Passover Haggadah, with order of searching and destroying chametz, blessings and kiddush, and many illustrations. Amsterdam: Uri Phoebus son of Aharon HaLevi, 1662.

This is the first illustrated Haggadah printed in Amsterdam and is modeled on the Venice edition (1605). Woodcut illustrations.

With Yiddish translation, in Tzenah URenah font, to Echad Mi Yodea (the last leaf, containing the conclusion of Echad Mi Yodea and Chad Gadya, is lacking in the present copy).

On the illustrations in this Haggadah, see: Cecil Roth, HaHaggadah HaMetzuyeret ShebiDefus, Areshet, III, 1961, p. 22.

Passover Haggadah, with the Abarbanel commentary and explanations. Amsterdam: Shlomo Katz Proops, 1712.

Two title pages, the first with illustrations depicting the figures of Moses and Aaron, and the scene of Moses at the burning bush. A folded plate with a map of Eretz Israel is bound at the end of the Haggadah. The illustrations and map are copper engravings created by the convert Avraham son of Yaakov (from the Amsterdam 1695 Haggadah).

Newly bound with parts of original binding, ornamented on both sides with a cartouche and crown, with the caption "Haggadah Shel Pesach" in its center (these are the original bindings made for the Amsterdam Haggadot; see also previous item).

Ownership inscription on first title page: "This Haggadah belongs to Akiva son of Naftali, I received it as a gift from my father-in-law R. Hertz Chazan, Erev Pesach 1762". Additional inscription, cut off, at the top of the same title page, mentioning "the important woman… Mrs. Reizel…", signed by "Yehudah Aryeh Leib son of R. Gedaliah[?], [1781]".

Passover Haggadah – Beit Chorin, with commentary of Alshich, Gevurot Hashem and Olelot Efraim. Metz: Moshe May and Joseph Antoine, 1767.

Two title pages, the first with an illustrated engraving. Copper-engraved illustrations based on those of the convert Avraham son of Yaakov in the Amsterdam Haggadah.

There are known to be slight differences between copies in the text of the illustrated title page and marginal caption with the printer's name.

At the end of the Haggadah is a folded plate containing a map of the journeys of the Children of Israel from Egypt to Eretz Israel, with illustrations of the Tabernacle, its vessels and the high priest around the margins, with explanatory captions in German (the map is signed in print: Colin Fecit 1753).

Signature on illustrated title page: "Natan son of R. Efraim".

Maaleh Beit Chorin, Passover Haggadah, with commentaries (Maharal, Alshich, Abarbanel and others) and illustrations. Amsterdam: widow and son of Yaakov Proops Katz, 1810.

Two title pages (first one illustrated with copper engravings). Many engraved illustrations.

At the end of the book, a map of Eretz Israel is enclosed, showing the travels of the Children of Israel in the desert and the division of the Land amongst the tribes. The map and copper engravings are after the illustrations of the convert Avraham son of Yaakov in the Amsterdam Haggadah, 1712.

[2], 9, 50 leaves + [1] folded map. 26.5 cm. Good-fair condition. Stains, including dampstains. Many food and wine stains to some leaves. Light wear and creases. Tear to map, affecting illustration (without loss), repaired, and small marginal open tear, not affecting illustration. Original leather binding with gilt decorations, and original colorful endpapers. Wear and damage to binding (open tear to spine).

Yaari 370; Otzar HaHaggadot 526.

Nishmat Chaim, inquiries on the soul and its immortality, by R. Menasseh ben Israel. Amsterdam: printed by son of author – Samuel Abarbanel Soeiro, 1651. First edition.

Copy of R. Yair Chaim Bacharach, Rabbi of Worms, author of Chavot Yair. On title page (under the title) appears his signature (faded): "Yair Chaim Bacharach".

Another signature, partially deleted by ink, of former owner: "Moshe son of [Eliezer] Katz [Rabbi of Metz]" – signature of R. Moshe Katz Naral, Rabbi of Metz (on his familial relationship with the Chavot Yair, see below).

Many glosses on leaves of the book, most apparently handwritten by R. Moshe Naral and some handwritten by the Chavot Yair.

On verso of title page, dedication in Sephardic semi-cursive script: "A gift sent from me, the author, to the most virtuous and glorious crown of his people, R. Yitzchak son of R. Shimshon, governor and leader of the generation". The meaning of this inscription is not fully clear to us. It is not clear if this is a dedication by the author R. Menasseh ben Israel, nor who is the leader "R. Yitzchak son of R. Shimshon" (the name matches that of R. Yitzchak son of R. Shimshon Katz, son-in-law of the Maharal, who was also a grandfather of the Chavot Yair – but it is not reasonable that he is referred to, since he passed away in 1624 while the present book was printed in 1651).

Additional signatures on title page and following leaf: "Yitzchak Itzik…", "Shmuel Wimpe".

R. Yair Chaim Bacharach (1638-1701), Rabbi of Worms, prominent Torah scholar of his generation and leading halachic authority of all times. A disciple of his father R. Shimshon Bacharach and of R. Mendel Bass, Rabbi of Frankfurt. In 1666, he was appointed Rabbi of Koblenz, and in 1669, he returned to Worms as deputy rabbi to R. Aharon Teomim and dayan in the city. After the sack of Worms in 1689, he fled together with the community, and upon their return he was appointed to succeed his father and grandfather as rabbi of the city, a position he held until his passing. He was known as a tremendous Torah scholar, well-versed in all Torah fields, with a phenomenal memory and outstanding erudition which are reflected in his works. He was also well versed in sciences. He composed dozens of works, most of which remained in manuscript; some were published in recent times. He is however best known for his responsa work Chavot Yair. Although Chavot Yair only contains a small part of over six hundred responsa which he prepared for print, the book was received as a fundamental responsa work and important source for halachic ruling, and is mentioned repeatedly in halachic literature until this day. His other works include: Mekor Chaim, commentary on Shulchan Aruch Orach Chaim, which he prepared for print but before it was actually published, Maginei Eretz appeared, containing the Turei Zahav and Magen Avraham commentaries, which are composed in a similar way to his work, compelling him to rewrite his work (it was eventually published based on his manuscript in 1982-1984); Mar Kashisha – Talmudic methodology, published in 1993; and a huge encyclopedic work of forty-six volumes which was lost, of which only the index part titled Yair Netiv is extant.

In relation to the present copy, the Chavot Yair mentions this book several times in his works, including at the beginning of his "dedicated introduction" to his Mekor Chaim, where he writes: "Since man's soul longs to establish a reputation… as pleasantly explained by the Torah scholar and philosopher R. Menasseh ben Israel in his book Nishmat Chaim…".

R. Moshe Katz Naral (ca. 1598-1659), Rabbi of Metz, a leading Polish Torah scholar, disciple of the Maharsha and peer of R. Yehoshua Heshel of Cracow. At first he disseminated Torah in several Polish cities, but in the wake of the Chmielnicki massacres he fled to Metz, where he was appointed as rabbi. His son is R. Tuviah Katz HaRofe, author of Maaseh Tuviah (Venice 1707). His work Birkat Tov (Venice 1711) was printed by the same son. When R. Moshe Naral passed away, R. Shimshon Bacharach – father of the Chavot Yair – married his widow, making R. Tuviah HaRofe the stepbrother of the Chavot Yair, which is likely also how the present book passed from R. Moshe Naral to the Chavot Yair.