Rabbi Yitzchak Frances, Signature Rabbi Chaim Nissim Abulafia
Sefer Knesset HaGedolah, Yoreh De’ah, by Rabbi Chaim Benvenisti. Constantinople, [1711]. First edition.
Title page of book contains ownership signature: “Acquisition for worship of my Creator, 1723, I, Yitzchak son of Rabbi Moshe Frances”. Many glosses in his handwriting upon title page, inner leaves of binding and sheets of book, some of which are signed in initials “Amitz” [=Amar [said] Yitzchak]. On leaf preceding title page copy of response pertaining to law of cheese production, sent by Rabbi Shlomo Amarelyev to Larissa. Leaf of back binding contains response by Rabbi Yitzchak Frances, signed “in my humble opinion it appears, Yitzchak, 15 Sivan, 1733”.
More recent ownership notations: “I was granted this…” [apparently, Rabbi Chaim Nissim Abulafia, 1774-1861, among greatest Torah scholars of Tiberias, Jerusalem and Eretz Yisrael. From 1855 served as chief rabbi of Jerusalem]. Ownership notation “in honor of prominent philanthropist… Meir Lisbona”.
Rabbi Yitzchak Frances, among scholars of Thessaloniki, served as chief rabbi in city of Larissa. Passed away before 1743 and in his well-known book “Pnei Yitzchak”, printed in Thessaloniki in 1743 he is referred to by term used for deceased “of blessed memory”. Approximately one hundred years preceding him, there was another Torah scholar in Thessaloniki by the name of Rabbi Yitzchak Frances who passed away in 1655 or 1672 who was a disciple of Rabbi Yitzchak Barki and of Rabbi Chaim Shabtai.
In the book Sha’arei Knesset HaGedolah (Jerusalem, 2006), glosses of Rabbi “Yitzchak son of Rabbi Moshe Frances” were printed from the manuscript in “Knesset HaGedolah” Choshen Mishpat (which were printed upon sheets of 1658 Izmir edition, a copy obtained from the estate of Rabbi Eliyahu Shlomo Kaviya Zitoni Av Beit Din of Beirut). In article by editors, they tend to ascribe the glosses to the senior Rabbi Yitzchak Frances [see attached material], however according to this book (printed in 1711), and the date accompanying the signature, it has been ascertained that Rabbi Yitzchak son of Moshe Frances is the second Rabbi Yitzchak Frances Av Beit Din of Larissa author of “Pnei Yitzchak” who lived in the first half of the 18th century.
[2], 206 leaves. 40.5 cm. Wide margins, fair condition, extensive wear and moth damage, majority of glosses complete. Antique leather binding, worn and damaged.

Sefer Didrei Tahara, on Shulchan Aruch laws of Niddah. By Rabbi Elchanan Ashkenazi Av Beit Din of Shetland. Dyhernfurth, 1808.
Signatures Rabbi “Avraham son of Rabbi Leib Shag”, “Avraham Shag of Frauenkirchen”. Handwritten signed notations of his grandson Rabbi Zalman Yulis. Dozens of erudite glosses in handwriting of Rabbi Avraham Shag.
The Ga’on Rabbi Avraham Shag-Zwebner (1801-1873), among greatest disciples of the Chatam Sofer and among Torah giants of his generation. Resided in Frauenkirchen [as noted in his signature]. From 1827 served in rabbinate of Shatelsdorf and from 1852 served as Av Beit Din of Kobersdorf. In 1873 immigrated to Jerusalem together with his prominent disciple Rabbi Yosef Chaim Sonnenfeld.
[1], 69 leaves. 37.5 cm. Good-fair condition, extensive usage wear. Original worn binding.

Sefer Chok Yosef, on Shulchan Aruch, laws of Pesach [with text], Rabbi Yosef son of Rabbi David of Breslau. Amsterdam, [1730]. First edition. Ownership signature “Naftali Hirsch son of Rabbi Gumprich of Harburg”. Lengthy erudite glosses; in some, writer refers to sayings which he wrote in his books “Chok Ya’akov” and “Chemed Moshe”. In one gloss he presents a law regarding the selling of Chametz [leavened food] on behalf of the “Ga’on Rabbi Moshe Hechim rabbi of congregation of Ansbach” as well as letter written in Nisan 1808 “to my father, rabbi and mentor”.
Apparently, Rabbi Naftali Hirsch served in rabbinate of Harburg between c. 1800-1810. It seems that he is the writer of the glosses.
[1], 52, [1] leaves. 22 cm. Quality paper, fair condition, creases and stains.

Eshlei Ravrevei – Shulchan Aruch, Yoreh Deah. [Amsterdam, 1756].
On the sheet margins are dozens of long glosses in fine Ashkenazi rabbinic handwriting. Most glosses are copied from the glosses of Rabbi Yechezkel Landau, author of the “Nodah B'Yehuda” printed under the name “Dagul MeRevava” by his son Rabbi Yisrael Landau in Prague in 1794, and later were joined to the various editions of the Shulchan Aruch. The writer added to the signature of each gloss: "AMU" – acronym of Adoni Mori U'Rabi (my Master, my Teacher and my Rabbi), and this is evidence that the writer is one of the disciples of the “Nodah B'Yehuda”.
A few of the glosses were written by the writer himself. In two of them he writes: "And so it is in the responsum of my Master, my Teacher and my Rabbi, Nodah B'Yehuda…". In another place he brings a question and answer in the name of his teacher: "One should ask, is it not set out in the mishnah… and my Master, my Teacher and my Rabbi answers…". In one of his glosses he copies words in the name of "My Teacher in his responsa", and in another place he testifies: "… and so I did in 1796 when a brit milah for twins happened here…". As of now, we have not yet been successful in identifying the person under discussion.
The comparison between these glosses and those printed in “Dagul MeRevava” has not been thoroughly investigated. Some are slightly different from the printed versions; probably the disciple copied the glosses from the original copy glossed by his teacher the “Nodah B'Yehuda”. Amongst these glosses are also some glosses of the “Mahadura Kama” (first edition) printed in “Dagul M'Revava Kama” in Ungvar 1864 [and in the editions of the Shulchan Aruch of ‘Machon Yerushalayim’ they are called “Dagul M'Revava Tanina”].
252, [2] leaves (missing title page). 38 cm. Good condition, stains and wear. Antique leather binding, damaged.

Shulchan Aruch Even HaEzer, with Be'er HaGolah and Ba'er Heitev, and with Pitchei Teshuva by Rabbi Avraham Zvi Hirsh Eisenstadt. Two volumes. [Johannesburg, 1857-1861]. First edition of “Pitchei Teshuva” on Even HaEzer.
The sheets of both volumes are decorated with many hundreds of closely written glosses in the handwriting of Rabbi Eliezer Simcha Rabinowitz, most refer to the work “Pitchei Teshuva” [some glosses are blurred or erased from ink spreading]. The cover leaves have scribbles and many quill tryouts, with a notation that the book belongs to "Rabbi E.S.R” [Eliezer Simcha Rabinowitz].
Rabbi Eliezer Simcha Rabinowitz (1832-1911), son of Rabbi Menachem Mendel (Mendeli) Av Beit Din of Kaunas. A renowned Lithuanian rabbi and leader of Russian Jewry who assisted Rabbi Yitzchak Elchanan Spector in current issues. Av Beit Din of Suwalki and later of Lomza [succeeded the Maharil Diskin]. A genius and erudite in Torah knowledge, Rabbi Yosef Rosen – the Rogachover said of him: "Er iz doch der Shas alien" [He himself is the Shas]. Wrote novellae on all Torah topics and the books in his library were full of his glosses. His novellae and comments were printed in the two volumes of “Chiddushei Rabbi Eliezer Simcha” (Machon Yerushalayim, 1993-1998), and his glosses on Ein Yitchak Responsa [by Rabbi Yitzchak Elchanan Spector] were printed in the Machon Yerushalayim edition of this responsa. These glosses also reflect Rabbi Eliezer Simcha's spectacular genius and constitute somewhat of a complete work on the whole Even HaEzer. As far as we know, the glosses were never printed.
[Part 1]: Simanim 1-118. [4], 117, 117-272 leaves. [Part 2]: Simanim 119-178. [4], 75, 176-309[7], [3] leaves. 22 cm. Good condition, stains and wear, notations and few tears. Old bindings, damaged.