Auction 100 – Important Hebrew Manuscripts and Books from the Victor (Avigdor) Klagsbald Collection
Jan 21, 2025
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Displaying 181 - 192 of 200
Auction 100 – Important Hebrew Manuscripts and Books from the Victor (Avigdor) Klagsbald Collection
Jan 21, 2025
Opening: $30,000
Estimate: $40,000 - $70,000
Sold for: $87,500
Including buyer's premium
Shaar HaShamayim siddur – prayers for weekdays, Shabbat and festivals, Yotzerot, Passover Haggadah, Piyyutim and Selichot for fast days, Tehillim and Maamadot. With Shaar HaShamayim – a kabbalistic commentary on the prayers, by R. Yeshayah HaLevi Horowitz – the Shlah. Includes an anthology of laws and practices, by the editor and publisher R. Avraham Segal Horowitz of Posen, great-grandson of the author. Amsterdam, [1717]. First edition.
Complete copy containing all parts. Four title pages; on first title page, copper engraving with illustrations of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob and the festivals. Divisional title pages for Tehillim and Maamadot.
The Shlah writes in his introduction to the siddur: "Blessed is G-d… Who guided me on the true path… and brought me to the holy city of Jerusalem in 1622… to the gate where prayers ascend… through the gate of heaven (Shaar HaShamayim)". In the author's will printed at the beginning of the siddur, he adds that he decided to author this work "so that it would be printed and spread throughout the Jewish diaspora, so that I would have merit and a portion in all Jewish prayers".
Most of the prayers in this siddur follow the Ashkenazi rite, apart from some prayers which were printed side by side in both Ashkenazi and Sephardi rite, as the author requested in his will (although the editor and publisher did not in fact follow all the author's textual instructions for the siddur).
Praying from this siddur has the special segulah of the prayer being accepted, as the Bach writes in his approbation to this siddur: "We have no doubt that when it is disseminated throughout the Jewish people, whoever prays from it will not have his prayer go unanswered". This segulah is repeated by Rebbe Avraham Yaakov of Sadigura in his approbation to the third edition of the siddur (Warsaw 1882). The kabbalist R. Naftali Katz, author of Semichat Chachamim, attributes this segulah to the author himself, the Shlah: "He was especially fond of this siddur, and he instructed his descendants to publish it in order to bring merit to the public by praying in this order with those kavanot. And there is a promise on his part that those who follow this order before Him Who hears prayer with all their strength and with those kavanot will not return emptyhanded…".
The Baal HaTanya reputedly followed the kavanot of the Shlah in this siddur for his prayer service during his youth (Beit Rebbe, Berditchev 1902, p. 2, chapter 1).
Complete copy. [5], 4-335; 139; 130; [1], 52 leaves. 21.5 cm. Some browned leaves. Fair-good condition. Stains, including dampstains and dark stains. Wear. Tears and open tears, including open tears to illustrated title page and margins of first and last leaves, slightly affecting title frame, repaired with paper. Open tear to leaf 165, affecting text (torn piece included, detached from leaf). Worming, affecting text, mainly to last leaves, partially repaired with paper filling. Early leather binding, with repairs to spine and new endpaper. Damage to binding.
CB, no. 5808,11.
Category
Prayer Books and Classic Books – Amsterdam Presses
Catalogue
Auction 100 – Important Hebrew Manuscripts and Books from the Victor (Avigdor) Klagsbald Collection
Jan 21, 2025
Opening: $700
Estimate: $1,000 - $2,500
Sold for: $5,250
Including buyer's premium
Tehillim, divided for the days of the week and the days of the month, with two commentaries, one concise and one lengthy. Amsterdam: Proops, 1740. Bound with: Seder Maamadot, arranged for the days of the week, by R. Yeshayah HaLevi Horowitz – the Shlah. Amsterdam: Proops, 1742.
Fine copy, bound in original elegant leather binding, with many gilt decorations and original colorful endpaper.
Book of Tehillim, with a fine illustrated title page. Small format, "in a small volume, for ease of travel, with most beautiful type, paper and ink" (as printed on the title page). Both commentaries were originally printed with the Shaar HaShamayim siddur of the Shlah (Amsterdam, 1717), edited by the Shlah's great-grandson, R. Avraham Horowitz. The book opens with instructions for reciting psalms, by R. Avraham Horowitz.
The lengthy commentary is by R. Moshe son of Yisrael de Mercado, from his Commentary to Kohelet and Tehillim (Amsterdam, 1653), and was reprinted in the 1717 edition with changes (see: R. Yitzchak Yeshayah Weiss, On Editions of the Shlah Siddur and the Commentaries Therein, Tzefunot, XVII, 1993, pp. 28-31). The concise commentary may have been authored by R. Avraham Horowitz.
This Tehillim is bound with Seder Maamadot, arranged by the Shlah, as stated on the title page, with a commentary )by R. Avraham Saraval(. The foreword on verso of title page states that the printer of the first edition (appended to the Shaar HaShamayim siddur, Amsterdam, 1717) was not able to print the Maamadot with the additions of the Shlah, which are integrated in this edition for the first time.
Proops' printer's mark appears at the beginning of both Tehillim (p. 4b) and Maamadot (verso of title page).
Two books bound in one volume. 152; 60 leaves. 18.5 cm. Decorated gilt edges. Stains. Original decorated leather binding. Damage and wear to binding (repairs to spine).
Category
Prayer Books and Classic Books – Amsterdam Presses
Catalogue
![Mesilat Yesharim, containing all matters of ethics and fear of G-d, by R. Moshe Chaim Luzzatto, the Ramchal. [Amsterdam]:](https://files.kedem-auctions.com/files/Sale100/183.jpg "Mesilat Yesharim – Amsterdam, 1740 – First Edition – Early Leather Bin")
Auction 100 – Important Hebrew Manuscripts and Books from the Victor (Avigdor) Klagsbald Collection
Jan 21, 2025
Opening: $7,000
Estimate: $8,000 - $10,000
Sold for: $23,750
Including buyer's premium
Mesilat Yesharim, containing all matters of ethics and fear of G-d, by R. Moshe Chaim Luzzatto, the Ramchal. [Amsterdam]: Naftali Hertz Rofe, [1740]. First edition, printed during the lifetime of the Ramchal, while he was in Amsterdam (before he immigrated to Eretz Israel).
Fine copy, in early leather binding, with gilt decorations.
Mesilat Yesharim is renowned as a refined, clear summary of the Ramchal's other works (Derech Hashem, Daat Tevunot, Klach Pitchei Chochmah, and others), written in measured, precise language with great depth of thought. In his introduction to his edition of the book "Mesilat Yesharim – Im Iyunim", R. Yechezkel Sarna mentions a tradition in the name of the Vilna Gaon that no extraneous word can be found until chapter 11! R. Yerucham of Mir would tell his disciples that "Mesilat Yesharim is based on all the Ramchal's kabbalistic works, yet he simplified the concepts to make them more accessible to us, such that we feel that we have a connection to it when studying it" (Daat Chochmah UMusar, I, p. 249).
The author explains in his introduction that this work was composed to assist in the acquisition of ethical wisdom (musar) and fear of G-d, which cannot be achieved through knowledge alone. The purpose of this work is not the innovation of previously unknown concepts but rather constant review and meditation to anchor those ideas within one's soul. Indeed, this book has been accepted throughout the Jewish world as the primary book for the study of ethics.
When the Vilna Gaon first saw the book, he proclaimed that a new light has come down to illuminate the world. In his high regard for the book, he paid a gold coin for it. In his foreword to Derech Hashem, R. Y. Moltzan quotes the Vilna Gaon's statement that were the author still alive, he would have travelled on foot all the way to Italy to greet him. He further relates that the Vilna Gaon would frequently review the book.
Chassidic leaders likewise appreciated the great stature of the book and the holiness of its kabbalist author. The Maggid of Kozhnitz attested that all the heights he reached in his youth stemmed from the book Mesilat Yesharim. The Ohev Yisrael of Apta and R. Menachem Mendel of Rimanov diligently studied Mesilat Yesharim in great depth, and describe it in awesome and wondrous terms. The Rebbe of Apta would say that his spiritual direction and education were drawn first and foremost from the book Mesilat Yesharim (Sefer HaChassidut, p. 146). R. Nachman of Breslov would instruct new disciples to study Mesilat Yesharim (Sichot VeSipurim, p. 167), and the Bnei Yissachar wrote in his additions to the book Sur MeRa VaAseh Tov: "Study the book Mesilat Yesharim and you will quench your thirst and give delights to your soul; its words are sweeter than honey". R. Yaakov Yosef of Ostroh (Rav Yeibi) writes in his approbation to the Ramchal's book Klach Pitchei Chochmah (Korets, 1785): "The book Mesilat Yesharim, the paths of G-d which the righteous tread, written by the great rabbi… R. Moshe Chaim Luzzatto. And this is the Torah which Moshe presented to Israel, to understand the words of the wise and their riddles, through its upright teachings...". In his foreword to the same book, the publisher quotes the Maggid of Mezeritch who stated that "[the Ramchal's] generation was not worthy of appreciating his righteousness and temperance".
R. Yosef Zundel of Salant told his illustrious disciple R. Yisrael Salanter that when receiving a farewell blessing upon leaving the Volozhin yeshiva, he asked R. Chaim of Volozhin which ethics book to study. His teacher responded: "All musar books are good to study, but Mesilat Yesharim should be your guide".
Since its first printing in 1740, Mesilat Yesharim has been reprinted in hundreds of editions, and to this day remains the primary musar book studied in Torah and Chassidic study halls.
[6], 63 leaves. Approx. 15 cm. Good condition. Stains. Worming in one place to inner margins of some leaves. Tear to last leaf, slightly affecting text, without loss. Verso of title page repaired with paper. Tear to inner margin of leaf [3], not affecting text. Inscriptions on endpapers. Early leather binding with gilt decorations. Worming to binding and inside the front board, wear and damage to binding (open tear to corner of front binding).
CB, no. 6511,6; Zedner, p. 503.
Category
Prayer Books and Classic Books – Amsterdam Presses
Catalogue
Auction 100 – Important Hebrew Manuscripts and Books from the Victor (Avigdor) Klagsbald Collection
Jan 21, 2025
Opening: $800
Estimate: $1,000 - $1,200
Sold for: $1,375
Including buyer's premium
Selichot and Machzor for Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur according to Sephardic rite. Amsterdam: Immanuel Benveniste, 1642.
Small volume in pocket format, with fine original leather binding and gilt decorations. Gilt inscription on front of binding: "J.E.".
Divisional title page on p. 264: "Seder Arba Taaniot".
252 leaves. 9.5 cm. Gilt edges. Good condition. Stains. Original leather binding. Wear and damage to binding. Placed in cardboard case (new).
A Sephardic-rite year-round siddur with several parts was printed concurrently. The present book is one of those parts (the title at the beginning of Part I: "Seder Tefillot UPizmonim UTechinot VeKinot VeHaftarot Lechol Yemot HaShanah").
Rare edition.
CB, no. 2137; Zedner, p. 485; Roest, p. 735.
Category
Prayer Books and Classic Books – Amsterdam Presses
Catalogue
Auction 100 – Important Hebrew Manuscripts and Books from the Victor (Avigdor) Klagsbald Collection
Jan 21, 2025
Opening: $1,000
Estimate: $1,500 - $2,000
Sold for: $2,750
Including buyer's premium
Libro de las bendiciones, conforme el uzo del K.K. de España [Book of Blessings, according to the custom of the Spanish community], edited by Abraham Cohen de Lara. Amsterdam: Moseh Dias, 1707. Spanish.
At top of title page: "My help is from the Lord".
Contains various year-round blessings and prayers, including Passover Haggadah, Chanukah candle-lighting, and more. On last page, table of contents according to order of prayers.
The editor of the book, Abraham Cohen de Lara, served as cantor in the Portuguese community in Amsterdam between 1682-1694.
Inscription on endpaper: "Georges Casseres".
127, [1] pages. 12 cm. Fair-good condition. Stains, including dampstains. Wear. Worming. Tears, including open tear to one leaf, not affecting text. Several loose leaves. Early parchment binding, partially detached, with stains and damage.
Particularly rare edition. Does not appear in the NLI or OCLC catalogues. Not listed in Otzar HaHaggadot.
Category
Prayer Books and Classic Books – Amsterdam Presses
Catalogue
Auction 100 – Important Hebrew Manuscripts and Books from the Victor (Avigdor) Klagsbald Collection
Jan 21, 2025
Opening: $1,200
Estimate: $1,500 - $2,000
Sold for: $1,875
Including buyer's premium
Machzor with Kavanat HaPaytan, for high holidays and three festivals, "according to the rite of the Ashkenazim and other communities". With translation and explanations in Yiddish. Amsterdam: sons of Shlomo Proops Katz, 1750. Four volumes.
Complete, elaborate four-volume set, in original leather bindings, with gilt decorations. Gilt inscriptions of owner's name to front of each volume: "Belongs to R. Yitzchak ---" (the rest of the inscription is rubbed off of all volumes; in one volume the inscription is almost entirely erased).
First two volumes (labeled "Part I" on the title page) contain high holiday prayers, and last two volumes (labeled "Part II" on title page) contain prayers for the three festivals.
Early edition of machzor with Kavanat HaPaytan commentary (the commentary on the entire machzor was originally printed in Offenbach, 1744), containing short introductions before piyyutim explaining the author's intended meaning.
All volumes contain approbation of R. Aryeh Leib, Rabbi of Amsterdam, son-in-law of the Chacham Tzvi and father of R. Shaul of Amsterdam.
Inscriptions dated 1859 at beginnings of all volumes: "Donated by R. David son of Avraham Rakovs for[?] Eizik son of Avraham of Abbe".
Ownership inscription on front endpaper of second volume: "Belongs to Yehudah son of Mordechai, conclusion of Yom Kippur [?] 1807".
Two handwritten pages are added to the end of the second volume of Yom Kippur prayers (on back endpaper and inside the back board). On first page, the word "Ne'ilah" is written in large letters, followed by "this selichah is recited in Germany" (in Yiddish), followed by a short order of reciting the thirteen attributes. On the second page the selichah "Adon KeTikach Moed" is copied in neat handwriting, with the date 1807 appearing in the margins.
Four volumes. First volume (Rosh Hashanah): 20, 22-29; 100 leaves. 12 leaves of Shir HaYichud mistakenly bound again in Yom Kippur volume. Second volume (Yom Kippur): 20, 22-29; 12; 22; 164 leaves. Third volume (Sukkot and Shemini Atzeret): 20, 22-29; 12; 109 leaves. Fourth volume (Pesach and Shavuot): 20, 22-29; 12; 111; 72 leaves. 23.5-24 cm. Condition varies, good to good-fair. Stains. Tears in several places, including open tears, slightly affecting text. Original leather bindings, with original colorful endpaper. Wear and damage to bindings (open tears to second volume).
The copies recorded in the Bibliography of the Hebrew Book (listing 000172448) have pagination differing slightly from the present volumes. Some copies of the machzor feature illustrated title pages at beginnings of volumes, which do not appear in the present copies.
Zedner, p. 467.
Category
Prayer Books and Classic Books – Amsterdam Presses
Catalogue
Auction 100 – Important Hebrew Manuscripts and Books from the Victor (Avigdor) Klagsbald Collection
Jan 21, 2025
Opening: $1,200
Estimate: $1,500 - $1,800
Sold for: $1,875
Including buyer's premium
Siddur for Simchat Torah and other holidays, "according to the Shingly rite". Amsterdam: Yosef, Yaakov and Avraham son of Shlomo Proops, 1769.
Siddur according to the rite of the communities of Cochin, India. Cochin Jews traditionally hold Shingly (Cranganore / Kodungallur) to be the first site of Jewish settlement in the region (Kodungallur is a port city 18 km north of Cochin).
On title page: "These were all dispatched from the community of Cochin, from the elder R. Yechezkel Rachabi, to the community of the Hague… to be printed… in Amsterdam".
The siddur includes prayers for Simchat Torah, wedding ceremony (for wedding and Sheva Berachot, including piyyutim), havdalah, circumcision, Purim, prayers and piyyutim for Pesach evening, a brief selichot service and songs and piyyutim for Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur.
[1], 100 leaves. Approx. 16 cm. Good-fair condition. Stains, including dark dampstains. Damage to margins of title page, repaired with paper. New binding.
Zedner, p. 455; Roest, p. 700.
Category
Prayer Books and Classic Books – Amsterdam Presses
Catalogue
Auction 100 – Important Hebrew Manuscripts and Books from the Victor (Avigdor) Klagsbald Collection
Jan 21, 2025
Opening: $1,000
Estimate: $1,500 - $2,000
Sold for: $1,750
Including buyer's premium
Year-round siddur, following the Sephardic rite – siddur for weekdays, Shabbat and festivals. Amsterdam: Naftali Hertz Levi, [1739]. Miniature edition.
The first title page states that the book was printed "in the press of the master and expert physician R. Naftali Hertz Levi". On verso of leaf appears an introduction by Naftali Hertz Levi, stating that having seen a miniature siddur that was in small, unvocalized type unreadable to children, he decided to print this vocalized miniature siddur in beautiful type.
Divisional title page on leaf 223.
318 leaves. Approx. 5.5 cm. Most leaves in good condition. Stains. Small open tear to title page and tears to several other leaves, slightly affecting text. Early binding, with gilt inscriptions. Damage to binding, repaired with tape (front and back of binding loose and partially detached).
Several variants of this edition are recorded in the Bibliography of the Hebrew Book.
Category
Prayer Books and Classic Books – Amsterdam Presses
Catalogue
Auction 100 – Important Hebrew Manuscripts and Books from the Victor (Avigdor) Klagsbald Collection
Jan 21, 2025
Opening: $1,000
Estimate: $1,500 - $1,700
Sold for: $2,500
Including buyer's premium
Responsa Tashbetz, three parts, by R. Shimon son of Tzemach Duran. With Responsa Chut HaMeshulash by grandsons of the author. Amsterdam: Naftali Hertz Levi, [1738-1739]. First edition, with four title pages.
Reputedly, the author, R. Shimon son of Tzemach Duran, merited to have his books beautifully printed and elegantly bound by virtue of his practice to cover his open books with a lavish kerchief (R. Yitzchak Palachi, Yafeh LaLev, III, Yoreh Deah 277:3). Furthermore, it is told that he deeply respected his holy books and would clean them daily with a silk cloth (Sh.Y. Agnon, Sefer Sofer VeSipur, p. 152, related by R. Eliezerov in the name of the Tzemach Tzedek of Lubavitch; N. Ben Menachem, Gevilei Sefarim, pp. 11-12, related by R. Zevin in the name of the Rebbe Rashab of Lubavitch).
Interestingly, all copies of this book with the original bindings were artistically prepared by hand with fine ornamentation and decoration, with no copy identical to another. Most original bindings were made of fine vellum or a combination of leather and vellum, reminiscent of fish skin.
[11], 91; 69, [1]; 68, [1]; [1], 101, [1] leaves. 31 cm. Good condition. Stains. Worming and small tears to margins of title page and several other leaves. Stamps. Original elaborate parchment binding, with fine color and gilt artistic decorations. Light damage to binding.
This edition has several known variants, which can be distinguished by the number of title pages. Some copies are known to have seven to eight title pages (see Kedem Catalogue 59, Lot 88), while others, including the present copy, have only four title pages (see Bibliography of the Hebrew Book, and see: Dan and Gita Yardeni, Seder Hadpasato LaRishonah Shel Sefer HaTashbetz LeRabbi Shimon Bar Tzemach Duran BiDefus Naftali Hertz Levi BeAmsterdam, Alei Sefer, X, 1982, pp. 119-132).
The present copy contains four title pages, an illustrated title page for Part I (dated 1741), and one for each of the three sections of Part IV.
Category
Prayer Books and Classic Books – Amsterdam Presses
Catalogue
Auction 100 – Important Hebrew Manuscripts and Books from the Victor (Avigdor) Klagsbald Collection
Jan 21, 2025
Opening: $800
Estimate: $1,500 - $2,000
Sold for: $2,250
Including buyer's premium
Fundamento Solido, Baza y Thypo de la Sacro Sancta…, by Judah Leon de Joseph Perez. Amsterdam: Ishac Jeudah Leaõ Templo (R. Yehudah Leon Templo), 1728. Spanish. Additional title page in Hebrew: Yesod Oz, "published in a foreign tongue to bring merit to the mighty Jewish people, by a Jewish man of the family of Peretz, Yehudah Aryeh son of R. Yosef Peretz…".
Theological work in Spanish, with title page, colophon and approbations in Hebrew. The work was written for the Marranos, descendants of the Jews forcibly converted to Christianity in Spain and Portugal, who returned to their religion, with the aim of explaining various Jewish concepts, commandments and customs. The work was modeled on the Catholic catechism, in the form of questions and answers on the fundamentals of the Jewish faith.
The author,
R. Yehudah son of Yosef Peretz, author of Perach HaLevanon (Berlin, 1712) and Shaarei Rachamim (Venice, 1710), scion of one of the most distinguished Jewish families in Spain. Served as rabbi in Venice and Amsterdam. The Hebrew colophon describes the author's miraculous salvation from a shipwreck during a trip from London to Amsterdam for the purpose of printing the present book, with his original thanksgiving poem.
R. Yehudah son of Yosef Peretz, author of Perach HaLevanon (Berlin, 1712) and Shaarei Rachamim (Venice, 1710), scion of one of the most distinguished Jewish families in Spain. Served as rabbi in Venice and Amsterdam. The Hebrew colophon describes the author's miraculous salvation from a shipwreck during a trip from London to Amsterdam for the purpose of printing the present book, with his original thanksgiving poem.
For more information on the book, see: Yosef Hayim Yerushalmi, "The Re-Education of Marranos in the Seventeenth Century", in: The Faith of Fallen Jews: Yosef Hayim Yerushalmi and the Writing of Jewish History, Massachusetts, 2014, pp. 157-174.
On R. Yehudah son of Yosef Peretz and his family history, see: Michal Saraf (Malachi), Ayelet Chishki Kelilat Yofi – Toldot Rabbi Aharon Peretz, Lod: Habermann Institute for Literary Research, 1994, pp. 13-21.
[10] leaves, 126, 129-137, [3] pages. Approx. 18 cm. Good condition. Light stains. Minor marginal tears to a few leaves. Worming to bottom of leaves, not affecting text. Bookplate on inside of front cover. Inscriptions on inside of front cover and on front endpaper. Cardboard binding with leather spine and corners. Wear, minor tears and worming to binding. Minor rubbing and tears to spine.
Kayserling, p. 88.
Category
Prayer Books and Classic Books – Amsterdam Presses
Catalogue
Auction 100 – Important Hebrew Manuscripts and Books from the Victor (Avigdor) Klagsbald Collection
Jan 21, 2025
Opening: $1,000
Estimate: $2,000 - $3,000
Sold for: $13,750
Including buyer's premium
Shulchan Aruch, with additional laws by R. Moshe Isserles, and Be'er HaGolah by R. Moshe Rivkes. Complete set – Orach Chaim, Yoreh Deah, Even HaEzer and Choshen Mishpat. Amsterdam: Yosef Attias, 1661-1664. First edition of Be'er HaGolah, printed in the lifetime of the author. Four volumes.
Fine, complete set, with original wood and leather bindings, with remains of clasps and decorated gilt edges. Gilt inscription of owner's name at bottom of spine (erased in some volumes): "Calmer". The present copies belonged to the Jewish French baron Liefmann Calmer (1711-1784), an important personage among 18th century French Jewry (two of his three sons were executed during the French Revolution).
Two title pages in each part. First title page engraved with angelic figures, above the caption "in Amsterdam".
On last page of Choshen Mishpat, poem by R. Moshe Rivkes, author of Be'er HaGolah, composed upon completion of his work.
Four volumes. Orach Chaim: [3], 2-4, [4], 320 leaves. Yoreh Deah: [2], 2-339, [1] leaves. Even HaEzer: [3], 3-198, [1] leaves. Choshen Mishpat: [3], 3-486 leaves. 15.5 cm. Decorated gilt edges. Good condition. Stains. Original wood and leather bindings, with remains of clasps. Wear, damage and small tears to bindings and spines (rear cover of first volume detached, with tears to spine).
At the beginning of the first volume appear [2] leaves with "names of authors in the Shulchan Aruch and some abbreviations mentioned in Be'er HaGolah". These leaves are recorded in the Bibliography of the Hebrew Book based on a copy from a private collection; it is unclear whether they appear in all copies or were only added to some (the copy of the first volume recorded there was lacking at the beginning).
The approbations to this edition, appearing in the first volume, were apparently added after the printing of this part was completed, since some of them postdate the edition.
CB, no. 5940,17.
Category
Prayer Books and Classic Books – Amsterdam Presses
Catalogue
Auction 100 – Important Hebrew Manuscripts and Books from the Victor (Avigdor) Klagsbald Collection
Jan 21, 2025
Opening: $2,000
Estimate: $4,000 - $6,000
Sold for: $21,250
Including buyer's premium
Pi Shnayim, commentary on the Order of Zeraim by Rabbenu Asher (the Rosh), with additions by the publisher R. Elisha son of R. Avraham, and novellae by R. Yaakov Emden and R. Moshe Chagiz. Altona: Aharon son of Eliyahu Katz, [1735]. First edition of the commentary of the Rosh to the Order of Zeraim. Contains illustrative diagrams.
This work was published by R. Elisha son of R. Avraham of Grodno from a manuscript belonging to R. David Oppenheim. The book includes approbations by R. Moshe Chagiz, who was in Altona in the year the book was printed, and R. Yaakov Emden (Yaavetz), in Altona that year. R. Yaakov Emden added to his approbation an extract from his novellae to Tractate Rosh Hashanah, which was printed after the publisher's introduction. Several pages of novellae by R. Moshe Chagiz were printed at the end of the book (of which the publisher writes "what I found in the handwriting of the Torah scholar R. Moshe Chagiz of Jerusalem…").
The present copy belonged to R. Yaakov Emden, and contains his autograph glosses in two places in the book:
On the leaf containing the extract from his novellae, R. Yaakov Emden added notations and corrections, as well as a gloss.
In addition, to the novellae of R. Moshe Chagiz, R. Yaakov Emden added several lengthy glosses, most of them sharply-worded dissents criticizing R. Moshe Chagiz: "He speaks at length as if he saw what no one ever saw… he has the way of women…", "I resolved this well, but he didn't understand", "This is also nonsense…", "This is also futile breath and dribble to prolong the study…", "This is nonsense, and he forgot…"; "And he didn't understand the words of the Rashba…"; "He erred… and so why was he so upset, what was my transgression and my sin… he should have been grateful to us for leaving it for him to earn glory from".
In one of the glosses R. Yaakov Emden mentions his work: "…see what I wrote with the help of heaven in Shaar HaShir" (referring to the section on the Pesach Haggadah in his Siddur).
The background to the sharp glosses in the present book is revealed in R. Yaakov Emden's memoirs – Megilat Sefer (first printed in Warsaw, 1896), where R. Yaakov Emden recounts his tension with R. Moshe Chagiz, who was his partner in opposing Sabbateanism (including attacks on R. Yehonatan Eibeshitz and R. Moshe Chaim Luzzatto), and who was his neighbor in Altona for a few years. R. Yaakov Emden recounts that the present book was brought to him for an approbation. At that time, the main text of the book was already printed, and R. Yaakov Emden discovered that R. Moshe Chagiz's novellae printed at the end related to his own ideas in Lechem Shamayim on Tractate Bikurim (1:4). Although R. Moshe Chagiz did not explicitly mention R. Yaakov Emden or his work, R. Yaakov Emden was convinced that he was being referred to, and he felt that R. Moshe Chagiz was making ad hominem attacks on him deriving from personal rivalry and spite. R. Yaakov Emden mentions there that his approbation to the present book contains a veiled reference to R. Chagiz's novellae ("I will also speak, if G-d wills it, against the one who tried to find false pretexts against me…"). Handwritten in his personal copy, the present item, we find R. Yaakov Emden's impassioned responses to R. Moshe Chagiz's claims. R. Yaakov Emden later included the contents of these glosses in a lengthy passage written in response to R. Moshe Chagiz, in his work Asarah HaLechem printed at the end of Responsa She'elat Yaavetz (on Bikurim 1:4), where he adds further details to his account of the incident and to his response to R. Moshe Chagiz.
[6], 8, [8]; 1-21, [7], 29-76, 101-108 leaves (misfoliation). 21 cm. Fair condition. Dark paper. Stains. Tears and significant worming, affecting text, repaired with tape. New binding.
CB, no. 5015,1.
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Books by R. Yaakov Emden and Polemics against Sabbateans
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