Chok LeYisrael, daily study in Torah, Neviim, Ketuvim, Mishnah, Gemara and Kabbalah, based on the Arizal's study routine, with Yosef LaChok by the Chida. Zhitomir: Chanina Lipa and Yehoshua Heshel Shapiro, 1865. Complete five-volume set.

Two title pages for each volume (except for the Devarim volume, which is missing the first title page). Some words on first title pages printed in red ink.
Signatures and inscriptions of "Yosef Motetz of Bila Tserkva". Stamps of "Aharon Shlomo Lieberman, Jerusalem". Ownership inscriptions in various places. Study routine and family inscriptions.

Five volumes. Bereshit: 5, 5-252, 257-259 leaves. Shemot: 244 leaves. Vayikra: 239 leaves. Bamidbar: 226 leaves. Devarim: 2-246 leaves. Missing first title page. 19.5-20 cm. Overall good-fair condition. Some leaves in several places in fair condition. Stains, including dampstains. Wear. Tears, including open tears in several places, affecting text, partially repaired with paper. Part of margins of title page and other leaves repaired with paper. Stamps and handwritten inscriptions. Old, uniform bindings, with leather spines. Heavy wear and damage to bindings.

Vayikra and Devarim volumes not recorded in Bibliography of the Hebrew Book. Bereshit recorded based only on photocopy of title page.

The Significance and Segulah of Reciting Chok LeYisrael Daily
The custom of reciting passages daily from the Bible, Mishnah, Talmud and Zohar was established by the Arizal, who observed this custom himself. The order printed in Chok LeYisrael is for the most part based on the writings of the Arizal in various places. The Chida added to this regimen daily halachic passages, taken from the Rambam's Mishneh Torah and Shulchan Aruch, as well as passages from ethical books. The Chida's additions are called Yosef LaChok. The purpose of the Chok LeYisrael order of study, as explained in the writings of the Arizal, is both for the perfection and tikkun of the soul, nourishing it through the study of the various parts of the Torah, and for effecting tikkunim and yichudim in the upper spheres.
Many prominent Chassidic leaders, and especially the Tzaddikim of the Chernobyl dynasty, spoke in sublime terms of the segulah of the Chok LeYisrael study regimen, and attested that it provides a tikkun for sins in matters of holiness. Rebbe Yisrael Dov of Vilednik writes in his book She'erit Yisrael (Shaar HaShovavim, homily I) that studying Chok LeYisrael serves as Tikkun HaBrit, "as I received from my master [Rebbe Mordechai of Chernobyl], that true tikkun is achieved by attaching oneself to both the Written and Oral Law, through Chok LeYisrael… and therefore in these times with the approach of the Messiah, the Yosef LaChok book has been published, authored by the Chida, disciple of R. Chaim ibn Attar the Or HaChaim, who embodies the lights of both Mashiach ben David and Mashiach ben Yosef, akin to the kabbalistic concept of an all-encompassing Tzaddik capable of effecting a tikkun for the imperfections of the entire Jewish people".

Rebbe Avraham of Trisk, son of Rebbe Mordechai of Chernobyl, writes: "And following the prayers, one should recite Chok LeYisrael, every single day unfailingly… and through this he causes G-d to be filled with mercy for the Jewish people" (Magen Avraham, 96a).
Great rabbis of previous generations have spoken of great segulot attained by reciting Chok LeYisrael. Some wrote that it is also a segulah for livelihood (the Rebbe of Shinova is said to have based this on the statement of the Talmud, "Chok means sustenance"). R. Yaakov Rokeach, in his foreword Maaseh Rokeach to Chok LeYisrael, wrote: "It is a mitzvah for every Jew to buy himself a Chok LeYisrael, to read from it every day…".

Responsa Mayim Chaim, two parts, by R. Chaim HaKohen Rappaport, Rabbi of Ostroh. Zhitomir: R. Chanina Lipa and R. Yehoshua Heshel Shapiro, grandsons of the Rabbi of Slavita, 1857. First edition. With approbations of Rebbe Mordechai of Chernobyl and the Sar Shalom of Belz.

In Part I, section 27, there is a letter from Mezhibuzh sent to R. Meir (son of R. Yaakov Emden), Rabbi of Konstantin (Konstantynów Łódzki), regarding a kosher issue permitted by the local rabbi but questioned by several prominent members of the community. The signatories to the question include: "Yisrael Baal Shem of Tłuste [Tovste]" – the Baal Shem Tov. R. Meir's lengthy response justifies their concern and disputes the ruling of the Rabbi of Mezhibuzh. The responsum opens with several lines of honorifics and appreciation for the Baal Shem Tov: "chief in Judah and Israel… finder of ailment and cure… extraordinary, celebrated with a high reputation, R. Yisrael…" (the decipherment and interpretation of the lengthy and poetic titles offered at the beginning of this responsum is discussed at length in the scholarly literature).

Both parts of the book are bound together, Part I on Orach Chaim and Yoreh Deah, and Part II on Even HaEzer and Choshen Mishpat. Kuntres Otzrot Chaim is printed at the end of Part II, with novellae on Aggadot and pilpul on the Torah portions by the author and his son the publisher. The book also includes responsa from the author's grandfather and uncles, who were leading Torah scholars. At the beginning of the book is printed a letter by the Ohev Yisrael of Apta agreeing with the author's ruling. The letter is printed with the approbations to the book, as a sort of approbation for the author.

84; 151 pages. Two title pages for each part, and an additional title page for Kuntres Otzrot Chaim bound at the end of the book (total of five title pages). Leaf 3 of Part I is bound after leaf 4. 30.5 cm. Overall good condition. Stains (many stains on first title page). Creases. Stamps of the "Kollel Kovno library" and additional stamps. New binding.

Collection of title pages, leaves and parts of books, printed in Slavita, Zhitomir, and in Russia-Poland in the 19th century:

The collection includes: • Or Zarua, Part II, by R. Yitzchak of Vienna. Zhitomir, 1862. • Siddur HaAri Kol Yaakov by R. Yaakov Koppel Lipschitz of Mezeritch, Part II, leaves 179-185 – order of Lulav, Sukkah and Hoshanot. Slavita, [1804]. First edition. • Shulchan Aruch Yoreh Deah, laws of terefot. Zhitomir, 1866. Partial copy.
The collection also includes many title pages of books printed in Slavita and Zhitomir; see Hebrew description for listing.

Over 30 items. Varying size and condition.

Letter handwritten and signed by R. Yitzchak Elchanan (Spektor), Rabbi of Kovno. Kovno, Sivan 1889.

Rabbinical ordination of "R. Yisrael Yehonatan Yerushalimsky, son of… R. Yaakov Moshe, Rabbi of Mush", declaring him fit to issue halachic rulings.

R. Yitzchak Elchanan Spektor (1817-1896), Rabbi of Kovno, prominent rabbi considered the highest halachic authority of his times, and leader of Lithuanian and Russian Jewry.

The recipient of the ordination, R. Yisrael Yehonatan Yerushalimsky, Rabbi of Orlya and Ihumen (Chervyen; 1860-1917), son of R. Yaakov Moshe Direktor, Rabbi of Mush (Novaya Mysh), and son-in-law of the Ridvaz, Rabbi of Slutsk. He was regarded as exceptionally great by his teacher R. Chaim Soloveitchik, Rabbi of Brisk. He was the father-in-law of R. Yechezkel Abramsky, author of Chazon Yechezkel on the Tosefta.

[1] double leaf. 21 cm. Good-fair condition. Stains. Wear and folding marks. Slight tears to folds.

Letter on postcard, handwritten and signed by the Aderet – R. Eliyahu David Rabinowitz-Teomim, Rabbi of Ponevezh. Ponevezh, [1881].
Sent to his relative R. Chaim Natansohn, Rabbi of Pikeliai. He was apparently involved in printing the novellae of the Aderet in some kind of journal, but the Aderet writes that he doubts whether his novellae would be acceptable to the editors, due to their terseness and the difficulty for those unfamiliar with his style to understand them.

R. Eliyahu David Rabinowitz-Teomim – the Aderet (1845-1905), was the Rabbi of Ponevezh, Mir and Jerusalem. He was renowned from his childhood for his love of Torah and diligent Torah study, for his righteousness and refined character traits. A brilliant Torah scholar, he left behind more than 100 manuscript works, most of which were never printed. His son-in-law was R. Avraham Yitzchak HaKohen Kook, Chief Rabbi of Eretz Israel.

Postcard, 9X12.5 cm. Good-fair condition. Dark stains and wear.