Or Yisrael, ethical essays by R. Yisrael of Salant and his disciple R. Yitzchak (R. Itzele) Blazer. Vilna, 1900. First edition.
The book is comprised of four parts. The main part, Or Yisrael, contains "a collection of letters and various essays to enthuse hearts to the fear of G-d and the study of ethics", by R. Yisrael of Salant. The other parts named Shaarei Or, Netivot Or and Kochvei Or, were composed by his close disciple R. Yitzchak Blazer.
The front endpaper bears a stamp: "Yitzchak Blazer, previously rabbi of the capital city of Petersburg, Kovno".
R. Yitzchak Blazer, known as R. Itzele Peterburger (1837-1907), was a prominent disciple of R. Yisrael of Salant, and spread the Mussar Movement in the Lithuanian yeshivas. An exceptional Torah scholar - among the greatest of his time. A man of ethics, known for his holiness. At the behest of his teacher, R. Yisrael of Salant, he went to serve as rabbi of St. Petersburg, a position he held from 1862-1878. In 1878, he resigned and moved to Kovno (Kaunas), and from 1880 he headed the Kovno Kollel. After a while, he left this position as well and continued his holy work as a private individual. Throughout these periods, he delivered mussar discourses to his companions of the Mussar Movement and at the Knesset Yisrael Yeshiva in Slabodka (Vilijampolė). In 1902, he planned to immigrate to Eretz Israel and therefore sold his home and possessions in Kovno, but actually only arrived in Eretz Israel in 1904. Upon his arrival in Jaffa, he was greeted by many Jerusalemite Torah scholars. He settled in Batei Strauss, Jerusalem, together with leading figures of the Mussar Movement who had previously immigrated to Jerusalem. He authored Responsa Pri Yitzchak in two parts.
184 pages. 22 cm. Good condition. Stains. Bookplate of R. Sigmund Seligman. Original binding, with minor damage.

Etz Chaim, the Ari's Kabbalistic teachings, by R. Chaim Vital. Three parts. With the Yafeh Shaa commentary; the Shemesh commentary and Nahar Shalom - by R. Shalom Sharabi the Rashash; glosses and commentaries; and more, published by R. Menachem Menchin Heilperin. Warsaw, 1890 – Jerusalem, 1910.
Stamps of R. "Yechezkel Levenstein – Ponovezh Yeshiva – Menahel Ruchani".
R. Yechezkel Levenstein (1885-1974) was a leader of the mussar movement, product of the Kelm Talmud Torah. He was the Menahel Ruchani (spiritual administrator) of the Mir Yeshiva in Poland, Shanghai and Jerusalem. After R. Dessler's passing, he was appointed spiritual administrator of the Ponovezh Yeshiva in Bnei-Brak. A holy, pious man, he was known for his connection to G-d and his abstention from earthly pleasures (he was never seen leaning back in his chair, and other exceptional conducts). The effectiveness of his blessings and prayers was well known and many were saved through his blessings. During the Holocaust, while the Mir Yeshiva escaped to Vilna and the Far-East, his disciples saw clearly that his decisions and blessings were supernatural, directed by heavenly revelations. He was very well-versed in Kabbalah, yet in public he was particular to only deliver ethical discourses, so many assumed he had no knowledge in Kabbalah. Or Yechezkel, Imrei Yechezkel, Avodat Yechezkel and more were published based on his discourses.
[10], 8, [6], 9-224; 237, [1]; 111 pages. 31 cm. Dry paper. Tears and wear. Stains. Original binding, with leather spine, slightly damaged.
This edition was printed mostly in Warsaw [1890]. Only the title page and the additional leaves of approbations (the first four leaves of the first part) were reprinted in Jerusalem by the publisher R. Menchin Heilperin and added to the copies he presumably brought with him from Europe, from the edition he printed in Warsaw. Though this fact is not stated in the Bibliography of the Hebrew Book's listings (no. 000130724), it is verified and noticeable upon examination of this book.

Three books printed by the Otzar HaSefarim (library) of the Mir Yeshiva during its Shanghai exile, with ownership stamps of the mashgiach, R. Yechezkel Levenstein
· Mishnah Torah L'HaRambam, Nezikin. Shanghai, 1943. Published by the Va'ad HaHadpassa Torah Or. Ownership stamps of R. "Yechezkel Levenstein – Mir Yeshiva – Menahel Ruchani". Handwritten inscription "From the books of the mashgiach shlita".
· Tractate Eruvin of the Babylonian Talmud, with commentaries and Rav Alfas. Shanghai, 1944. Ownership stamps of R. "Yechezkel Levenstein – Mir Yeshiva – Menahel Ruchani"; "Yechezkel Levenstein – Ponevezh Yeshiva – Menahel Ruchani".
· Tractate Gittin of the Babylonian Talmud, with commentaries and Rav Alfas. Shanghai, 1945. Published by Beit Otzar HaSefarim Ezrat Torah affiliated with the Mir Yeshiva". Ownership stamps of R. "Yechezkel Levenstein – Mir Yeshiva – Menahel Ruchani"; "Yechezkel Levenstein – Ponevezh Yeshiva – Menahel Ruchani". Penciled inscription: "From the books of Maran Shlita".
R. Yechezkel Levenstein (1885-1974) was a leader of the mussar movement, product of the Kelm Talmud Torah. He was the Menahel Ruchani (spiritual administrator) of the Mir Yeshiva in Poland, Shanghai and Jerusalem. After R. Dessler's passing, he was appointed spiritual administrator of the Ponovezh Yeshiva in Bnei-Brak. A holy, pious man, he was known for his connection to G-d and his abstention from earthly pleasures (he was never seen leaning back in his chair, and other exceptional conducts). The effectiveness of his blessings and prayers was well known and many were saved through his blessings. During the Holocaust, while the Mir Yeshiva escaped to Vilna and the Far-East, his disciples saw clearly that his decisions and blessings were supernatural, directed by heavenly revelations. Or Yechezkel, Imrei Yechezkel, Avodat Yechezkel and more were published based on his discourses.
3 books. Approximately 25.5 cm. Fair condition. Worming and wear. Contemporary damaged fabric bindings.

Sefer Birchat Hazevach, novellae and elucidations on tractates from Seder Kodashim, by R. Aharon Shmuel Koidenover. Amsterdam, [1669]. First edition. Title page illustrated with Biblical scenes.
"Sefer Birchat Hazevach, a wondrous work with Torah-true explanations on the Talmud and Tosafot of Seder Kodashim…" Signature on the title page: "The earth and its contents belongs to G-d. I bought this volume, David Chaim Korinaldi". The volume contains approximately ten long, learned glosses in his handwriting, in Italian script. Several of them disagree sharply with the author: "One who carefully studies the words of the Tosafot…will see that the author did not understand their true intent" (Tractate Keritot, 176a); "The author overlooked…" (Tractate Temurah, 14b); "It seems from the words of the author that he overlooked a clearly stated piece of Talmud…" (Tractate Me’ila, 30b). One of the glosses (Tractate Temurah, 3b) refers to a painful episode in the life of R. David which separated him from his library: "…The matter must be further researched…but my books are not currently with me, until G-d sees fit to see my plight…".
Rabbi David Chaim Korinaldi – Radak (1700-1770) was an Italian scholar and great Mishnaic commentator, author of "Beit David" on the six orders of the Mishnah. He was the son-in-law of R. Yitzchak ben R. Asher Pacifico of Venice. He served in the rabbinate of various Italian cities, first in Rovigo and from ca. 1747 in Trieste. He was a renowned Torah authority and grammarian, and was erudite in many subjects. He asserted that he studied Torah despite suffering great affliction. Following the printing of his book Beit David, he was embroiled in a severe controversy with R. David Pardo, who refuted his writings many times in his book Shoshanim L'David. The Livorno rabbis established a truce, and as a result R. David Pardo inserted a special apology at the beginning of the second volume of his book Shoshanim L’David. During the course of the dispute there were those who claimed that R. David Korinaldi was not the true author of Beit David, but his close associate R. Yitzchak Lampronti (he quotes R. David's responsa in his book Pachad Yitzchak) wrote a letter of conciliation: "Do not pay attention to all the things said by your adversaries, for this is the method of faultfinders who criticize the author when they cannot find fault with the composition, and this is the case with your excellent book Beit David…I swear that I never imagined that it was written by anyone else".
Sefer Birchat Hazevach is a basic text for the study of Tractate Kodashim. The Chida in "Shem Hagedolim" describes it as "an extremely important text, in which the author clearly and concisely explains the subjects with his extraordinary novellae and glosses."
[2], 64, 64-131, 133-180; 35, [1] leaves. 17.5 cm. Poor condition. Extreme worming damage to the text, with many tears and holes. Stains. Several pages are darkened and stained. Old binding with worn leather spine.

Six books, with signatures and notes by rabbis of Rhodes – R. Yedidya Shmuel Tarika, author of Ben Yedid, R. Shlomo Yedidya Israel and R. Rachamim Yehuda Israel author of Ben Yemin:
1-2. Yachin U'Boaz, responsa by R. Tzemach and R. Shimon Doran. Livorno, [1782].
The title page bears an ownership inscription and calligraphic signature: "the young Yedidya Shlomo Israel".
Bound with: Leket Shmuel, by R. Shmuel Feivish Kahana "exiled scribe from Vienna". Venice, 1694-1695.
Signatures and inscriptions appear on the title page: "Yaakov Nachmias", "I acquired this book from Yaakov Nachmias, so says the young Yedidya Tarika", "This book belongs to the scholar… Shmuel Yedidya Tarika…" – R. Yedidya Shmuel Tarika was the author of Ben Yedid and other books. Two handwritten notes appear in this book.
3-4. Minchat Bikurim, novellae on the Talmud, by R. Meyuchas son of R. Shmuel. Salonika, [1752]. Bound with: Peticha Shut MehaRav Baal Lev Sameach, responsa by R. Avraham Alegre. Salonika, [1793].
The title page of the first book contains a calligraphic signature: "What G-d granted the young Yedidya Shlomo Israel".
5. Responsa Zera Emet, by R. Yishmael HaKohen of Modena. Livorno, [1786].
The title page contains an inscription written by the owner testifying he received it from the author: "Moshe received it as a gift from the rabbi, the author", followed by an additional inscription: "I acquired it from the widow, the young Yedidya Israel". The center of the title page bears the calligraphic signature of R. Yedidya Shlomo Israel.
A lengthy note appears on p. 81a, signed: "R.Y.Ch. Israel" – R. Rachamim Chaim Yehuda Israel author of Ben Yemin.
6. Devarim Achadim, by R. Chaim Yosef David Azulai – the Chida. Livorno, [1788]. A calligraphic signature appears on the title page: "Mine, the young Yedidya Shlomo Israel". The margin of the title page contains the inscription: "Gift from the author of the book [from the Chida]", and another inscription alluding to his name: "Yedid Hashem Yishkon LaVetach". The book contains several handwritten notes.
R. Yedidya Shmuel Tarika (1713-1769) was a prominent scholar of his generation and a rabbi in Rhodes. He authored Ben Yedid, Chelko shel Yedid, Amar Yedid and Kidash Yedid.
R. Yedidya Shlomo Israel of Rhodes (d. 1831), was a leading Torah scholar of his times, son of R. Eliyahu Israel Rabbi of Rhodes and Alexandria (Egypt). He edited and published his father's books in Livorno, where he met the Chida and befriended him (the Chida presented him with one of the books we have here, see enclosed material). He succeeded his father in the rabbinate of Alexandria, were he served until his passing. In Alexandria, he maintained a library of hundreds of books and manuscripts (the bindings of two of the books we have here are known to originate from that library).
R. Rachamim Chaim Yehuda Israel (1815-1892) was a rabbi in Rhodes, author of Ben Yemin (Salonika 1896). (Regarding the history of the Israel family in Rhodes, see: S. Marcus, Toldot HaRabbanim L'Mishpachat Israel M'Rhodus, Jerusalem 1935).
Six books in four volumes. Approx. 28-30 cm. Condition varies. Stains and wear, worming, tears and other damage. Two books with old bindings (from the library of R. Yedidya Shlomo Israel) and two unbound.