Shenat HaSheva, with Be'er Sheva, booklet on laws of the shemitah year by R. Moshe Nechemiah Kahanov. Jerusalem: Yoel Moshe Salomon, 1881.

In a note on p. 31a the author writes that due to the untimely death of his son during the printing of the book, he was compelled to publish it in brief with many omissions, in a limited print run of 100 copies (due to lack of funds).

32 leaves. Missing leaves 33-34. 18.5 cm. Dry, brittle paper. Fair-good condition. Stains. Tears, including open tears to margins of title page and several other leaves, slightly affecting title frame and text on verso (last leaf repaired with paper filling). New binding.

Does not contain leaves 33-34 of Zichron Yosef, with the author's eulogy for his son R. Yosef Chaim Eliyah and with a lament written by the son for another untimely death.

Sh. Halevy, no. 382.

Chaim MiYerushalayim, homilies for various occasions and selections on the Torah portions (Bereshit-Pinchas) by R. Chaim Avraham Gagin. Jerusalem: Agan and partner, with R. Shmuel HaLevi Zuckerman, [1882].
At the end of the book, after the selections on Torah portions Bereshit-Pinchas, appear several leaves with "separate discourses", followed by an index to Shaarei Yerushalayim, a book by R. Tzadik Tarabulus, the author's grandson.

[4], 212, 233-302, [14] pages. 23.5 cm. Somewhat dry paper. Overall good condition. Stains. Small marginal tears to several leaves. Worming in one place to first leaves, slightly affecting text. Original binding, with leather spine. Wear and damage to spine.

Sh. Halevy, no. 397.

Kol Nehi MiTzion, bans and warnings against R. Azriel Hildesheimer, edited by R. Akiva Yosef Schlesinger. Jerusalem: [Shmelke Yosef Shmer and his brother-in-law Yitzchak Gościnny, 1872].
Anthology of bans and warnings opposing R. Azriel Hildesheimer, following his call for founding schools and orphanages in Jerusalem with secular studies. The various notices are signed by 113 rabbis.
Edited by R. Akiva Yosef Schlesinger, who identifies himself with his initials on p. 8b.

[1], 8, [1] leaves. 18.5 cm. Fair-good condition. Stains. Tears to inner margins of several leaves, repaired with tape. Worming, affecting text, partially repaired with tape. Bottom margins of last leaf repaired with paper (apparently supplied from another copy). Handwritten inscriptions. New leather binding.

Sh. Halevy, no. 181.

Beit Yosef Chadash, Torah novellae on halachah and aggadah, ethics and communal matters, by R. Akiva Yosef Schlesinger, author of Lev HaIvri. Jerusalem, [1875-1881].

The book was printed between 1875 and 1881 in two printing houses. The printing began in the printing house of R. Yoel Moshe Solomon, who refused to continue printing the book once he became aware of its polemic content. The printing was resumed in the HaIvri printing house (owned by R. Yitzchak Gościnny). Parts of the book were distributed before the printing was finished, resulting in many variations between the copies of the book.
There are two known title pages (one with full text and one abridged), not appearing in all copies. The present copy contains both title pages. This copy also includes many leaves not found in most copies; see Hebrew description for details.
In addition, the present copy includes an additional, unnumbered leaf containing an open letter by R. Yehudah Leibish Orenstein, Rabbi of the Ashkenazi communities (with his stamp), and a letter by R. Aharon Moshe Ferrara, defending R. Akiva Yosef Schlesinger. This leaf is recorded by Sh. Halevy based only on a citation in a polemical book (this leaf is recorded in a separate entry in the Bibliography of the Hebrew Book).
The author, R. Akiva Yosef Schlesinger (1835-1922), author of Lev HaIvri, disciple of leading Hungarian rabbis. He was one of the most prominent zealots who fought the Reform and Haskalah movements, and continued this struggle after immigrating to Jerusalem in 1870. He was active in support of the Jewish settlements throughout Eretz Israel, and came into conflict with leaders of the Old Yishuv over his opposition to the methods of the Chalukah (distribution of funds), and over other matters. His opposition is voiced in the present book, which engendered a fierce dispute, with polemical booklets being published on both sides and R. Schlesinger's book banned and burned. R. Schlesinger eventually reached a compromise with his opponents, and the ban was rescinded.

[2], 2-10, [2], 11-124, [16] leaves. 28 cm. Some leaves printed on dry paper. Overall good condition. Stains. Dark stain on (longer) title page, paper slightly singed. Tears, including small marginal open tears to several leaves, and a large marginal open tear to the rare leaf, not affecting text. Partially repaired with paper filling. New binding.

Sh. Halevy, no. 231.

Volume containing two polemical works opposing R. Akiva Yosef Schlesinger and his Beit Yosef Chadash.

1. Shomer Yisrael. Jerusalem: [Yoel Moshe Salomon, 1875].
Polemical work with several accusations against the author and his work, including Messianic claims and conspiration against the Ottoman authorities. Contains quotations from Beit Yosef Chadash and various letters from Jerusalem rabbis in favor of R. Schlesinger's opponents.

Sh. Halevy, no. 234.

2. [Nitutz HaBayit. Jerusalem: Y. D. Frumkin, 1875].
Copy without wrapper; the booklet Nitutz HaBayit (see previous lot).

Sh. Halevy no. 232, 244 (mistaken double listing, based on a copy without a wrapper, like the present copy; this mistake is repeated in the Bibliography of the Hebrew Book and the NLI catalog). Describes the present booklet as "especially rare".

Both booklets in one volume. 8 pages, 24 leaves. Approx. 20 cm. Overall good condition. Stains. Small marginal tears to several leaves. New leather binding.