Even HaEzer (Raavan), halachic rulings and commentaries on several tractates, by R. Eliezer son of R. Natan of Mainz. Prague: R. Moshe son of R. Bezalel Katz, 1610. First edition. Title page with woodcut border; the woodcut depicts various figures, angels and animals and Jewish symbols (Star of David and priestly hands).
Copy of the Baruch Taam, R. Baruch Fränkel-Teomim Rabbi of Leipnik. The title page bears his signature: "Baruch Fränkel-Teomim". The book bears about eight glosses in his handwriting, including hitherto unprinted glosses.
This copy later belonged to R. Moshe Weiss Rabbi of Zborov (his signatures and signatures of his relatives appear in the book). R. Weiss copied some of these glosses and sent them to R. Shlomo Zalman Ehrenreich Rabbi of Shamloy (Şimleu Silvaniei) who printed them in the edition of the Raavan with the Even Shlema commentary (Şimleu Silvaniei, 1926). At the end of his introduction Even HaRosha, R. Ehrenreich refers to these glosses and writes: "R. Moshe Weiss Rabbi of Zborov… owned the book Raavan which belonged to R. Baruch Frankel author of Baruch Taam, and graciously copied the glosses which R. Frankel wrote on the sheets of the Raavan… and I have included the content in the appropriate places in my Even Shlema commentary". Some of the glosses in this copy were not printed.
R. Baruch Fränkel-Teomim (1760-1828), author of Baruch Taam. A prominent leader of his generation, he was renowned for his brilliance and sharpness. He was a disciple of R. David Tevele of Lissa and R. Meshulam Igra. At the age of 19, he was appointed rabbi of Vishnitsa (Nowy Wiśnicz), and following the passing of R. Binyamin Wolf Eger, he was summoned to succeed him as rabbi of Leipnik (Lipník nad Bečvou), a position he held for about thirty years. After the passing of R. Meshulam Igra, he was one of the candidates to succeed him as rabbi of Pressburg, though ultimately, the lot fell on the Chatam Sofer.
His depth of understanding and brilliance were widely acclaimed, to the extent that the Avnei Nezer attested of striving his entire life to reach the Baruch Taam's level of sharpness. The Chatam Sofer testified that had Torah been forgotten, the Baruch Taam would have been capable of retrieving it through his pilpul, and he eulogized him saying: "An outstanding Torah scholar… he disseminated Torah with brilliance and erudition, and his disciples did not fully grasp the depth of his brilliance…". Reputedly, when the Kol Aryeh finished studying one of the sections of Ateret Chachamim authored by the Baruch Taam, he exclaimed: "Whoever does not benefit from Divine Inspiration would not be capable of composing such a work" (Toldot Kol Aryeh, Kleinwarden 1940, p. 120). His son-in-law and close disciple, the Divrei Chaim, also testified that he witnessed himself how the Baruch Taam's study of Torah for the sake of Heaven allowed him to attain the truth in Halacha through Divine Inspiration. Although the Baruch Taam was an opponent of Chassidut, the Chozeh of Lublin told Chassidim who spoke against him: "What can I do, his Torah is very dear to me".
He is especially renowned for his many glosses, which he would record in his books while studying (see below). Some of these glosses were eventually published in later editions of these books. Particularly renowned are his glosses to the Talmud, to the Shulchan Aruch, and to the following books: Kreti UPleti, Shev Shemateta, Turei Even, Chavot Ya'ir, Responsa of the Ran, Beit Meir, Ketzot HaChoshen, Netivot HaMishpat and others.
Additional signatures and ownership inscriptions on the title page and on the front and back endpapers: "Elyakim Weiss"; "… Tzvi Hirsh Weiss"; "Tzvi Hirsh Rabbi of Zborov"; "Belongs to… R. Moshe Weiss rabbi of Zborov"; "Menachem Mendel Zoltenreich".
R. Elyakim Weiss, head of the Zborov community, was a prominent wealthy man and an exceptional astute genius. Son-in-law of R. Yossele Charif Rabbi of Zborov and brother-in-law of the author of Ktav Sofer (his wife's brother). His son R. Zvi Hirsh Weiss (1818-1897), son-in-law of Maharam Ash and close disciple of the Divrei Chaim of Sanz, served as rebbe and rabbi of several Hungarian and Galician cities. His son R. Moshe Weiss (1850-1916) served as rabbi of Zborov from 1890 (he is the one who copied the glosses in this book to be printed in the book of the Rabbi of Shamloy).
154 leaves. Approx. 30 cm. Slightly darkened paper. Fair-good condition. Stains and wear. Tears to title page (affecting woodcut border) and tears to first and last leaves (and to leaf 76), affecting text, some repaired with paper. Inscriptions on endpapers and on title page. New leather binding.

The Glosses of the Baruch Taam

The glosses of the Baruch Taam, which he recorded in the margins of his books, have been studied by Torah scholars in all subsequent generations for the numerous novellae contained in his brief and profound words. His glosses are quoted extensively in books of the Acharonim and halachic authorities until this day. He used to annotate all types of books in his large library – basic books such as Chumashim, Mishnayot and Babylonean Talmud, up to books of contemporary Acharonim. Particularly renowned are his glosses to Ketzot HaChoshen and Shev Shemateta, to Shulchan Aruch and the Talmud, and other works.

His grandson, R. Pinchas Aryeh Leibush Teomim attested: "My grandfather the Baruch Taam... would annotate all his books with his glosses…" (Ohel Baruch, section 35). This is also mentioned in a letter from his son-in-law, R. Menachem Manish Mordechai Teomim, to his uncle R. Efraim Zalman Margolies: "This was my father-in-law's practice… to record all his thoughts in the margins of the book he was studying" (Agudat Ezov, p. 56). A partial list of dozens of his book, in which he wrote glosses, was published in Sinai, 44, pp. 117-118.