Auction 55 Part I - Rare and Important Items
By Kedem
May 9, 2017
8 Ramban St, Jerusalem., Israel
The auction has ended

LOT 27:

Manuscript, Pri Etz Chaim - Kavanot Ha'Arizal - Two Volumes - 1703 - Manuscript that Belonged to the Author of Shev ...

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Auction took place on May 9, 2017 at Kedem
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Manuscript, Pri Etz Chaim - Kavanot Ha'Arizal - Two Volumes - 1703 - Manuscript that Belonged to the Author of Shev Ya'akov - With his Signature, Glosses and Additions in his Handwriting
Two handwritten volumes, Pri Etz Chaim, Kavanot Ha'Ari written by his disciple R. Chaim Vital (Maharchu). [Europe], 1703. Manuscript which belonged to R. Ya'akov Katz Rabbi of Frankfurt am Main, author of Shev Ya'akov, with his signature, glosses and additions.
Two thick volumes. Cursive Ashkenazi script. Scribe's colophon at the end of the first volume: "Completed on Tuesday…1703, written by Moshe son of R. Yisrael of Pińczów".
At the top of the first leaf of the first volume is an ownership inscription signed by the author of Shev Ya'akov: "I have purchased this book from my niece the Rebbetzin / widow of the great Rabbi Bezalel / and I have written my name as a memory …Ya'akov Cohen / of Prague".
On the manuscript leaves are corrections and long glosses, some by the scribe. Among the glosses are long notations signed "Yitzchak" or "the writer Yitzchak" or other variations with his name. Apparently, these were written by R. Yitzchak of Posen, called "R. Yitzchak HaGadol" - teacher of the Magen Avraham (see: Avivi, Kabbalat HaAri, p. 750); in addition, there are several handwritten glosses by the "Shev Ya'akov". At the end of Vol. 2 are two handwritten pages by the author of the Shev Ya'akov - leaves [254]-[255].
At the top of the first leaf of Vol 2 is a signature: "Moshe Tuvia…" - Apparently, this is the signature of R. Moshe Tuvia Sontheim Rabbi of Hanau (see: Kinstlicher, Ishim B'Teshuvot HeChatam Sofer, pp. 301-302) - student of the disciple of the author of Shev Ya'akov (studied under R. Yosef Steinhart, author of Zichron Yosef).
R. Ya'akov Katz (Poppers; c. 1670-1740), author of Shev Ya'akov, was a prominent posek. Born in Prague, he served there as dayan. From 1697, he served as Rabbi of Koblenz (near Prague) and in 1718 was appointed Rabbi of Frankfurt am Main, a position he held for 20 years in addition to heading the yeshiva gedola in the city. His disciples included many illustrious figures, such as R. Yosef Steinhart, author of Zichron Yosef and others. R. Ya'akov's responsa (two parts) Shev Ya'akov was printed two years after his passing (Frankfurt am Main 1742). This work became a basic halachic composition and is widely cited in the books of the poskim, including in the Pitchei Teshuva on the Shulchan Aruch. The author of the Pnei Yehoshua succeeded him in the Frankfurt rabbinate.
Two volumes. Vol. 1: [349] written leaves. Vol. 2: [255 written leaves. Good condition. Stains. Wear and tear to several leaves. Restored damages and tears to last leaf of Vol. 1. Contemporary leather bindings, restored and reconstructed, with remnants of metal clasps.