Auction 60 - Jewish and Israeli History and Culture
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Displaying 241 - 252 of 390
Auction 60 - Jewish and Israeli History and Culture
March 20, 2018
Opening: $800
Sold for: $1,000
Including buyer's premium
18 portrait photographs (most are cabinet cards) of authors, poets and scholars, friends or subjects of researches by the scholar and author Avraham Kahana. [Different places, second half of 19th century / first decade of 20th century].
Among the photographed: * Shmuel David Luzzatto at his desk. Photographer: Alpron, Padua [ca. 1860-1865]. * Joseph Luzzatto (son of Shadal), Palermo, ca. 1892. * Yesha'ayahu Luzzatto (two photographs). * Rabbi Israel Costa (Hebrew author, rabbi, commentator and editor), Livorno, ca. 1894 (the photograph was given to Kahana by Costa's son in law). * Prof. Lelio Della Tórre. * Rabbi Elijah Benamozegh. * Rabbi Jacob Ottolenghi from Thessaloniki (disciple of Benamozegh). * Prof. Shmuel Krauss (with a handwritten dedication). * Zvi Peretz Chajes (with a dedication in his handwriting), Lvov, 1901. * Shmuel Abba Horodetzky (two photographs, both with handwritten dedications), 1901-1902. * Moshe Kleinman, Berdichev, ca. 1901 (with a handwritten dedication), and other portraits.
Size varies, approx. 6X10 cm to 11X16 cm. Condition varies; some photographs are faded or stained.
Provenance: Collection of Ben Zion Kahana.
Among the photographed: * Shmuel David Luzzatto at his desk. Photographer: Alpron, Padua [ca. 1860-1865]. * Joseph Luzzatto (son of Shadal), Palermo, ca. 1892. * Yesha'ayahu Luzzatto (two photographs). * Rabbi Israel Costa (Hebrew author, rabbi, commentator and editor), Livorno, ca. 1894 (the photograph was given to Kahana by Costa's son in law). * Prof. Lelio Della Tórre. * Rabbi Elijah Benamozegh. * Rabbi Jacob Ottolenghi from Thessaloniki (disciple of Benamozegh). * Prof. Shmuel Krauss (with a handwritten dedication). * Zvi Peretz Chajes (with a dedication in his handwriting), Lvov, 1901. * Shmuel Abba Horodetzky (two photographs, both with handwritten dedications), 1901-1902. * Moshe Kleinman, Berdichev, ca. 1901 (with a handwritten dedication), and other portraits.
Size varies, approx. 6X10 cm to 11X16 cm. Condition varies; some photographs are faded or stained.
Provenance: Collection of Ben Zion Kahana.
Category
Avraham Kahana Collection
Catalogue
Auction 60 - Jewish and Israeli History and Culture
March 20, 2018
Opening: $500
Sold for: $1,250
Including buyer's premium
Two autograph letters and manuscript of a poem by Judah Leib Gordon (1830-1892) - among the leading and most important Hebrew poets of the Jewish Enlightenment in Russia.
1. Manuscript of the poem "Tashlich!", dedicated to "one of my acquaintances who was obliged to be exiled… and left with his family…" (Hebrew). Heshvan 5652 [late 1891].
The poem is about immigration of Jews from Russia and mentions "America, Brazil, Argentina" as possible refuges, an idea which Gordon expressed already some ten years earlier in his poem "Achoti Ruchama", in which he called Jews to immigrate from Russia to America.
[1] leaf written on both sides, 22 cm. Fair-good condition. Filing holes, stains, deletions, pasted pieces of paper with corrections and comments for the printer.
2. A long autograph letter by Gordon, to the author Ya'akov Yitzchak Weisberg (1840-1904). Comments handwritten by the author and journalist Yehoshua ben Haim Halevi Mezach (1834-1917) who received the letter from Weisberg, for publication in the section "Igrot Anshei Shem" in the literary anthology "Gan Perachim", which he edited in the years 1881-1892. [December 1890 / January 1891].
[1] folded leaf (three written pages), 21.5 cm. Fair-good condition. Filing holes, affecting text. Stained, some dark stains, affecting text. Folding marks and wear.
3. Autograph letter by Judah Leib Gordon, to an unidentified recipient. Written during Gordon's last year of life, from his sick bed in Berlin or in St. Petersburg, November 1891.
Among other things, Gordon writes about his failing health. At the end of the letter, after sending regards to Yehoshua Mezach (see above), Gordon writes: "So said Gordon: I said that in these turbulent time Jews do not need poetry and flowery phrases, and the authors who publish them do not succeed…".
[1] leaf written on both sides, 21 cm. Fair-poor condition. Dampstains, ink smears and damages to text. Folding marks and wear, pencil inscriptions, corrections and comments for the printer.
Provenance: Collection of Ben Zion Kahana.
1. Manuscript of the poem "Tashlich!", dedicated to "one of my acquaintances who was obliged to be exiled… and left with his family…" (Hebrew). Heshvan 5652 [late 1891].
The poem is about immigration of Jews from Russia and mentions "America, Brazil, Argentina" as possible refuges, an idea which Gordon expressed already some ten years earlier in his poem "Achoti Ruchama", in which he called Jews to immigrate from Russia to America.
[1] leaf written on both sides, 22 cm. Fair-good condition. Filing holes, stains, deletions, pasted pieces of paper with corrections and comments for the printer.
2. A long autograph letter by Gordon, to the author Ya'akov Yitzchak Weisberg (1840-1904). Comments handwritten by the author and journalist Yehoshua ben Haim Halevi Mezach (1834-1917) who received the letter from Weisberg, for publication in the section "Igrot Anshei Shem" in the literary anthology "Gan Perachim", which he edited in the years 1881-1892. [December 1890 / January 1891].
[1] folded leaf (three written pages), 21.5 cm. Fair-good condition. Filing holes, affecting text. Stained, some dark stains, affecting text. Folding marks and wear.
3. Autograph letter by Judah Leib Gordon, to an unidentified recipient. Written during Gordon's last year of life, from his sick bed in Berlin or in St. Petersburg, November 1891.
Among other things, Gordon writes about his failing health. At the end of the letter, after sending regards to Yehoshua Mezach (see above), Gordon writes: "So said Gordon: I said that in these turbulent time Jews do not need poetry and flowery phrases, and the authors who publish them do not succeed…".
[1] leaf written on both sides, 21 cm. Fair-poor condition. Dampstains, ink smears and damages to text. Folding marks and wear, pencil inscriptions, corrections and comments for the printer.
Provenance: Collection of Ben Zion Kahana.
Category
Avraham Kahana Collection
Catalogue
Auction 60 - Jewish and Israeli History and Culture
March 20, 2018
Opening: $500
Sold for: $1,625
Including buyer's premium
19 postcards, a letter and four stubs of payment-vouchers, written by hand and signed by Ahad Ha'Am (Asher Ginzberg), addressed to the scholar Avraham Kahana. Sent from Odessa and Berlin to Zhitomir, 1896-1903.
The postcards and the letter were written when Ahad Ha'am edited the periodical "HaShilo'ach", one of the most important periodical of the late 19th and early 20th century, and concern manly literary issues, research and editing - submission of essays about new books, continuation of publishing articles composed by Kahana, payment of royalties, editorial comments towards publication in "HaShilo'ach", publication of "Igrot Shadal" edited by Kahana, publication of a composition by Prof. Shimon Krauss, linguistic comments, confirmation of receipt of literary materials etc.
Some letters are written on official postcards of "HaShilo'ach" in Odessa or Ahad Ha'am (U. Ginzberg); one postcard of "Achiasaf" in Warsaw.
Enclosed: four stubs of payment vouchers sent by Ahad Ha'Am to Kahana; on the four stubs appear signatures by Ahad Ha'am as well as short autograph letters (concerning royalties); autograph letter by Kahana, addressed to Ahad Ha'Am (regarding the composition by Prof. Shmuel Krauss); original postal envelope, official ("HaShilo'ach" editorial), sent to Kahana.
Average size: 9X14 cm. Good overall condition. Several postcards in fair condition, dark or stained.
Provenance: Collection of Ben Zion Kahana.
The postcards and the letter were written when Ahad Ha'am edited the periodical "HaShilo'ach", one of the most important periodical of the late 19th and early 20th century, and concern manly literary issues, research and editing - submission of essays about new books, continuation of publishing articles composed by Kahana, payment of royalties, editorial comments towards publication in "HaShilo'ach", publication of "Igrot Shadal" edited by Kahana, publication of a composition by Prof. Shimon Krauss, linguistic comments, confirmation of receipt of literary materials etc.
Some letters are written on official postcards of "HaShilo'ach" in Odessa or Ahad Ha'am (U. Ginzberg); one postcard of "Achiasaf" in Warsaw.
Enclosed: four stubs of payment vouchers sent by Ahad Ha'Am to Kahana; on the four stubs appear signatures by Ahad Ha'am as well as short autograph letters (concerning royalties); autograph letter by Kahana, addressed to Ahad Ha'Am (regarding the composition by Prof. Shmuel Krauss); original postal envelope, official ("HaShilo'ach" editorial), sent to Kahana.
Average size: 9X14 cm. Good overall condition. Several postcards in fair condition, dark or stained.
Provenance: Collection of Ben Zion Kahana.
Category
Avraham Kahana Collection
Catalogue
Auction 60 - Jewish and Israeli History and Culture
March 20, 2018
Opening: $1,000
Sold for: $1,250
Including buyer's premium
A dozen postcards and two autograph letters, sent by the author and philosopher Josef Berdyczewski to the scholar Avraham Kahana. Sent from Charlottenburg (Berlin) and Breslau to Zhitomir and Kiev, 1900-1906; one letter from 1913.
The postcards and letters concern mainly the biblical commentary on which Kahana worked as well as matters of literature and research. In his letters Berdyczewski criticizes the scholarly work of Kahana, expresses some friendly advice and his consent to participate in a memorial book for Zhitomir victims (murdered during the riots following the 1905 revolution), mentions various literary enterprises, confirms with thanks receipt of books, or asks about Kahana's well-being. In one of the letters Berdyczewski writes: "biblical criticism is virgin soil for us and we are not prepared for it… this generation is orphan. Periodicals are rotten and they prefer to hear about Zangwil's daughter in law or about a Zionist speech in Vienna or Paris…" (Hebrew). Most letters are signed "Dr. M.J. Berdyczewski"; some are signed in initials.
Works by the author and philosopher Micha Josef Berdyczewski (Ben Gurion, 1865-1921) were defined by Chaim Nachman Bialik as "the deep and inner center of the generation's thought and feelings". Berdyczewski is considered an author who created new writing patterns in Hebrew literature and challenged the traditional literature as well as rabbinical tradition, through his call to change values in the conception of Judaism, the tradition and Jewish-national history.
About the recipient of the letters, the author and scholar Avraham Kahana, see introduction to this chapter, p. 204
Enclosed: two original postal envelopes and a copy (in pencil) of a letter from Berdyczewski to his father (in which he mentions Bereshit with Kahana's commentary).
Average size: 9X14 cm. Good overall condition. Filing holes to two postcards. One of the letters was torn by Berdyczewski, by mistake (when it was returned by the post), and was repaired.
Provenance: Collection of Ben Zion Kahana.
The postcards and letters concern mainly the biblical commentary on which Kahana worked as well as matters of literature and research. In his letters Berdyczewski criticizes the scholarly work of Kahana, expresses some friendly advice and his consent to participate in a memorial book for Zhitomir victims (murdered during the riots following the 1905 revolution), mentions various literary enterprises, confirms with thanks receipt of books, or asks about Kahana's well-being. In one of the letters Berdyczewski writes: "biblical criticism is virgin soil for us and we are not prepared for it… this generation is orphan. Periodicals are rotten and they prefer to hear about Zangwil's daughter in law or about a Zionist speech in Vienna or Paris…" (Hebrew). Most letters are signed "Dr. M.J. Berdyczewski"; some are signed in initials.
Works by the author and philosopher Micha Josef Berdyczewski (Ben Gurion, 1865-1921) were defined by Chaim Nachman Bialik as "the deep and inner center of the generation's thought and feelings". Berdyczewski is considered an author who created new writing patterns in Hebrew literature and challenged the traditional literature as well as rabbinical tradition, through his call to change values in the conception of Judaism, the tradition and Jewish-national history.
About the recipient of the letters, the author and scholar Avraham Kahana, see introduction to this chapter, p. 204
Enclosed: two original postal envelopes and a copy (in pencil) of a letter from Berdyczewski to his father (in which he mentions Bereshit with Kahana's commentary).
Average size: 9X14 cm. Good overall condition. Filing holes to two postcards. One of the letters was torn by Berdyczewski, by mistake (when it was returned by the post), and was repaired.
Provenance: Collection of Ben Zion Kahana.
Category
Avraham Kahana Collection
Catalogue
Auction 60 - Jewish and Israeli History and Culture
March 20, 2018
Opening: $300
Sold for: $475
Including buyer's premium
Three postcards and two autograph letters, handwritten by the author, poet and translator David Frishman. Sent to the researcher and author Avraham Kahana, from Warsaw to Kiev and Zhitomir. 1903-1906.
Letters and postcards on the subject of literature, publication of essays in "HaZman" and in "Hador", payment of royalties, etc. In one of the letters Frishman ask Kahana to undertake a permanent position, "to be the critic for non-Hebrew books about Judaism for 'Hador'". Two of the postcards are personal postcards of Frishman (with his name as editor of "Hador" printed on top of the card); one of the postcards is an official postcard of "Tushiya" publishing. Enclosed are two original envelopes in which the letters were sent.
Filing holes and another hole to one postcard. Stains to two postcards and to envelopes.
Provenance: Collection of Ben Zion Kahana.
Letters and postcards on the subject of literature, publication of essays in "HaZman" and in "Hador", payment of royalties, etc. In one of the letters Frishman ask Kahana to undertake a permanent position, "to be the critic for non-Hebrew books about Judaism for 'Hador'". Two of the postcards are personal postcards of Frishman (with his name as editor of "Hador" printed on top of the card); one of the postcards is an official postcard of "Tushiya" publishing. Enclosed are two original envelopes in which the letters were sent.
Filing holes and another hole to one postcard. Stains to two postcards and to envelopes.
Provenance: Collection of Ben Zion Kahana.
Category
Avraham Kahana Collection
Catalogue
Auction 60 - Jewish and Israeli History and Culture
March 20, 2018
Opening: $800
Sold for: $1,000
Including buyer's premium
33 postcards and a dozen autograph letters from Joseph Klausner. The letters and postcards were sent to the researcher and author Avraham Kahana from Odessa, Warsaw and Jerusalem, to Zhitomir, Kiev, Warsaw and Tel-Aviv, 1895-1938 (most letters are from the first and second decades of the 20th century).
A large collection of letters recording literary-scholarly relations over a period of about 40 years. The letters are written in a close and friendly manner; dealing mainly with literary matters, publication of essays and books, editing, critiques, comments and corrections of essays, and more. Most letters were written on postcards and on official stationery of "Hashiloach" in Odessa as well as of "Achiasaf" company in Warsaw (some of the later letters were written on stationery and envelopes of "Hashiloach" and of Klausner in Jerusalem). Some of the postcards in this collection were sent in 1895, when Klausner was only 21 years old.
In a postcard from March 1907 Klausner writes: "In the renewed 'Yeshiva' in Tchernovitz I teach not bible but Jewish history according to the new research, it seems that by doing so I contribute more to Judaism than by sitting in the chair of the free university in Petersburg". In another postcard Klausner promises to write an important critique essay about the bible with Kahana commentary.
Joseph Klausner (1874-1958), historian, literary scholar and intellectual, one of the founders of the Hebrew University and head of the department of Hebrew Literature. Editor of "Hashiloach" and winner of the Israel Prize.
Enclosed: letter from Kahana to Klausner, original envelopes in which the letters were sent.
Size and condition vary. Good overall condition. Creases and stains. Seven dark postcards (early ones). Tears at margins of some postcards. Filing holes to some postcards.
Provenance: Collection of Ben Zion Kahana.
A large collection of letters recording literary-scholarly relations over a period of about 40 years. The letters are written in a close and friendly manner; dealing mainly with literary matters, publication of essays and books, editing, critiques, comments and corrections of essays, and more. Most letters were written on postcards and on official stationery of "Hashiloach" in Odessa as well as of "Achiasaf" company in Warsaw (some of the later letters were written on stationery and envelopes of "Hashiloach" and of Klausner in Jerusalem). Some of the postcards in this collection were sent in 1895, when Klausner was only 21 years old.
In a postcard from March 1907 Klausner writes: "In the renewed 'Yeshiva' in Tchernovitz I teach not bible but Jewish history according to the new research, it seems that by doing so I contribute more to Judaism than by sitting in the chair of the free university in Petersburg". In another postcard Klausner promises to write an important critique essay about the bible with Kahana commentary.
Joseph Klausner (1874-1958), historian, literary scholar and intellectual, one of the founders of the Hebrew University and head of the department of Hebrew Literature. Editor of "Hashiloach" and winner of the Israel Prize.
Enclosed: letter from Kahana to Klausner, original envelopes in which the letters were sent.
Size and condition vary. Good overall condition. Creases and stains. Seven dark postcards (early ones). Tears at margins of some postcards. Filing holes to some postcards.
Provenance: Collection of Ben Zion Kahana.
Category
Avraham Kahana Collection
Catalogue
Auction 60 - Jewish and Israeli History and Culture
March 20, 2018
Opening: $500
Sold for: $875
Including buyer's premium
10 Postcards and an autograph letter sent by Rabbi Zvi Peretz Chajes to the researcher Avraham Kahana. Sent from Florence, Trieste and Lvov, to Zhitomir and Kiev, 1901-1913.
Friendly letters, containing mainly corrections and comments on essays, on the commentary on Psalms by Chajes, research matters, literature and Judaism. Chajes writes in one of the letters: "I could not undertake the commentary on the Song of Songs since so far I have not been thoroughly involved with it, and it is one of the most difficult ones".
Zvi Peretz Chajes (1876-1927), rabbi, historian and researcher of the bible, was born in Galicia where he studied in a Yeshiva and was ordained as rabbi. From 1901 he served as the community rabbi in Florence, taught in the Rabbinic Seminary in Florence and served as teacher of biblical studies in the local university. In 1912 he was appointed rabbi of the Trieste community. As of 1918 he served as Chief Rabbi of Vienna and established a seminary for teachers. He was one of the first rabbis who supported Zionism, and the first chairman of the Zionist Executive Committee. Died in Vienna in 1927 and was buried in Tel Aviv.
Postcards: 9X14 cm, letter: 11.5X9 cm (in the original envelope). Good overall condition. Stains.
Provenance: Collection of Ben Zion Kahana.
Friendly letters, containing mainly corrections and comments on essays, on the commentary on Psalms by Chajes, research matters, literature and Judaism. Chajes writes in one of the letters: "I could not undertake the commentary on the Song of Songs since so far I have not been thoroughly involved with it, and it is one of the most difficult ones".
Zvi Peretz Chajes (1876-1927), rabbi, historian and researcher of the bible, was born in Galicia where he studied in a Yeshiva and was ordained as rabbi. From 1901 he served as the community rabbi in Florence, taught in the Rabbinic Seminary in Florence and served as teacher of biblical studies in the local university. In 1912 he was appointed rabbi of the Trieste community. As of 1918 he served as Chief Rabbi of Vienna and established a seminary for teachers. He was one of the first rabbis who supported Zionism, and the first chairman of the Zionist Executive Committee. Died in Vienna in 1927 and was buried in Tel Aviv.
Postcards: 9X14 cm, letter: 11.5X9 cm (in the original envelope). Good overall condition. Stains.
Provenance: Collection of Ben Zion Kahana.
Category
Avraham Kahana Collection
Catalogue
Auction 60 - Jewish and Israeli History and Culture
March 20, 2018
Opening: $300
Sold for: $525
Including buyer's premium
Seven postcards, a letter and two stubs of postal payment vouchers, with autograph letters from Alexander Siskind Rabinovitz. The letters were sent to the researcher and author Avraham Kahana, from Poltava and from Jaffa, to Zhitomir and Kiev, 1903-1906.
Letters concerning literary issues and sale and distribution of books, royalties and payments, printing of essays and books, biblical commentary, novellae, and other matters. In one of the postcards Azar asks about the condition of Kahana after he heard that "there were murders in your area… am not asking about you since I know that you find no peace in this bloody land".
Alexander Siskind Rabinovitz (Azar, 1854-1945) - author, editor, biographer and prolific translator who published about 100 books during his lifetime. He translated scholarly Talmudic books by Binyamin Ze'ev Bachar and published a translation of the Song of Songs, commentary on the Book of Job, biblical commentaries, Tanaim and Amoraim Aggadas, and more.
Size varies. Fair condition. Two postcards on very dark paper. Filing holes to some items. Worming to one postcard. Stains.
Provenance: Collection of Ben Zion Kahana.
Letters concerning literary issues and sale and distribution of books, royalties and payments, printing of essays and books, biblical commentary, novellae, and other matters. In one of the postcards Azar asks about the condition of Kahana after he heard that "there were murders in your area… am not asking about you since I know that you find no peace in this bloody land".
Alexander Siskind Rabinovitz (Azar, 1854-1945) - author, editor, biographer and prolific translator who published about 100 books during his lifetime. He translated scholarly Talmudic books by Binyamin Ze'ev Bachar and published a translation of the Song of Songs, commentary on the Book of Job, biblical commentaries, Tanaim and Amoraim Aggadas, and more.
Size varies. Fair condition. Two postcards on very dark paper. Filing holes to some items. Worming to one postcard. Stains.
Provenance: Collection of Ben Zion Kahana.
Category
Avraham Kahana Collection
Catalogue
Auction 60 - Jewish and Israeli History and Culture
March 20, 2018
Opening: $800
Sold for: $1,000
Including buyer's premium
Four handwritten letters from the Hebrew Language Committee in Jerusalem, addressed to Hillel Zlatopolsky. Three of the letters are signed by Eliezer Ben-Yehuda, David Yellin and Aryeh Zuta. Shevat-Nissan 1912.
The letters concern the ongoing activities of the committee, among other things, the efforts by Ben-Yehuda to obtain financial support for its activity, plans for printing a booklet with essays and linguistic terms, and more. Three of the letters are stamped with the stamp of the "Jerusalem Hebrew Language Committee" and signed by the committee's presidents, Eliezer Ben-Yehuda and David Yellin, and its secretary, Chaim Aryeh Zuta.
The "Hebrew Language Committee" was founded in 1904 in response to the difficulties faced by teachers in Palestine regarding the use of the Hebrew language for teaching purposes. Its activity focused mostly on creating norms in Hebrew grammar, pronunciation and terminology. The committee's first members were Eliezer Ben-Yehuda, David Yellin, Dr. Aharon Meir Mazia, Yosef Meyuhas, Eliyahu Sapir, Yehiel Michal Pines and Chaim Aryeh Zuta. For most of its existence the committee suffered from a lack of funding, and its activities were performed on a volunteer basis. Among the philanthropists supporting the committee was the businessman and Zionist activist Hillel Zlatopolsky, to whom the present letters are addressed.
Shortly before the establishment of the State of Israel, the Hebrew Language Committee began to promote the establishment of an Academy of the Hebrew Language - an idea that was finally realized in 1953, when the Knesset legislated the "Law of the Supreme Institution of the Hebrew Language", which led to the establishment of the "Academy of the Hebrew Language".
Four letters (six written pages), 28 cm. Good overall condition. Folding marks and light creases. Stains. Holes and small tears to several leaves.
Provenance: Collection of Ben Zion Kahana.
The letters concern the ongoing activities of the committee, among other things, the efforts by Ben-Yehuda to obtain financial support for its activity, plans for printing a booklet with essays and linguistic terms, and more. Three of the letters are stamped with the stamp of the "Jerusalem Hebrew Language Committee" and signed by the committee's presidents, Eliezer Ben-Yehuda and David Yellin, and its secretary, Chaim Aryeh Zuta.
The "Hebrew Language Committee" was founded in 1904 in response to the difficulties faced by teachers in Palestine regarding the use of the Hebrew language for teaching purposes. Its activity focused mostly on creating norms in Hebrew grammar, pronunciation and terminology. The committee's first members were Eliezer Ben-Yehuda, David Yellin, Dr. Aharon Meir Mazia, Yosef Meyuhas, Eliyahu Sapir, Yehiel Michal Pines and Chaim Aryeh Zuta. For most of its existence the committee suffered from a lack of funding, and its activities were performed on a volunteer basis. Among the philanthropists supporting the committee was the businessman and Zionist activist Hillel Zlatopolsky, to whom the present letters are addressed.
Shortly before the establishment of the State of Israel, the Hebrew Language Committee began to promote the establishment of an Academy of the Hebrew Language - an idea that was finally realized in 1953, when the Knesset legislated the "Law of the Supreme Institution of the Hebrew Language", which led to the establishment of the "Academy of the Hebrew Language".
Four letters (six written pages), 28 cm. Good overall condition. Folding marks and light creases. Stains. Holes and small tears to several leaves.
Provenance: Collection of Ben Zion Kahana.
Category
Avraham Kahana Collection
Catalogue
Auction 60 - Jewish and Israeli History and Culture
March 20, 2018
Opening: $1,000
Unsold
Collection of items about the expansion of "Sha'ar Zion" library in Tel-Aviv, issued on behalf of the committee for the expansion of "Sha'ar Zion" library. [Tel-Aviv, ca. 1925].
"Sha'ar Zion" library was founded in Jaffa in 1886 and was named "Beit Eked Lesfarim". As of 1891 its name was changed to "Sha'ar Zion". In 1922 the Library gained the status of the Municipal Library of Tel-Aviv and between the years 1921-1936 it was located in "Beit Polack" on the corner of Herzl and Ahad Ha'am streets. At the same time when the documents presented here were written, Avraham Kahana served as the director of the library and A. Z. Rabinovich (Azar) was the chairman of the committee.
1. Three leaves written in Avraham Kahana's hand, including a draft for a printed public appeal regarding the expansion of "Sha'ar Zion" library in Tel-Aviv by donations of books. On the third leaf appear signatures of the committee members: Asher Ginzberg (Ahad Ha'Am), Chaim Nachman Bialik, Meir Dizengoff, Alexander Zueskind Rabinovich (Azar) and Yehushua Hana Ravnitzky.
[3] leaves, 27.5 cm. Fair condition. Filing holes, dark stains and dampstains. The first two leaves are written in ink while the third one is written in pencil. Signatures are in good condition, with some stains.
2. Al "Sha'ar Zion". Printed broadside (final version of the above manuscript) on behalf of the committee for the expansion of "Sha'ar Zion" library.
[1] leaf, 28 cm. Good condition.
3. Leaf handwritten by Alexander Zueskind Rabinovich (Azar) about the city of Tel-Aviv and its culture, Sha'ar Zion library and its development (not signed).
[1] leaf, 20 cm. Good condition. Filing holes and folding marks.
Provenance: Collection of Ben Zion Kahana.
"Sha'ar Zion" library was founded in Jaffa in 1886 and was named "Beit Eked Lesfarim". As of 1891 its name was changed to "Sha'ar Zion". In 1922 the Library gained the status of the Municipal Library of Tel-Aviv and between the years 1921-1936 it was located in "Beit Polack" on the corner of Herzl and Ahad Ha'am streets. At the same time when the documents presented here were written, Avraham Kahana served as the director of the library and A. Z. Rabinovich (Azar) was the chairman of the committee.
1. Three leaves written in Avraham Kahana's hand, including a draft for a printed public appeal regarding the expansion of "Sha'ar Zion" library in Tel-Aviv by donations of books. On the third leaf appear signatures of the committee members: Asher Ginzberg (Ahad Ha'Am), Chaim Nachman Bialik, Meir Dizengoff, Alexander Zueskind Rabinovich (Azar) and Yehushua Hana Ravnitzky.
[3] leaves, 27.5 cm. Fair condition. Filing holes, dark stains and dampstains. The first two leaves are written in ink while the third one is written in pencil. Signatures are in good condition, with some stains.
2. Al "Sha'ar Zion". Printed broadside (final version of the above manuscript) on behalf of the committee for the expansion of "Sha'ar Zion" library.
[1] leaf, 28 cm. Good condition.
3. Leaf handwritten by Alexander Zueskind Rabinovich (Azar) about the city of Tel-Aviv and its culture, Sha'ar Zion library and its development (not signed).
[1] leaf, 20 cm. Good condition. Filing holes and folding marks.
Provenance: Collection of Ben Zion Kahana.
Category
Avraham Kahana Collection
Catalogue
Auction 60 - Jewish and Israeli History and Culture
March 20, 2018
Opening: $1,500
Unsold
Archive containing about 200 documents from the period during which Avraham Kahana directed the "Sha'ar Zion" library in Tel-Aviv. Tel-Aviv, ca. 1924-1927.
An archive documenting the "Sha'ar Zion" library under the direction of Avraham Kahana. For more information about "Sha'ar Zion" library, see previous item.
Among the documents in this collection: * Autograph letter by Avraham Kahana, to the culture committee of Tel-Aviv municipality in which he proposes his services as chief librarian of "Sha'ar Zion" library (1924). * Detailed reports about the situation in the library, including lists with detailed comments handwritten by Avraham Kahana and by Azar. * Lists with historic data, general or professional, about the library. * Notebook and pamphlets with detailed protocols of library board meetings (among the participants: Ravnitzky, Rabinovich, Churgin, Kahana). * Leaf of "Statistics of readers who took books home during 1926" arranged according to months (details about books taken out by students, workers, clerks, free professions, non-professionals etc.). * A duty roster, written by hand. * List of books for acquisition. * Letter from Meir Dizengoff (on stationery of Ahad HaAm house) with notes handwritten by Shoshana Persitz, regarding 3000 books moved from "Sha'ar Zion" library to the library in Ahad HaAm house. * Letters of recommendation for potential workers for the library, among them an autograph letter by Meir Dizengoff and printed letters signed by him. * Letters about administrative matters - naming the library in the name of Levanda, budgets, allocating funds for JNF, appointment of workers, and more. * A stenciled letter, from the head of the publicity department of "Gdud Meginay HaSafah" in Tal-Aviv. * Letter from Avraham Kahana to his son, Uriel, in which he mentions library matters. * Letters concerning firing two workers in the library, including letters from Jaffa Workers' Council, invitation to a "Members Trial", copy of a verdict, letters from Meir Dizengoff and lists of claims handwritten by Kahana. * Additional items.
Total of about 200 documents. Size and condition vary. Some leaves in very good condition, and some in fair-poor condition (dark stains, rough tears).
Provenance: Collection of Ben Zion Kahana.
An archive documenting the "Sha'ar Zion" library under the direction of Avraham Kahana. For more information about "Sha'ar Zion" library, see previous item.
Among the documents in this collection: * Autograph letter by Avraham Kahana, to the culture committee of Tel-Aviv municipality in which he proposes his services as chief librarian of "Sha'ar Zion" library (1924). * Detailed reports about the situation in the library, including lists with detailed comments handwritten by Avraham Kahana and by Azar. * Lists with historic data, general or professional, about the library. * Notebook and pamphlets with detailed protocols of library board meetings (among the participants: Ravnitzky, Rabinovich, Churgin, Kahana). * Leaf of "Statistics of readers who took books home during 1926" arranged according to months (details about books taken out by students, workers, clerks, free professions, non-professionals etc.). * A duty roster, written by hand. * List of books for acquisition. * Letter from Meir Dizengoff (on stationery of Ahad HaAm house) with notes handwritten by Shoshana Persitz, regarding 3000 books moved from "Sha'ar Zion" library to the library in Ahad HaAm house. * Letters of recommendation for potential workers for the library, among them an autograph letter by Meir Dizengoff and printed letters signed by him. * Letters about administrative matters - naming the library in the name of Levanda, budgets, allocating funds for JNF, appointment of workers, and more. * A stenciled letter, from the head of the publicity department of "Gdud Meginay HaSafah" in Tal-Aviv. * Letter from Avraham Kahana to his son, Uriel, in which he mentions library matters. * Letters concerning firing two workers in the library, including letters from Jaffa Workers' Council, invitation to a "Members Trial", copy of a verdict, letters from Meir Dizengoff and lists of claims handwritten by Kahana. * Additional items.
Total of about 200 documents. Size and condition vary. Some leaves in very good condition, and some in fair-poor condition (dark stains, rough tears).
Provenance: Collection of Ben Zion Kahana.
Category
Avraham Kahana Collection
Catalogue
Lot 252 Letter Handwritten and Signed by Chaim Nachman Bialik, to Yaakov Meir Zalkind - London, 1931
Auction 60 - Jewish and Israeli History and Culture
March 20, 2018
Opening: $300
Sold for: $525
Including buyer's premium
Letter handwritten and signed by Chaim Nachman Bialik, to Yaakov Meir Zalkind. Written on stationery of Hotel Russell in London. [London], January 1931.
In his letter Bialik refers to one of the volumes of the Talmud published by Zalkind in Yiddish translation, with commentary. Bialik praises Zalkind for his work and at the same time entreats him to write his Talmud commentary in Hebrew: "I gratefully received the issue of the Kil'ayim Tractate… and again I say to you: Cease using the Jewish language in this work. In this way it won't succeed. The natural habitat of your commentary is the Hebrew language. The Hebrew-reading public in need of your commentary is twenty times greater than the Yiddish one… you know that it is not due to envy or disfavor towards the Jewish language that I say so. In my heart I hold no resentment towards it… except that the value of the Hebrew commentary is seven times, or even seventy-seven times that of the Yiddish".
Yaakov Meir Zalkind (1875-1937), rabbi, author, translator and publicist, born in Kobryn. Received a traditional education in a heder and later at the Volozhin yeshiva, while also completing general studies. At the age of 20 he set out to study philology and philosophy at universities in Germany, France and Switzerland, and upon completing his studies he settled in England where he served as the rabbi of the Cardiff community. From a young age he was active in Zionist organizations, and in 1913 he even established the First London Achuzah Company which purchased about half of the lands of Karkur. In 1933 he immigrated to Palestine and settled in Haifa, where he died in 1937.
Over the years Zalkind published articles and essays in Yiddish, Hebrew and English. Among other things he was involved in the translation of the Talmud to Yiddish - an enterprise that was never completed (his translation and commentary on the Talmud were published in London in the years 1922-1931).
[1] leaf (two written pages), 17.5 cm. Good condition. Horizontal fold line and light creases. Numerous stains.
See: The Letters of Chaim Nachman Bialik, edited by Fishel Lahover, Tel Aviv: Dvir, 1938-1939. Volume 5, pp. 134-135.
Provenance: Collection of Ben Zion Kahana.
In his letter Bialik refers to one of the volumes of the Talmud published by Zalkind in Yiddish translation, with commentary. Bialik praises Zalkind for his work and at the same time entreats him to write his Talmud commentary in Hebrew: "I gratefully received the issue of the Kil'ayim Tractate… and again I say to you: Cease using the Jewish language in this work. In this way it won't succeed. The natural habitat of your commentary is the Hebrew language. The Hebrew-reading public in need of your commentary is twenty times greater than the Yiddish one… you know that it is not due to envy or disfavor towards the Jewish language that I say so. In my heart I hold no resentment towards it… except that the value of the Hebrew commentary is seven times, or even seventy-seven times that of the Yiddish".
Yaakov Meir Zalkind (1875-1937), rabbi, author, translator and publicist, born in Kobryn. Received a traditional education in a heder and later at the Volozhin yeshiva, while also completing general studies. At the age of 20 he set out to study philology and philosophy at universities in Germany, France and Switzerland, and upon completing his studies he settled in England where he served as the rabbi of the Cardiff community. From a young age he was active in Zionist organizations, and in 1913 he even established the First London Achuzah Company which purchased about half of the lands of Karkur. In 1933 he immigrated to Palestine and settled in Haifa, where he died in 1937.
Over the years Zalkind published articles and essays in Yiddish, Hebrew and English. Among other things he was involved in the translation of the Talmud to Yiddish - an enterprise that was never completed (his translation and commentary on the Talmud were published in London in the years 1922-1931).
[1] leaf (two written pages), 17.5 cm. Good condition. Horizontal fold line and light creases. Numerous stains.
See: The Letters of Chaim Nachman Bialik, edited by Fishel Lahover, Tel Aviv: Dvir, 1938-1939. Volume 5, pp. 134-135.
Provenance: Collection of Ben Zion Kahana.
Category
Avraham Kahana Collection
Catalogue