I bought this book some years ago, intrigued by its journey. It was found among the thousands of books that were saved from destruction during the Holocaust, and were collected in Warsaw after the war and eventually sent to the Land of Israel for distribution to institutions. This volume was apparently purchased by Shmuel David … Continue reading Ezras Kohanim, by Rabbi Yehoshua Yosef ben Nachum Dov haKohen Feinberg, Warsaw, 1877 – and its owner, Szmuel Dawid Jakubowicz, accountant of the Lublin Judenrat.
Category: Antique Judaica
Asifat Zekenim, by Rabbi Bezalel Ashkenazi, Bava Basra / Nozir, First Edition, 1774 Livorno.
This first edition of Asifat Zekenim (collection of elders), better known as the Shita Mekubetzet (collected method or system of gathered material), has approbations (haskamas) of the Rabbis of Livorno (Leghorn) and apparently the first published approbation by the Chida – Rabbi Chaim Yosef David Azulai. The Chida has some interesting British connections. He was … Continue reading Asifat Zekenim, by Rabbi Bezalel Ashkenazi, Bava Basra / Nozir, First Edition, 1774 Livorno.
Moreh Be’Etzbah and Tziporen Shamir, by Rabbi Chaim Yosef David Azulai (the Chida), London, 1791.
This is a single bound volume in my collection, printed in London in 1791 by Alexander Alexander. It includes two short books by Rabbi Chaim Yosef David Azulai, known as the Chida (from his initials). The Chida was born in Jerusalem, and came from a prominent rabbinic family. He was the great-great-grandson of Moroccan Rabbi … Continue reading Moreh Be’Etzbah and Tziporen Shamir, by Rabbi Chaim Yosef David Azulai (the Chida), London, 1791.
Shu”t Zichron Yosef by Rabbi Yosef Steinhardt, Fuerth, 1773.
This is an interesting book from my collection – interesting as an example of how auction houses and sellers copy descriptions of books from one to the other. Rabbi Yosef ben Menachem Steinhardt (1720 – 1776) was an important German Rabbi. He studied at the yeshiva of Rabbi Yaakov Hakohen Poppers, in Frankfurt. In 1746 … Continue reading Shu”t Zichron Yosef by Rabbi Yosef Steinhardt, Fuerth, 1773.
Shulchan Aruch – Choshen Mishpat, Ostrowa 1804, with approbation of R’ Levi Yitzchok of Berdichev (Zelechow).
This volume is from my antique Hebrew book collection. The Shulchan Aruch, which means 'Set Table' is a code of Jewish law compiled in 1563 by Rabbi Yosef Karo. It is version of the Beit Yosef, a commentary that Rabbi Karo wrote on the Tur, with innovative rulings from the Ramo (Rabbi Moshe Isserles). Choshen … Continue reading Shulchan Aruch – Choshen Mishpat, Ostrowa 1804, with approbation of R’ Levi Yitzchok of Berdichev (Zelechow).
What was Rabbi Ferber reading? Sefer Yermiahu (the book of Jeremiah), Dyhrenfurth, 1825.
This edition of Kiriyah Ne'emana (the prophets and scriptures) was printed in Dyhrenfurth in 1825. Dyhrenfurth (in Polish Brzeg Dolny) is a town in lower Silesia, whose Jewish community was established with the first Hebrew printing house there in 1688 and declined with the closure of the printing houses there in the late nineteenth century. … Continue reading What was Rabbi Ferber reading? Sefer Yermiahu (the book of Jeremiah), Dyhrenfurth, 1825.
Sermons by Abraham P. Mendes, London, 1855.
My copy of this significant book touches on various aspects of Anglo-Jewish history, including Ashkenazim, Sephardim, Birmingham, London, Swansea and other places. The author of the book, which includes sermons preached in Birmingham and at the Bevis Marks Synagogue in London, was Abraham Pereira Mendes. There is also an interesting provenance, as my copy was … Continue reading Sermons by Abraham P. Mendes, London, 1855.
Sefer Hafla’a, by Rabbi Pinchas Horowitz, Lvov, 1816 and Warsaw, 1861.
I have two editions of this fundamental and basic book, which consists of Novellae (Chidushim) on Tractate (Masseches) Kesuvos. This important Tractate of the Talmud covers marriage contracts, but also many other important discussions which are relevant today. For, example, whether a hostage who says that she was not violated while a hostage can marry … Continue reading Sefer Hafla’a, by Rabbi Pinchas Horowitz, Lvov, 1816 and Warsaw, 1861.
Kitzur Shulchan Aruch by Rabbi Shlomo Ganzfried, with Ir David, by Rabbi David Feldman, Leipzig, 1924.
Rabbi David Feldman (he sometimes spelled it Feldmann) was born in Tolno in the Ukraine. He received semicha (his rabbinical diploma) from Rabbi Yechiel Michel Epstein (known, after his book, as the Aruch HaShulchan), and Rabbi Shalom Mordechai Schwadron. Rabbi Feldman was appointed Rabbi of the Ahavath Torah Synagogue of the Brodde Community in Leipzig … Continue reading Kitzur Shulchan Aruch by Rabbi Shlomo Ganzfried, with Ir David, by Rabbi David Feldman, Leipzig, 1924.
Sulzbach Talmud – 1755 to 1770
I have a number of volumes of the Talmud, printed in Sulzbach, Bavaria, on various dates in the mid-eighteenth century. Hebrew printing had begun in Sulzbach, an old-established Jewish community, in 1669. These editions of the Talmud are the second and third editions printed in Sulzbach by Meshulam Zalman (known as Zalman) son of Aharon … Continue reading Sulzbach Talmud – 1755 to 1770
Jewish Miscellanies 