This book, from my antique Hebrew books collection, consists of Novellae on the Talmud and the Mishneh Torah of the Rambam (Maimonides) by Rabbi Shlomo ben Moshe of Chelm (1717-1781). This is the first edition of the first part. Rabbi Shlomo was born at Zamoscz, government of Lublin and died at Salonica in 1778. He … Continue reading Merkevet HaMishneh on the Rambam by Rabbi Shlomo (Solomon) of Chelm, Frankfort on the Oder, 1751.
Category: Antique Judaica
Sefer Yaaros Devash by Rabbi Jonathan Eibeschutz, Karlsruhe, 1782 – Copy of Rabbi Meyer Schwartzman of Winnipeg.
This is a book from my antique book collection. It is a first edition of Yaaros Devash (A Hive of Honey), and has some important haskomos (approbations). Yaaros Devash is a collection of sermons on ethical matters. The author, Rabbi Jonathan Eibeschutz (circa 1690/4–1764) was a talmudist and kabbalist, a child prodigy. He married the … Continue reading Sefer Yaaros Devash by Rabbi Jonathan Eibeschutz, Karlsruhe, 1782 – Copy of Rabbi Meyer Schwartzman of Winnipeg.
Shu”t Knesset Yechezkel by Rabbi Yechezkel Katzenellenbogen, Altona 1732.
When I was ten years old, my late cousin, Issy Blankfield, told me that I was descended from the "Hamburg Rov". The "Hamburg" Rov, my great-great-great-great-great-great grandfather, was Rabbi Yechezkel (Ezekiel) ben Avraham Katzenellenbogen. I have other copies of this book, but this one, which I recently acquired, is a first edition, printed in the … Continue reading Shu”t Knesset Yechezkel by Rabbi Yechezkel Katzenellenbogen, Altona 1732.
Lechem Hapanim, by Rabbi Moshe Yekusiel Kaufman, Hanau 1716.
This book, from my antique books collection, is a rare commentary on Shulchan Aruch, Yoreh Deah by Rabbi Moshe Yekusiel Kaufman (circa 1661 - 1722). It is the first edition, printed in the author's lifetime in Hanau, a city in Hesse, Germany, east of Frankfort am Main. The book has many haskomos (approbations) from the … Continue reading Lechem Hapanim, by Rabbi Moshe Yekusiel Kaufman, Hanau 1716.
Even Shmuel, Toldos Chochamei Yerushalayim (the history of the rabbis of Jerusalem), by Aryeh Leib Frumkin, Vilna, 1874 (copy of Rabbi Yerucham Leiner of Willesden Lane).
L. Frumkin, the wine merchant, was an East End of London institution, at 162 Commercial Road. My great-grandfather's public house, the King's Head, was at 128 Commercial Road, and my late great-aunt told me that when she was young they would stop serving beer for Pesach, cover one of the bars with a cloth and … Continue reading Even Shmuel, Toldos Chochamei Yerushalayim (the history of the rabbis of Jerusalem), by Aryeh Leib Frumkin, Vilna, 1874 (copy of Rabbi Yerucham Leiner of Willesden Lane).
Shu”t HaRaDBaZ, Part 5, by Rabbi David ben Shlomo ibn Zimra, Livorno (Leghorn) 1818.
Rabbi David ben Shlomo ibn Zimra, know as "the Radbaz" after the initials of his name, was born in Spain in about 1479. He was thirteen years old when the Jews were expelled from Spain and his family settled in Safed. (These details are contested by Aryeh Leib Frumkin, later to found the Frumkin wine … Continue reading Shu”t HaRaDBaZ, Part 5, by Rabbi David ben Shlomo ibn Zimra, Livorno (Leghorn) 1818.
Sefer Korban Shabbos, by Rabbi Betzalel ben Solomon of Kobrin and Slutzk, Dyhrenfurth, 1691.
This is an interesting book from my antique Hebrew books collection, a book of homilies on several laws of Shabbos (the Sabbath day), compiled from halachic (Jewish legal) authorities and works of Kabbalah, including lighting of the Shabbos candles and the idea of adding time onto Shabbos, written by Rabbi Bezalel ben Solomon Darshan (17th … Continue reading Sefer Korban Shabbos, by Rabbi Betzalel ben Solomon of Kobrin and Slutzk, Dyhrenfurth, 1691.
Perush ha-Torah by Don Yitzchak Abarbanel, Hanau, 1710.
This edition of Don Yitzchak Abarbanel's famous commentary was printed in Hanau in 1710. It is a bulky book and comes with a Latin preface and dedication (which I have to admit, despite four years of grammar school Latin, I can barely read), as well as rabbinical haskomos (approbations) Rabbi Don Isaac ben Judah Abravanel … Continue reading Perush ha-Torah by Don Yitzchak Abarbanel, Hanau, 1710.
Chidushei Halachos Maharsha, by Rabbi Samuel Eidels, Vienna, 1814.
This large, heavy volume is from my antiques book collection. Samuel Eliezer, the son of Judah ha-Levi Eidels (known as MaHaRShA—Morenu Ha-Rav Shemu'el Eidels), was one of the foremost Talmudic commentators. Born in Cracow in Poland in 1555, he moved to Posen in his youth, where he married the daughter of R. Moses Ashkenazi Heilpern. … Continue reading Chidushei Halachos Maharsha, by Rabbi Samuel Eidels, Vienna, 1814.
Chelek Shani (Second Part) of Sefer Nachalat Sheva, by Rabbi Shmuel Halevi, Fuerth, 1692.
This is a book from my Antique books collection. Rabbi Shmuel Halevi (1624 - 1681) was a disciple of the author of the Ta"Z, and of Shabasai Sheftel Horowitz, son of the ShLa"H. It is a fine example of early printing from the town of Fuerth in Bavaria. Hebrew printing was begun in Fuerth in … Continue reading Chelek Shani (Second Part) of Sefer Nachalat Sheva, by Rabbi Shmuel Halevi, Fuerth, 1692.
Jewish Miscellanies 