1. Sefer HaTemunah, an ancient Kabbalistic text on the mystical secrets of the shapes of the Hebrew letters, "attributed to Rabbi Nehunya ben HaKanah and Rabbi Yishmael, the High Priest, with commentary by a great Kabbalist written alongside it." At the end of the sefer, there is a section titled "The Secret of the Ineffable Name."
First edition, Korzec, 1784.
Listed as entry no. 18 in the Korzec imprints (within: Bibliographical Studies – Aryeh Toiber, Jerusalem, 1932).
The title page bears the stamp of Rabbi Ben-Zion Ettlinger, son of the renowned gaon, the author of Aruch LaNer. Rabbi Ben-Zion was the son-in-law of Rabbi Shemariah Zuckerman from the family of the Vilna Gaon. His wealthy father-in-law provided him with a mansion where he could study Torah uninterruptedly all day and focus on the works of his illustrious father.
[1], 76 Leaves. 19.8 cm.
Overall Great Condition, quality pages, some marginal water stains, minor marginal worming to first two pages, a couple shortened margins, one marginal tear, old binding damaged.
2. Sefer Shoshan Sodot – A profound Kabbalistic work, a wondrous and extraordinary composition containing deep, sublime secrets beyond comprehension. Authored by the Kabbalist Rabbi Moshe ben Yaakov [HaGoloh] of Russia.
Koretz [Korets], 1784. Printed by Johann Anton Krieger.
Rabbi Moshe ben Yaakov was one of the great sages of his generation. He traveled to study Torah in Constantinople because Lithuania was not a Torah center at the time. In 1495, he began writing Shoshan Sodot. That same year, Jews were expelled from Lithuania. He was captured and brought to Crimea (Solkhat) but was ransomed by Rabbinic and Karaite Jews. The Jews of Crimea incorporated his liturgical poems into their prayers and, for generations, referred to him as one of their great sages. They called him Moshe Ashkenazi or Moshe of Russia.
He is mentioned in the writings of the Ari (Rabbi Isaac Luria): "It is written in the sefer Shoshan Sodot, and he was a disciple of the Ramban, may his memory be a blessing."
The manuscript of Shoshan Sodot contains 1,756 secrets corresponding to the numerical value of "Shoshan" (שושן). In the printed edition before us, 463 secrets are included, and the rest were published as commentary on Sefer Yetzirah in an earlier Koretz edition, five years prior.
On the title page, there is a note discussing the attribution of the work to the Ramban, in the hand & signature of the "Sanz Rebbe" of New York, Rebbi Menachem Binyamin Ben Zion Rottenberg Halberstam, written in acronym form (מב"ב).
Rabbi Menachem Binyamin Ben Zion Halberstam Rottenberg of Sanz-Widislav (1881–1957) descended from the righteous lineages of Sanz and Kshanov, from the holy Rebbi Aharon of Biala-Bilitz, Rebbi Yosef Zev, Rebbi David of Kshanov, and the famed Rebbi of Sanz. Through his mother, he was a grandson of Rebbi Alter Chaim of Walbrom and bore the family name Rottenberg. He was connected to the righteous figures of Ropshitz, Sanz, Ohr Layesharim, Belz, and Apt, with ancestral ties to many renowned figures. Rebbi Rottenberg later moved to the United States, where he led his court and served as President of the Council of Admorim.
92 leaves. Missing the final two leaves, which contained the errata pages. 18.5 cm.
3. Sefer Ma’ayan HaChochma – A collection of writings by Rabbi Isaac Luria (the Ari), including Sefer Shever Yosef, Kabbalat Mahari Sarug, and Kitzur Olam HaTikkun.
Koretz [Korets], 1784.
38 leaves (Ma’ayan HaChochma Missing the title page—likely bound without one originally, a phenomenon common in Koretz printings). 18.5 cm.
Overall Great Condition, quality pages, some water stains and burn stains, a couple frayed corners and minor marginal worming on last few pages, old binding.
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Lot #24