A complete copy of Pnei Yehoshua on Seder Moed – the rare first edition – Frankfurt am Main, 1752.
Sefer Pnei Yehoshua was authored by the Gaon Rabbi Yaakov Yehoshua Falk of Cracow, and was named after the Sefer of his grandfather, who also authored a work called Pnei Yehoshua. (For this reason, he referred to his work by “Apei Zutra” – “small faces”, to differentiate from that of his grandfather’s – “Apei Ravrevi”.)
It is known that Pnei Yehoshua was inspired to write this work following a miracle that happened to him. On one occasion, the roof of the building he was in suddenly collapsed, causing the roof and walls to fall on all the inhabitants. The Pnei Yehoshua found himself buried deep under the rubble and ruin, unsure whether he would survive. He made a vow to God that if he survived the ordeal, he would devote his life to composing a commentary on Rashi, similar to Mageni Shlomo, a work written by his grandfather. Miraculously, he emerged from the ruins unharmed. This story, written by the author himself, can be found in the introduction to the Pnei Yehoshua (Nashim/Nezikin).
It is interesting to note that although this volume is titled as the "first volume, " it was preceded by Seder Nashim and Nezikin, which were printed a few years earlier in Amsterdam in 1739. In that volume, the author writes that he intends to print only a portion of his novellae, and if they are well-received by scholars, he would publish additional works. Thus, this Frankfurt edition followed, as noted on the title page.
An exceptional line appears on the title page, added by those who brought the sefer to print: "May it be the will of Heaven that his heart’s desire to settle in the Holy Land be fulfilled, God willing." Ultimately, he was not able to settle in Eretz Yisrael. It is unclear exactly why this statement was included here, though it might be speculated that the publishers added this first title page not as a direct reference to the work itself, but to honor the author. Perhaps the publishers felt that an additional, unique title page would bring satisfaction and honor to the author, as it highlights the famous cities where he served as Rabbi, as well as his aspirations and desires.
This edition contains novellae on Tractate Berakhot and various tractates from Seder Moed (Shabbat, Pesachim, Beitzah, Rosh Hashanah, Sukkah, Megillah, and portions of Tractate Yoma).
This volume is extremely rare and valuable (much more so than Volume I, printed in Amsterdam), and only rarely appears at auction. This is the first edition of the famous novellae by one of the greatest commentators on the Talmud, Rashi, and Tosafot. The novellae of Pnei Yehoshua have been printed in many editions and studied in yeshivas throughout the Jewish world from then until today.
Antique signature "Granted to me by Hashem me grace, and may I merit to study, teach, and fulfill. Hakatan David, son of the esteemed Rabbi Feivel Katz, of Metz."
Antique partially erased ownership records of R. Zanvil Weil of Metz and his son R. Moshe Weil.
On page 30, an important gloss handwritten and signed by the Rebbe Menachem Benjamin Ben-Zion Halberstam-Rotenberg of Sanz-Widislaw: "In the name of our ancestor, the holy Jew, may his merit protect us, I heard…" Signed with the initials Mem-Bet-Bet. Also includes a kvitel (a note for a blessing) given to the Rebbe.
Rebbi Menachem Benjamin Ben-Zion Halberstam-Rotenberg of Sanz-Widislaw [1881–1957] A descendant of the righteous dynasties of Sanz and Kashanov, through the holy Rebbi Aharon of Biala-Bilitz and Rebbi Yosef Ze’ev, son of Rebbi David of Kashanov, who was the son of the Divrei Chaim of Sanz.
On his maternal side, he was the grandson of Rebbi Alter Chaim of Wolbrom, from whom he adopted the surname Rotenberg. He was also a descendant of the righteous sages of Ropshitz, Sanz, Ohel Moshe, Belz, and Apt. From these illustrious lineages, his genealogy extended to numerous righteous figures. He later immigrated to the United States, where he served as the leader of his synagogue and was president of the Association of Rebbes.
Stamp of Rabbi Mordechai, son of Rabbi Yaakov Friedman of Mezeritch, author of Me’orer Yeshanim (Warsaw, 1926) and the pamphlet Pote’ach Devarim, which was printed at the end of the responsa Ohel Moshe (Warsaw, 1889). He passed away in 1924.
Ownership inscriptions and signatures of the philanthropist R. Moshe Greenglass.
Antique signature: Avraham Zucker..
[2], 52, 66, 50, 37, 29, 26, 31 [i.e. 12] Leaves. 32.3 cm.
Stefansky Sifrei Yesod #78.
Overall Great condition, some marginal stains and water stains, old black cloth binding slightly rubbed.
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