Auction 65
Lot 27:
Even HaEzer Sefer Ra’avan – basic composition contaning Piskei Dinim and Ta’amei Halachot and Minhagim according to the Gemore by Rabbi Eliezer Bar Natan, one of Rabboteinu the Rishionim (was one of the first Ba’alei HaTosafot in Worms; many of the Rishonim were his descendants including the Rosh. Authored Kinot on the pogroms of 1096, which took place in his childhood).
The sheets of the copy are laden with hundreds of lengthy glosses and comments, Torah Novellae, handwritten by the Gaon Rabbi Aryeh Leib ben Rabbi Shmuwl Mordechai Roshkes of Vilna. The writer of the glosses authored an important composition on Sefer Ra’avan titled Even Leshem Badvir, which was printed as footnotes in the book itself (Jerusalem, 1913-1915). However, the Torah Novellae appearing here on the margins of the sheet are on the first section of the Ra’avan and have never been printed! Actually, they are the addiitonal, lost part of his great composition. Thus, this worn copy is actually an incredibly important discovery for scholars studying the Torah of the Rishonim and editors of their books and manuscripts.
First edition printed by Moshe ben Bezalel Katz Mechokek – Prague, 1610. Originally, 154 leaves. In this copy, the title page as well as several leaves at the beginning the book are missing and it ends with leaf 85. Stefansky Sifrei Yesod 225.
To the best of our knowledge, onky few libraries own a copy of the book, which is of course, in their Rare Book Collection. Originally, there was also an approbation by several Gedolei Hador, which was signed in Posna in Menachem Av 1609: Rabbi Mordechai Yoffe (Ba’al halevushim), Rabbi Yosef ben Rabbi Avraham Shapira, Rabbi Shmuel Eliezer ben Rabbi Yuda Halevi (the Maharsha), Rabbi David ben Rabbi Yitzchak, Rabbi Avraham ben Rabbi Yuda Halevi, Rabbi Eliyahu ben Rabbi Mordechai, Rabbi Shlomo Ephraim ben Rabbi Aharon Ish Luntshitz (author of the Kli Yakar), Rabbi Yitzchak ben Rabbi Shimshon Katz (the son-in-law of the Maharl of Prague), Rabbi Moshe ben Rabbi David Halevi [Horowitz], Rabbi Mordechai ben Rabbi Eliya Lifshitz.
Moth perforations and damage. Varied tears. Much wear.
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