Auction 90 Judaica - Books, Manuscripts, Letters, Ceremonial Art
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The letters and novellae were presumably copied by a student in the Galanta yeshiva, from the manuscript of R. Naftali Buxbaum, son of R. Yehoshua. To the best of our knowledge, part of the manuscript remains unpublished.
The manuscript opens with a letter from R. Shmuel Rosenberg to R. Yeshaya Silberstein Rabbi of Waitzen, in which he opposes introducing secular studies in the yeshiva curriculum. This followed by a letter on a similar topic by R. Yehoshua Buxbaum.
The second part of the manuscript comprises 20 pages of novellae and sermons, mostly on the Torah portions. Most of these sermons were published in Or Pnei Yehoshua on the Torah (Jerusalem 1950), though some remain unpublished (see enclosed material).
The manuscript concludes with an enthusiastic letter of recommendation from R. Shmuel Rosenberg of Unsdorf for his disciple R. Yehoshua Buxbaum. To the best of our knowledge, this letter is unpublished.
See Hebrew description for more details about the various letters.
Rabbi Shmuel Rosenberg, author of Be’er Shmuel (1842-1919), foremost Hungarian rabbi and yeshiva dean. A leading disciple of the Ktav Sofer. Rabbi of Tshaba (Hejőcsaba), and later of Unsdorf, where he founded a large yeshiva. He stood at the helm of Orthodox Jewry in its battles against the Reform movement.
His disciple, R. Yehoshua Buxbaum – rabbi of Galanta (1878-1944; perished in the Holocaust). Foremost Hungarian yeshiva dean. Rabbi of Magendorf (Veľký Meder), and later of Galanta. He edified thousands of G-d fearing and erudite disciples, and ignited them with the passion for love of G-d and His worship.
[16] written leaves (+ 21 blank leaves). 20 cm. Good-fair condition. Stains. Worming, slightly affecting text. Tear to final leaf, slightly affecting text. Original binding, damaged and torn.
PLEASE NOTE: Item description was shortened in translation. For further information, please refer to Hebrew text.
Heading on first page, stating the topic of the sermon, and its suitability as a groom's sermon. Author's colophon on final page.
The author, R. Shimon Elazar Yudelevich (1888-1965), Jerusalem Torah scholar, Etrog dealer and gabbai in the Zichron Moshe synagogue in Jerusalem.
8 leaves (16 written pages). 23 cm. Good-fair condition. Dark stains. Marginal wear and open tears (not affecting text). New binding.
PLEASE NOTE: Item description was shortened in translation. For further information, please refer to Hebrew text.
Manuscript, homiletics and Aggadic novellae on various topics, with Talmudic novellae, by an unidentified author. [Warsaw, ca. 1904-1919]; bound at the end of Halachah LeMoshe, Warsaw 1899.
The main part of the manuscript comprises novellae on Talmudic topics, and one homily, dated Bamidbar 1904. Various homiletics, in a different handwriting, dated 1917-1919, were added in the blank spaces in the manuscript. The manuscript may have been written by two writers, or by a single writer whose handwriting changed over the years. To the best of our knowledge, the manuscript was not published.
The writer mentions various synagogues in Warsaw, as well as his colleague R. Yehoshua Yaakov HaKohen a Warsaw Torah scholar; which seems to indicate that he served there as preacher or rabbi. The homilies include a eulogy on the Lviv pogrom of 1918, which serves as an interesting historical documentation of the pogrom (see below).
Beside some of the homilies appears a note in a different hand: "Recorded in section… in Chemdat Yehoshua". There is a book titled Chemdat Yehoshua by R. Yehoshua HaLevi Zambrowsky (1874-1939), who served as posek in Warsaw in 1900, and later as rabbi in Buffalo and Syracuse, NY. He may be the author of the present manuscript, though none of the present homilies are printed there.
120 pages (Halachah LeMoshe) + 26 handwritten leaves. 30.5 cm. Very dry and brittle paper. Stains. Marginal closed and open tears, affecting text. Remnants of many torn out and lacking leaves at end of manuscript. New binding.
The Lviv Pogrom of 1918 – Historical Documentation
The present manuscript includes a eulogy delivered following the pogrom which took place in Lviv in 1918, during which thousands of Jews were killed and injured. In the eulogy, given on Monday, 6th Tevet 1918, some two weeks after the pogrom, the author laments the loss of over 1000 lives, the tens of thousands left homeless, and the desecration of the synagogues.
The Lviv pogrom was perpetrated on 21-23 November 1918 by the Polish forces, with the assistance of local thugs, after the retreat of the Ukrainians during the course of the Polish-Ukrainian war. According to modern research, some 70 Jews were killed, however contemporary sources give much higher numbers. Newspaper articles of that time record some 600 dead, and later 960. This is corroborated by the eulogy in the present manuscript, which mourns the loss of over a thousand Jews.
6th Tevet, the day this eulogy was delivered, was set as a day of mourning and protest in the wake of the pogrom.
PLEASE NOTE: Item description was shortened in translation. For further information, please refer to Hebrew text.
A kind of "preacher's notebook", recorded in a printed journal from 1923. The writer appears to have been a rabbi who visited and preached in various communities throughout the United States, and recorded brief Torah thoughts, stories and sayings, various sources, ideas and outlines of sermons. He occasionally notes the sources of the novellae, such as the Chafetz Chaim, the Ponovezher Rav, the Beit HaLevi, R. A.Y. Kook, and others.
In the headings, he occasionally mentions the places where the sermon was delivered, including Lakewood, Baltimore, Bensonhurst (Brooklyn NY), Milwaukee (Wisconsin), Pittsburgh (Pennsylvania), Detroit and Mount Clemens (Michigan) and more.
Two leaves enclosed, with additional outlines of sermons and a list of rabbis.
Altogether [113] written pages (and many more blank leaves) + [2] enclosed leaves. 18 cm. Overall good condition. Stains. Marginal tears, slightly affecting text. Inscriptions. New binding.
PLEASE NOTE: Item description was shortened in translation. For further information, please refer to Hebrew text.
Typewritten volume – final draft by the author, with many of his handwritten glosses, additions and emendations. Handwritten title page and stamps.
Stamp of the author on the title page, referring to him as rabbi in Lynn.
Mishnah Aruchah is a comprehensive commentary on Mishnayot, based on the Talmud, commentaries of the Mishnah and Talmud, halachic works and other sources. The commentary is inserted in parentheses in the text of the Mishnah, allowing the Mishnah and commentary to be read sequentially. The format of this commentary is similar to that of the author's work Talmud Meforash on Tractate Berachot, published in seven volumes in 1945-1949.
To the best of our knowledge, this work was never published.
R. Binyamin HaLevi Lipschitz (d. 1989), son of R. Avraham Lipschitz Rabbi of Fall River, Massachusetts, and grandson of R. Yaakov Lipschitz, close attendant of R. Yitzchak Elchanan Spektor. He at first served as rabbi of Lynn, and later succeeded his father as rabbi of Fall River.
[1], 112 leaves; 12 pages. Approx. 28 cm. Fair-good condition. Stains. Marginal tears, affecting text, repaired in part with tape. Inscriptions. Old binding.
PLEASE NOTE: Item description was shortened in translation. For further information, please refer to Hebrew text.
Lengthy responsum on the fulfillment of the wedding date oath. The example given is of a wedding due to take place in summer 1796. The responsum concludes with the calligraphic signature of R. Avraham Gatigno, and is followed by a letter of approbation to the ruling, with the calligraphic signatures of R. Yosef Ibn Yaish and R. Chaim Chanoch Pipano.
This responsum, with the letter of approbation, was published in Elef Kesef by R. Avraham Gatigno, printed in the book Matzref LaKesef (by his grandson R. Benveniste Mercado), Salonika 1867.
R. Avraham son of R. Benveniste Gatigno author of Elef Kesef (d. 1809), prominent Salonika rabbi alongside the chief rabbi – R. Chaim Yosef HaKohen Ibn Ardut. R. Chaim Chanoch Pipano (d. 1819) was also a prominent rabbi in Salonika, and served for a time as assistant to the chief rabbi.
[7] leaves (13 written pages). 21.5 cm. Good-fair condition. Stains and wear. Minor tears to several leaves, slightly affecting text. Tear to final leaf, slightly affecting signature of R. Avraham Gatigno. New binding.
PLEASE NOTE: Item description was shortened in translation. For further information, please refer to Hebrew text.
Lot 283 Manuscript Booklet – Halachic Responsum by Rabbi Shalom Moshe Chai Gagin, With His Signature
Lengthy responsum on the laws of Ribbit (interest), written by a scribe, concluding with the signature of the author R. Shalom Moshe Chai Gagin. His signature is followed by a lengthy addition (4 paragraphs), intended to be incorporated in the responsum (with a note of the place where the addition should be inserted). First three lines of the addition written in a different hand, presumably that of R. Gagin himself.
The responsum was published in Responsa Yismach Lev, Yoreh De'ah section 1. The addition appears there in its intended place.
R. Shalom Moshe Chai Gagin (1833-1883), leading Jerusalem Torah scholar. Son of the Rishon Letzion R. Chaim Avraham Gagin. Succeeded his father as dean of the Beit El yeshiva for kabbalists.
[8] leaves (15 written pages). 20.5 cm. Bluish paper. Good condition. Stains and wear. Folding marks. Minor tears. New binding.
PLEASE NOTE: Item description was shortened in translation. For further information, please refer to Hebrew text.
Lengthy responsum on laws of inheritance and wills, handwritten by the author (with many deletions and additions). Concludes with his calligraphic signature (leaf trimmed with slight damage to signature).
To the best of our knowledge, this responsum was never published.
List of debts or expenditures on blank leaf at the beginning of the manuscript, including various names.
R. Yaakov ibn Tzahal, leading Jerusalem Torah scholar in the early 19th century. He is mentioned in the works of his contemporaries. Most of his works were never published.
[10] leaves (including 1 blank leaf; 17 written pages). 21 cm. Fair-good condition. Stains. Open tears to all leaves, affecting text, repaired with paper. New binding.
PLEASE NOTE: Item description was shortened in translation. For further information, please refer to Hebrew text.
Handwritten by the author, with deletions and marginal additions.
The present responsum was published by R. Yitzchak Moshe Abulafia in his book Pnei Yitzchak, with all identifying details changed, though it in fact pertains to the controversy which arose in 1897 over his own rabbinic position.
This sharp responsum was composed by R. Yitzchak Abulafia after some Damascus community members attempted to dismiss him from his position, and appoint in his stead R. Shlomo Eliezer Alfandari (the Saba Kadisha). R. Abulafia rules that bringing a new rabbi is an encroachment on the rabbi's position and is halachically forbidden. R. Abulafia's signature is followed by an addition written after the arrival of the new rabbi. Some time after R. Alfandari settled in Damascus, the rabbis recognized each other's prominence and worked together on the rabbinate.
The present manuscript includes the final 8 leaves of the responsum in R. Abulafia's handwriting, including his signature and the addition, signed again by R. Abulafia. The responsum was published based on the present manuscript.
The deleted lines in the present manuscript were not published.
R. Yitzchak Abulafia (1824-1910), Torah scholar in Eretz Israel and Syria. Dayan and rabbi in Tiberias, and later chief rabbi of Damascus (from 1873), until the community members appointed R. Alfandari in his stead. A prominent halachic authority.
[8] leaves (incomplete). Some leaves bound out of sequence. 18.5 cm. Good condition. Stains. Tears to several leaves. Minor worming. New binding.
PLEASE NOTE: Item description was shortened in translation. For further information, please refer to Hebrew text.
Autograph leaf by R. Shlomo Eliezer Alfandari, from an unpublished responsum.
This responsum was presumably authored as part of the halachic polemic which erupted after R. Yitzchak Abulafia author of Pnei Yitzchak issued a ruling allowing a Jew to marry a Karaite woman under certain circumstances. R. Aharon Bechor Alhadef, chief rabbi of Tiberias, published his objection to the ruling in his book MiPi Aharon, together with a warning from R. Yaakov Shaul Elyashar and the Jerusalem Beit Din. R. Alhadef also corresponded with R. Alfandari on the topic. R. Alfandari's lengthy responsum on the matter was later published in Gedolei Eretz Israel, Jerusalem 1975. Following rabbinic opposition, R. Yitzchak Abulafia retracted his ruling and forbade the marriage as well (see enclosed material).
To the best of our knowledge, the present manuscript by R. Alfandari, on this topic, was never published. It may be an addition to the published responsum, or a section of an additional responsum on the same topic.
R. Shlomo Eliezer Alfandari (ca. 1813-1930), leading Turkish rabbi. In his youth, he exchanged halachic correspondence with R. Akiva Eger (who passed away in 1837). He served as chief rabbi of Constantinople and Damascus. When he was about 100 years old, he immigrated to Eretz Israel, settling in his final years in Jerusalem, where he passed away close to the age of 120. In his final year, the Minchat Elazar of Munkacs came to Eretz Israel specially to visit him, and they discussed kabbalistic matters together. He authored Responsa of Maharsha, Responsa of the Saba Kadisha, and more.
[1] leaf. Approx. 20 cm. Fair-good condition. Stains. Wear and tears, slightly affecting text.
PLEASE NOTE: Item description was shortened in translation. For further information, please refer to Hebrew text.
Manuscript volume written by several Moroccan Torah scholars. The volume was in the possession of R. Yaakov Toledano, a prominent dayan in Meknes, author of Kehilat Yaakov, and was partially written by him.
The manuscript opens with several leaves of piyyutim composed by R. Yaakov Toledano, presumably in his handwriting (with deletions). These are followed by eulogy homilies and eulogistic poems – this part was presumably written by R. Yosef son of R. Refael David Berdugo, who wrote it for R. Yaakov Toledano. With R. Berdugo's calligraphic signature at the foot of one homily, alongside a calligraphic signature he designed for R. Yaakov Toledano.
The homilies copied in this manuscript were composed by various Maghrebi Torah scholars, including R. Shlomo, R. Avraham and R. Meir Toledano; R. David Hassin; R. Shlomo ibn Amar; R. Yitzchak Malka; R. Daniel Berdugo; R. Shlomo Berdugo; and others.
The manuscript also includes novellae, halachic rulings and halachic responsa, some of which were presumably authored by R. Yaakov Toledano.
Some of the contents of the manuscript was presumably never published. Some of the contents was also copied in other contemporary manuscripts, and may have been published. Most of the piyyutim at the beginning of the manuscript were published by R. Yaakov Toledano's son in a special section in Yismach Yisrael BeOsav, Meknes 1931.
R. Yaakov son of R. Moshe Toledano (1868-1921), a leading Moroccan dayan, member of the "Beit Din of Five". His writings were published in Kehilat Yaakov (Jerusalem 1972).
[266] pages (mostly written; approx. 40 blank pages). 17.5 cm. Fair condition. Stains. Tears and wear. Open tears to several leaves, affecting text. New binding.
PLEASE NOTE: Item description was shortened in translation. For further information, please refer to Hebrew text.
Large format (tall and narrow). Early Yemenite script, by various writers. Supralinear vocalization in some places.
Includes over 150 poems and piyyutim, for various occasions. Includes many poems by the prominent Yemenite Torah scholar and poet, R. Shalom Shabazi.
[187] leaves. 34 cm. Good-fair condition. Many stains. Tears and wear, affecting text in a few places. Worming. Several detached leaves. Original leather binding, damaged.
PLEASE NOTE: Item description was shortened in translation. For further information, please refer to Hebrew text.