Auction 72 - Rare and Important Items
Responsa of the Rama of Fano – Venice, 1600 – Glosses Handwritten by the Yaavetz, Rabbi Yaakov Emden
Opening: $3,000
Estimate: $8,000 - $12,000
Sold for: $7,500
Including buyer's premium
Responsa Menachem Azariah, by R. Menachem Azariah da Fano. Venice: Daniel Zanetti, [1600]. First edition.
Three glosses handwritten by R. Yaakov Emden – the Yaavetz, with mention of his writings in Responsa She'elat Yaavetz and in Siddur Amudei Shamayim.
In a gloss at the end of Responsum 85 (p. 75a), R. Yaakov Emden refers to what he wrote in She'elat Yaavetz: "…he overlooked many places, as I wrote in She'elat Yaavetz, Responsum 33…". In Responsum 33, the Yaavetz praises the great wisdom of the Rama of Fano, yet mentions several Tannaitic passages which he overlooked. He writes that when he read the Rama's book of responsa, he found there "two or three small difficulties", and gives one example – Responsum 85 – elaborating on what was overlooked (see enclosed material).
The two other glosses possibly correspond to the other "small difficulties" mentioned in She'elat Yaavetz. In his gloss to Responsum 113 (p. 114b), where the Rama prohibits swaying during prayer, the Yaavetz refers to Sulam Beit El, his preface to Siddur Amudei Shamayim. Indeed, in Sulam Beit El (Altona edition, leaf 29), the Yaavetz writes at length against this prohibition. The other gloss appears at the end of Responsum 37 (p. 37a).
A few corrections (possibly also handwritten by the Yaavetz).
Inscription in Italian script on title page: "…the derogatory words about pagans do not refer to Christians" (Benayahu in Haskama U'Reshut BiDefusei Venetzia, p. 192, notes that this inscription, which appears in several books, was written by an apostate censor). Alongside this inscription is another inscription in Italian. A censor's signature in Italian at the foot of the page. Early stamps of "R. Moshe son of R. S. Fränkel".
R. Yaakov Yisrael Emden – the Yaavetz (1698-1776), eldest son of R. Tzvi Ashkenazi, author of Chacham Tzvi. He was an exceptional scholar in all facets of Torah, a leading sage in an era of many outstanding scholars. He is considered one of the most prominent sages of the later generations. Famous zealot, he staunchly fought the followers of Sabbatai Zevi and the Frankists (upon suspecting that R. Yehonatan Eybeschutz joined the Sabbateans, he did not hesitate to open a fierce battle against a famous accepted Torah scholar and pamphlets supporting and opposing R. Yehonatan shook the entire Jewish population in those days). The Yaavetz wrote dozens of compositions, which he himself printed in the private printing press he established in his home in Altona. His halachic works, Mor U'Ketzia and Responsa She'elat Yaavetz, his rulings in the siddur Amudei Shamayim and his composition Lechem Shamayim on the Mishnah are often cited in books of rabbinic rulings. While studying, R. Yaakov was accustomed to writing glosses in his books. The glosses he wrote on the pages of his Talmud were printed in the Vilna editions of the Talmud.
[1], 2-43 [i.e. 143] leaves. Approx. 20 cm. High-quality light-colored paper. Good-fair condition. Stains and wear. Open tear to title page, repaired with old paper, affecting border. Inscriptions, stamps. New leather binding.
Stefansky Classics, no. 298.
Three glosses handwritten by R. Yaakov Emden – the Yaavetz, with mention of his writings in Responsa She'elat Yaavetz and in Siddur Amudei Shamayim.
In a gloss at the end of Responsum 85 (p. 75a), R. Yaakov Emden refers to what he wrote in She'elat Yaavetz: "…he overlooked many places, as I wrote in She'elat Yaavetz, Responsum 33…". In Responsum 33, the Yaavetz praises the great wisdom of the Rama of Fano, yet mentions several Tannaitic passages which he overlooked. He writes that when he read the Rama's book of responsa, he found there "two or three small difficulties", and gives one example – Responsum 85 – elaborating on what was overlooked (see enclosed material).
The two other glosses possibly correspond to the other "small difficulties" mentioned in She'elat Yaavetz. In his gloss to Responsum 113 (p. 114b), where the Rama prohibits swaying during prayer, the Yaavetz refers to Sulam Beit El, his preface to Siddur Amudei Shamayim. Indeed, in Sulam Beit El (Altona edition, leaf 29), the Yaavetz writes at length against this prohibition. The other gloss appears at the end of Responsum 37 (p. 37a).
A few corrections (possibly also handwritten by the Yaavetz).
Inscription in Italian script on title page: "…the derogatory words about pagans do not refer to Christians" (Benayahu in Haskama U'Reshut BiDefusei Venetzia, p. 192, notes that this inscription, which appears in several books, was written by an apostate censor). Alongside this inscription is another inscription in Italian. A censor's signature in Italian at the foot of the page. Early stamps of "R. Moshe son of R. S. Fränkel".
R. Yaakov Yisrael Emden – the Yaavetz (1698-1776), eldest son of R. Tzvi Ashkenazi, author of Chacham Tzvi. He was an exceptional scholar in all facets of Torah, a leading sage in an era of many outstanding scholars. He is considered one of the most prominent sages of the later generations. Famous zealot, he staunchly fought the followers of Sabbatai Zevi and the Frankists (upon suspecting that R. Yehonatan Eybeschutz joined the Sabbateans, he did not hesitate to open a fierce battle against a famous accepted Torah scholar and pamphlets supporting and opposing R. Yehonatan shook the entire Jewish population in those days). The Yaavetz wrote dozens of compositions, which he himself printed in the private printing press he established in his home in Altona. His halachic works, Mor U'Ketzia and Responsa She'elat Yaavetz, his rulings in the siddur Amudei Shamayim and his composition Lechem Shamayim on the Mishnah are often cited in books of rabbinic rulings. While studying, R. Yaakov was accustomed to writing glosses in his books. The glosses he wrote on the pages of his Talmud were printed in the Vilna editions of the Talmud.
[1], 2-43 [i.e. 143] leaves. Approx. 20 cm. High-quality light-colored paper. Good-fair condition. Stains and wear. Open tear to title page, repaired with old paper, affecting border. Inscriptions, stamps. New leather binding.
Stefansky Classics, no. 298.
Books with Handwritten Glosses
Books with Handwritten Glosses