Booklet handwritten by R. Mazal Tov Modena, index of responsa and halachic rulings of his teacher, R. Yishmael HaKohen of Modena, author of Zera Emet. [Modena, second half of 18th century or early 19th century].

Contains 87 sections, some including the conclusion of the halachic ruling.
Some of the halachic rulings documented here were printed in the three parts of Responsa Zera Emet, but others were apparently never printed, such as: section 27 (eulogizing a gentile king in the synagogue and using sacred objects), section 33 (that a widower marrying a widow should be particular to marry at the full moon), section 75 (a Torah scroll missing a dot) and sections 86-87 (a communal decision not to allow anyone but the posek to offer halachic rulings, intending to exclude a particular individual).

R. Mazal Tov Modena, disciple of R. Yishmael HaKohen, author of Zera Emet, and his successor as Rabbi of Modena. Leading Italian rabbi ca. 1770s-1830s, invited to Napoleon's Sanhedrin.

[4] leaves (5 written pages), bound in paper wrapper. 18 cm. Good condition. Light wear and creases. Inscriptions and tears to paper wrapper.

Manuscript, haftarot for Pesach and Shavuot, with a journal of family inscriptions and miraculous events, made by Shlomo son of Yitzchak Bianchini. Ferrara, first half of the 19th century.

The first part of the manuscript contains the text of the haftarot for Pesach and Shavuot, with the Aramaic Targum (verse by verse) and blessings over the Haftarah. Square and semi-cursive script, mostly vocalized. The Haftarah text includes cantillation. Floral decorations in several places.
In the second part of the manuscript, the scribe and owner, Shlomo Bianchini (Bianchino), documents family events, marriages and births, as well as miracles that occurred to him and members of his family between 1823-1838. Among other events, there is documentation of: his son Moshe's recovery from a fall from the bed in 1827; a collapse of part of the stairs of his house without affecting any family member in 1825; his marriage to Rivkah daughter of Nachum Neppi in 1823; the birth and circumcision of his son Shmuel Aviad Sar Shalom in 1824; the birth and circumcision of his son Moshe in 1825; the birth of his three daughters in 1827-1831 (including a dream seen by his wife); his daughter Stella's recovery from a fall in 1828; the passing of his father Yitzchak Chizkiyah Bianchini in 1833, and the birth of another son named after his father a year later; inscriptions on additional births; and more. The last leaves contain inscriptions in Italian from later years.

[34] leaves. 21.5 cm. Fair condition. Stains, wear and tears. Partially detached leaves. Original binding, damaged.

Manuscript, prayers and piyyutim for high holidays and festivals. [Pitigliano, Italy, 1865].
Title page decorated with colorful frame. Square Italian script.
See Hebrew description for contents of manuscript.

[65] leaves. 15 cm. Good-fair condition. Stains, including dark stains (food stains on Rosh Hashanah nighttime meal service). Two detached leaves. Old binding, with light damage.

Provenance: Collection of R. Menachem Emanuel Hartom, Ms. 8.

Collection of over 60 letters sent to R. Shmuel Salant by rabbis, tzedakah collectors, emissaries and philanthropists from England, South Africa, Australia and various countries in the British Empire. [Ca. 1880s-1900s].
The letters were sent to R. Shmuel Salant, Rabbi of Jerusalem. Some are also addressed to other rabbis who assisted him in managing the tzedakah funds in the city: R. Eliyahu David Rabinowitz-Teomim (the Aderet); R. Yitzchak Blazer, the Rabbi of St. Petersburg; R. Chaim Berlin, the Rabbi of Moscow; and additional rabbis and tzedakah collectors directing the Vaad HaKlali and other institutions in the city.
The authors of the letters include Yaakov Chaim son of R. Eliezer HaLevi (secretary of Montefiore); R. Eliyahu son of R. Shlomo Yaakov, a rabbi in Manchester; R. Moshe Avigdor Chaikin, Rabbi of the United Synagogue in London; R. Yoel HaLevi Herzog, a rabbi in Leeds (2 letters); R. Mordechai Yitzchak HaLevi Epstein, Rabbi of Sheffield; R. Aharon Leib Newman of Jerusalem, maggid in the Torah society in London; R. Yaakov Dov Ber son of Meir Moshe Lenzer, prayer leader of Mikveh Yisrael synagogue in Melbourne; R. Yehoshua Meir Reifman of Pretoria, South Africa; R. Aryeh Tzvi son of R. Moshe Fishel Isaacs, prayer leader and maggid of Kimberly, South Africa; the emissary R. Yosef HaLevi Horowitz of Johannesburg (4 interesting letters); R. Menachem Mendel Wolpert of Johannesburg (3 letters), and many more authors.

R. Shmuel Salant (1816-1909), immigrated from Salant to Eretz Israel in 1841 to serve as posek and rabbi of the Perushim community of disciples of the Vilna Gaon in Jerusalem. His father-in-law R. Yosef Zundel Salant immigrated to Jerusalem in the same period. In his capacity as rabbi of Jerusalem, a position he held for close to seventy years, he founded the educational and charitable institutions in the city, established the Beit Din and strengthened the Ashkenazi community. He was renowned for his brilliance and practical approach to halachic ruling and in running communal matters in Jerusalem and worldwide.

63 letters. Varying size and condition.

Large assorted collection of over 70 letters, from rabbis and community leaders from England, ca. 1890s-1960s. Hebrew and English.

The authors of the letters include: Chief Rabbi Hermann Adler (Tishrei 1895); R. Eliyahu son of R. Shlomo Yaakov, rabbi in Manchester (Tevet 1889 and 1899); R. Yisrael Yaakov HaKohen Yaffe (Manchester, Kislev 1920); R. Tzvi Hirsch Ferber (London, 1926); R. Shemaryah Yitzchak Bloch (Birmingham, 1914); R. Shemaryah Menasheh HaKohen Adler (London, Tishrei 1921; sent to R. Shlomo Breuer, Rabbi of Frankfurt); R. Aharon Hyman (2 letters, ca. 1900-1901); R. Yoel HaLevi Herzog (4 letters; Leeds, ca. 1909-1910); R. Yisrael Chaim Deiches (Leeds, 1934); R. Yehudah Leib Ostrinsky (Leeds; two letters); R. Binyamin Benish Atlas, Rabbi of Glasgow (6 letters); R. Yaakov David Luria (Glasgow; 6 letters); R. Michel Asher HaKohen Matlin, Rabbi of Dublin (4 letters); R. Yitzchak Meir Yoselson (Dublin, 1909); R. Shmuel Yitzchak Hillman (London, 1931); R. Yitzchak Eizik HaLevi Herzog; R. Isser Yehudah Unterman (Liverpool; 5 letters); R. Asher Grunis (Cardiff, 1937); R. Nachman Shlomo Greenspan of Leeds (a letter from him, and many letters to him); R. Chaim Heller and R. Yerucham Leiner (postcard to R. Greenspan with letters from both of them); R. Joseph Hertz, Chief Rabbi of England (two letters); R. Yisrael Brody, Chief Rabbi of England; R. Avraham Moshe Babad (Sunderland, 1946); R. Yaakov Schechter, Rabbi of Belfast (2 letters); R. Aryeh Leib Grossnass and his Beit Din (London, 1966); and more letters from many rabbis.

77 items, including over 70 signed letters, most on official stationery. Varying size and condition.