Siddur, following the rite of the holy Sephardi community, containing prayers for special days, festivals and the five fast days. Amsterdam: Joseph Athias, [1658-1659].
Three parts, each with a separate title page: prayers for weekdays and Shabbat, for special days and festivals, and the order for the five fast days.
This is the first book printed in the printing press of Joseph Athias. His youth and the circumstances of his arrival in Amsterdam are obscure. He established his printing press in the city in 1658, at the young age of 23. He was an intelligent person with shrewd commercial acumen, which helped him create ties with agents and book-traders in the Netherlands and in other countries. Eventually, his printing press became one of the largest and most important printing presses in Amsterdam. Athias developed various novel printing techniques, which enabled him to reprint books very quickly. For further information, see: A.M. Haberman, Chapters in the History of the Hebrew Printers, pp. 293-310.
Stamps on the title page and on the last leaf of "Rabbiner Dr. A. Neuwirth" (presumably, R. Aharon Neuwirth – father of R. Yehoshua Yeshaya Neuwirth, author of Shemirat Shabbat K'Hilchata). Signatures of "Moses Neuwirth" (presumably a relative).
546 leaves. 12 cm. Good condition. Few stains. Gilt edges. Old leather-like binding, with a metal clasp for fastening (lacking the second clasp). Damage to binding.

Orchot Chaim – Five books of the Torah, with Targum and the Rashi commentary, including the Or HaChaim commentary by Rabbeinu Chaim ibn Attar – The Or HaChaim HaKadosh. Venice, [1741]. Complete set in two volumes, first edition of the Or HaChaim commentary on the Torah.
The title page reads: "…a new commentary on the five books of the Torah… was prepared and researched… by the scholar who is complete in wisdom, fear and humility, R. Chaim ibn Attar, a resident of the Maghreb, who went to set up his study hall in Jerusalem… innovative novellae which our predecessors did not envision…". The author begins his commentary with the statement: "The skies opened up and I perceived heavenly sights…".
This book was accepted in the entire Jewish Diaspora and became a classic commentary in editions of the Torah. This composition was especially sacred to the leaders of the Chassidic movement. The book became instantly recognized, due to the Baal Shem Tov's praise of the eminence of the author's soul, as the Chida, disciple of the Or HaChaim, relates in his book Shem HaGedolim: "The commentary on the Torah by the outstanding and holy R. Chaim ibn Attar, was printed in Venice in the Torah edition with Targum and Rashi. And we heard that it is now held in high regard in Poland, and was printed there in another two editions. And this was due to the praise of the holy R. Yisrael Baal Shem Tov on the greatness of R. Chaim's soul" (Maarechet Sefarim, I, 54).
Chassidic leaders describe the importance and holiness of the book in effusive terms. Rebbe Yisrael of Ruzhin stated that learning the Or HaChaim commentary purifies the soul. His son, Rebbe David Moshe of Chortkov (Chortkiv) related that after hearing this, he began learning the Or HaChaim commentary on the weekly portion consistently. R. Pinchas of Korets testified that he was the one who publicized the Or HaChaim, through an episode which occurred in Tcherin (Chyhyryn), when he exclaimed that he could see a great light in the city and he inquired whether anyone held a book of the Or HaChaim commentary in their possession. When the book was found, he asserted that it was what was illuminating the whole town. On a different occasion, his son took ill, and he undertook to learn a page a day of the Or HaChaim commentary (Imrei Pinchas HaShalem, I, p. 281).
The Arvei Nachal, in one instance, before elucidating an ambiguous passage of the Or HaChaim commentary, described it as unfathomable without Divine Inspiration.
The author, R. Chaim ibn Attar (1696-1743), known as the holy Or HaChaim, was a Torah scholar from Salé, Morocco, who spent the years 1739-1741 in Livorno, Italy, on his way to Eretz Israel. He completed his composition Or HaChaim while in Livorno (on Av 15, 1741), and sent it to Venice to be published. The book was printed in autumn 1741.
In his biographic description of the Or HaChaim, his disciple the Chida wrote: "R. Chaim ibn Attar, a holy man from Salé, came to Jerusalem in the summer of 1742. And I merited to be a member of his elevated yeshiva, and my eyes saw the greatness of his Torah, he uprooted mountains, and his holiness was wondrous… he was like an ever-gushing fountain… and in Tamuz 1743 he was called up to Heaven at the age of 47. He authored Chefetz HaShem, Rishon LeTzion, Or HaChaim and Pri Toar, and his sagacity is discernable in his books, yet this is only a tenth of his wisdom… his sharpness was unbelievable, he exercised continuous separation from materialism …" (Shem HaGedolim, Maarechet Gedolim, 8, 42).
Rebbe Yitzchak Isaac of Komarno, in his book Netiv Mitzvotecha, quotes the exalted terms the Baal Shem Tov used to describe the soul of the Or HaChaim, "…every night he heard Torah from G-d, most of his holiness is not possible to describe in words, and he descended from the Merkava…".
R. Efraim Zalman Margolies, the Beit Efraim, also described him in superlative terms, as a heavenly being, father of all Torah bearers in the Western countries.
On both title pages, the title was originally printed as "Orchot Chaim", and only in the author's preface and in the body of the book is the commentary named Or HaChaim. In this copy, a strip of paper bearing the printed words Or HaChaim, was pasted over the title in the title page of the first volume. This phenomenon is recorded in the Bibliography of the Hebrew Book (see listing 304649).
On the title page of the first volume, a signature in Italian script appears: "Mine, D.T." (this may be the signature of R. Daniel Terni Rabbi of Florence, author of Ikrei HaDat).
Two volumes. Vol. I (Bereishit-Shemot): [4], 86; 78 leaves. Vol. II (Vayikra-Bamidbar-Devarim): [2], 60; 72; 58; 8; 12 leaves. 34 cm. Fine copy, light-colored high-quality leaves. Most of the leaves in good condition, several leaves in fair condition. Vol. I: Stains, light wear. Marginal damage and tears to title page and three subsequent leaves, professionally restored. Repairs to several other leaves. Vol. II: Stains, dampstains to several leaves. Light wear. Large tears to the foot of leaf 3 of the second pagination, affecting text, repaired. Paper repairs to the bottom of leaves 65-66 of the second pagination. Marginal repairs to several other leaves (leaves of Haftarot at the end). Several leaves may be provided from a different copy. Ownership inscriptions. New, elaborate leather bindings.

Tehillim, with the Be'urei Zohar and Metzudat Zion commentaries. Safed: R. Yisrael Bak, [1833].
One of the first books printed by R. Yisrael Bak in Safed, about one year after he established his printing press in the city.
On the verso of the title page is the introduction of the printer R. Yisrael Bak: "And all who purchase and spend their gold and silver on books printed here in the Holy Land, especially books of Tehillim with the Zohar to carry in his bosom and in his bag, G-d should save him from all distress, harm and fright…". This is followed by another long introduction by R. Gershon Margaliot. He tells how he begged Yisrael Bak not to print the Kabbalistic commentary Be'urei HaZohar alone, rather alongside verses of Tehillim and in the end his advice was heeded.
Kavanat HaMeshorer (the intent of the poet) is printed at the beginning of each Psalm. The volume also contains prayers recited before and after reading Tehillim on weekdays, Shabbat, Yom Tov and Lel Hoshana Raba and a prayer for the sick and Seder Pidyon Nefesh.
[4], 152 leaves. 15 cm. Good-fair condition. Stains and wear. Professionally restored tears to margins of title page and to margins of other leaves, particularly at the beginning of the book, slightly affecting text. Worming in a few places, repaired, affecting text. Defects. Bottom margins trimmed on several leaves, not affecting text. New, elegant leather binding.
An inscription in Ashkenazi script appears on the title page above the place of printing, "Safed": "The dust of Eretz Israel here [Safed]". This phrase was used as a signature by R. Yisrael of Shklow, the Vilna Gaon's disciple who lived in Safed at the time of this printing [in our opinion, this inscription was not written by him and was added at a later time].

Arizal Siddur Kol Yaakov, part I, weekday prayers, with homilies and the Kavanot of the Arizal, by the Kabbalist R. Yaakov Koppel Lifshitz of Mezeritch (Mezhirichi). Part I, for weekdays. [Slavita]: R. Dov Ber Segal and R. Dov Ber son of R. Pesach, [1804]. First edition.
Copy of Rebbe Elazar Menachem Mendel Biderman of Lelov (Lelów) and of his son the Rebbe of Sosnowitz (Sosnowiec). The title page and leaf 89 bear stamps of Rebbe "Elazar Menachem son of R. Moshe, in the holy city of Jerusalem". Several leaves contain stamps of his son R. Alter Avraham Betzalel Natan Notte Biderman, the Rebbe from Eretz Israel in Sosnowitz, Poland.
Siddur with commentaries, Kavanot, laws and customs, according to Kabbalistic teachings.
Many of the foremost Chassidic leaders prayed regularly from this siddur, retaining it continually on their table, including the Maggid of Kozhnitz (Kozienice), the maggid R. Mordechai of Chernobyl, the Arvei Nachal and R. Avraham of Tshechnov (Ciechanów). Some of them even wrote glosses in the margins of the siddur. R. Asher Tzvi of Ostraha writes in his approbation to the siddur: "I have heard that the holy Baal Shem Tov saw this siddur and deemed it fit".
The Kabbalist R. Yaakov Koppel of Mezeritch also composed the Kabbalistic work Shaarei Gan Eden (Korets, 1803). The title page of the latter states that a reliable source related how this siddur was brought before the Baal Shem Tov, he read a few verses from it, hugged and kissed it, expressing great reverence for it. The scholars of Mezeritch likewise write in their approbations of the veneration the Baal Shem Tov displayed for this siddur. R. Levi Yitzchak of Berditchev (Berdychiv) praises the author in his approbation: "He is already renowned amongst the Jewish people as a reliable Kabbalist, who's words all emanate from Divine Inspiration".
R. Yaakov Koppel's books are adapted and edited compilations of the writings of the Remak, R. Chaim Vital and R. Yisrael Sarug, with the addition of his own novellae.
R. Elazar Menachem Mendel Biderman of Lelov (1827-1883), the third Rebbe of Lelov, was the son of R. Moshe of Lelov. He headed the Chassidic population of Jerusalem, where he was reputed as a wonder-worker and holy man endowed with Holy Spirit. He was revered by the righteous men of his times, both Chassidim and Mitnagdim. The Tiferet Shlomo of Radomsk sent him kvitlach, and the Divrei Chaim of Sanz on one Passover eve stated that "the seder now being conducted by R. Elazar Mendel in Jerusalem surpasses all the sedarim of all righteous men".
R. Elazar was the first Jerusalemite Rebbe, and was a Jerusalemite with all his being. He was renowned for his lengthy daily prayers at the Western Wall. Reputedly, he designed the first Jerusalem gold-colored kaftan, which was purposefully different from the Turkish-Sephardi kaftan (which was more similar to the Arab robe), and from that time on, this type of kaftan became the typical attire of the Jerusalem Old Yishuv (see: Tiferet Beit David by his grandson R. Moshe Yair Weinstock, Jerusalem, 1968).
His son, Rebbe Avraham Betzalel Natan Notte, known as R. Alter (d. 1933), emigrated to Poland at the outbreak of WWI and settled in Sosnowitz, where he held his court. He was known in Poland as the Rebbe from Eretz Israel.
Complete copy. [6], 156; 134, 146-153, 155-188 leaves. 21 cm. Some light-blueish leaves. Good-fair condition. Stains, dampstains and signs of past dampness. Tears and wear. Large tears to the title page, affecting text, repaired with paper. Tears to several more leaves, affecting text in two places, partially repaired with paper. Worming to several leaves. New, elaborate leather binding.

Tehillim, Diglei Hodaya VeHaMitzva. Seder Maamadot by the holy Rabbi of Apta (Opatów) and order of year-round prayers according to Nusach Sefard (Nusach HaAri). Zhitomir: R. Aryeh Leib Shapira, grandson of the rabbi of Slavita, 1866. Two title pages. On the first title page, the word Jerusalem is emphasized in red ink.
Many approbations from rabbis of Eretz Israel. Large pre-subscribers list from Eretz Israel and Russia (including names of many prominent rabbis and rebbes). An additional list of pre-subscribers (the four sons of the Rebbe of Skver and others) appears at the beginning of Seder Maamadot, which is followed by the siddur of R. Zalman of Liadi. Before the book of Tehillim, the order of handwashing replacing a ritual bath appears, compiled by the maggid R. Mordechai of Chernobyl, from the Baal Shem Tov.
Ownership inscription of R. Yudel Rosenberg, posek in Warsaw (R. Yehuda Yudel Rosenberg, 1860-1935, a leading Torah scholar in Poland and Canada. Author of Niflaot Maharal, Zohar Torah, Refael HaMalach and other books on Halacha, Kabbalah, Protections and Segulot, Biography of the Maharal and the Golem, and history of Chassidism). Stamps of his son, R. Avraham Yitzchak Rosenberg of Montreal. Handwritten inscriptions, of Kabbalistic Kavanot and Segulot (at the beginning of the Hallel prayer, an interesting acronymic allusion appears in handwriting).
[4], 5-440, 221-225, [12] pages; [4], 112, 57-64, 61-64, 28 pages. 21 cm. Good-fair condition. Wear and stains. Worming to a few leaves. Marginal paper repairs to first leaf and last three leaves. New, elaborate leather binding.