Yoel Ronsburg], Tuesday, Rosh Chodesh Kislev 1786".
R. Betzalel composed his illustrious composition Pitchei Niddah on tractate Niddah in 1786-1806 (published under the title Chochmat Betzalel, Jerusalem 1957), and it covers all the commentaries and teachings of the Rishonim on the Talmudic topics of this tractate. In his preface to Pitchei Niddah, he relates that he only began studying tractate Niddah and its laws after his wedding: "…all the years I lived in the various yeshivot, it didn't work out for my teachers to teach this tractate, and therefore I hurried and didn't delay, as I desired and I finished it in two years… and in 1787-1788, I composed the Mahadura Kama of this work". This manuscript, from the end of Cheshvan 1786, precedes the writing of the Mahadura Kama of Pitchei Niddah, which was written after two years of studying tractate Niddah in 1787-1788, as he writes in his preface to the present manuscript: " This is my first time studying this tractate, I have never studied it before nor learned it from my teachers". R. Betzalel composed the Mahadura Batra of his book Pitchei Niddah in 1802-1806, and it remained in manuscript form for many years, until it was published by Mossad HaRav Kook in 1957. As soon as it was published, it became one of the basic books for studying tractate Niddah, and it has since been reprinted in several editions.
R. Betzalel Ronsburg (R.B.; 1762-1820), a leading rabbi of his generation and a Torah scholar of Prague. He was the close disciple of the Noda BiYehuda. In his preface to his book Horah Gaver, R. Betzalel mentions his teacher: "Every single Shabbat… I did not desist from hearing Torah from him" and in his responsa, he terms him "the greatest of the Acharonim". His books include: Horah Gaver on Tractate Horayot (the only book which was published in his lifetime). Many of his compositions and novellae were lost over the years, and in recent time, his composition Chochmat Betzalel – Pitchei Niddah, and his book of responsa were published. His glosses on the Talmud were printed in the Prague edition of the Talmud, and later in the Vilna edition, under the title Hagahot R. B. Ronsburg. His commentary to the Rosh – Sedeh Tzofim, is also printed in the Talmud editions.
Other inscriptions and signatures: on the front endpaper, an inscription recording the borrowing of the book: "This book was lent to me by R. Betzalel R.B.". Many signatures and stamps of R. David HaKohen Salzer (a rabbi and dayan in Munkacs).
[1], 33 leaves + booklet of [8] additional leaves, containing 5 handwritten pages. 20 cm. Good-fair condition. Large dampstains. Extensive wear. Minor tears. Damage to page corners (repaired with paper). Stamps. New leather binding.