Volume with 2 important books, first editions, copies with yichus. Primitive cloth bindings.
1. Mechsaf HaLevan, “a holy and wondrous work on the Five Books of Torah”, a kabbalistic work by the Admor Meluban Rabbi Yaakov Abuhatzira, the Abir Yaakov. First edition, Jerusalem 1892. [2], 107 leaves. Joint approbation from Rabbi Refael Meir Panizil and Rabbi Yaakov Shaul Alisher. They write: “A blessings was brought into your tents, rise up l’ezrat Hashem, give silver and gold, and plant for yourselves tzedakah and reap chesed…”. Brittle paper, a few tears with partial pages on the last leaf, overall good condition.
The title page has the stamp: “Yeshaya Asher Zelig ben Rayatz Margaliyot in Jerusalem”. Additional signature in Sefardi handwriting, on the back of the title page is a printed dedication from Rabbi Masoud Abuhatzira, with the addition of a name in the Sefardi script: “Haim Zakay.”
Rabbi Yeshaya Asher Zelig Margaliyot (the Riaz) lived 1894-1969) and was a talmid chacham, he studied kabbalah under Rabbi Haim Shaul HaKohen Davik at his Rehovot HaNahar yeshiva in the HaBukharim neighborhood. Later he became close to the Saba Kadisha, Rabbi Shlomo Eliezer Elfandery, who put him in contact wit hteh Admor the Minchas Eliezer of Munkatch. He also corresponded with the Admor Rabbi Yoelish of Satmar and the Chazon Ish. He would cut children’s chalakot with silver scissors he would bring with him. He wrote a number of books on the Rashbi and his son.
2. Chemed Moshe on the Shulchan Aruch Orech Hayyim, by Rabbi Gedalya Moshe ben Zvi Hirsch of Loshitz. First edition, Furth 1769. [1], 118, 18 leaves in the original—this copy is missing the two last leaves. Stefanski Sifrei Yesod in the appendices, p. 63. Repaired title page with defects to the text, stains, defects, creases, overall fair condition.
The title page has stamps: “Naftali Zvi Yehuda Berlin, Ram in Volozhin” (The Natziv of Volozhin). Signature from his son: “Meir Berlin” (see below). Tape on even older additional signatures.
Rabbi Naftali Zvi Yehuda Berlin (the Natziv) of Volozhin (1817-1893) was the son of Rabbi Yaakov and one of the most well-known sages of Eastern Europe in the 19th century. For around 40 years he led the Volozhin yeshiva, which he inherited from his father-in-law, Rabbi Itzileh of Volozhin. He was the father-in-law of the Grach of Brisk. He wrote Emek HaShe’elah, a commentary on the She’iltot, and Emek Davar on the Torah, Rina shel Torah on Shir HaShirim, Meromi Sadeh on the Shas, and Shut Meishiv Davar.
Rabbi Meir Bar-Ilan (Berlin)—1880-1949—was the son of the Natziv of Volozhin. He was a Zionist author and activist, a leader of the Mizrahi and Religious Zionist movements. He founded the HaTzofeh newspaper, the Talmudic Encyclopedia, and was the first editor. He also established the Yeshiva University in the US.
