Manuscript by Rabbi Ya'akov of Lisa Author of 'Netivot Ha'Mishpat' - Novellae on the Ketubot Tractate - Textual ...

Manuscript by Rabbi Ya'akov of Lisa Author of 'Netivot Ha'Mishpat' - Novellae on the Ketubot Tractate - Textual Variations from the Printed Version
A folded leaf with four pages handwritten by Rabbi Ya'akov of Lisa Author of'Netivot Ha'Mishpat'.

The leaf contains Torah Novellae on the beginning of the Ketubot tractate. The novellae was printed in his book 'Beit Ya'akov'. However, our examination found that there are interesting variations, some of them significant, between the printed version and the manuscript before us. It is most likely, that the manuscript was the first version of the Novellae, which he later changed, added to or erased.

Manuscripts by Rabbi Ya'akov are extremely rare! Such a handwritten leaf has never been seen in auctions! The reason for this is that most of Rabbi Ya'akov's composition were not written by him. Rather, his disciples wrote them down according to his lessons or concise notes. The Novellae before us, however, was handwritten completely by him!

A list of the Novellae on the leaf:

1. Leaf 9a. Dibur Ha'matchil "Ha'Omer P"P". Textual variations form the printed version. On the margins of the leaf, a handwritten addition.

2. Leaf 9a. Dibur Ha'matchil "Lo tzricha Be'Eshet Cohen". Interesting textual variations from the printed version, passages that are missing here. Additions he had initially added and then erased and do not appear in the printed version.

3. Leaf 9b. Dibur Ha'matchil "Kol Ha'Yotzeh". The author drew a line on several words in three places and added corrections. The printed version is in accordance with the corrections.

4. Ibid. Dibur Ha'matchil "Ih Le'Meitav lah". Textual variations from the printed version.

5. Rashi Dibur Ha'matchil "Ne'eman Le'Osrah". Significant textual variations from the printed version. The author drew diagonal lines on the complete page.

6. Rashi Dibur Ha'matchil "Ne'eman Le'Osra" here too, the author erased several sentences and there are textual variations from the printed version.

Rabbi Ya'akov of Lisa

Rabbi Y'akov Lorberbaum of Lisa (1770-1832) was one of the leading Posking of his generation and one of the foremost Achronim. His books, especially Chavat ha'Da'at" and "Netivot Ha'Mishpat" are still studied in all the yeshivas and constitute basic books of Pesikat Halacha. He served as the rabbi of several cities and in 1809 became the rabbi of Lisa.

He was known for his uncompromising struggle against Reform Judaism. In this struggle, he joined forces with Rabbi Akiva Eiger of Posen and Rabbi Moshe Sofer, the "Chatam Sofer" of Pressburg. His most well-known disciples were Rabbi Zvi Hirsch Kalisher amd Rabbi Eliyahu Guttmacher "The Tzaddik of Greiditz".

Condition: fair. The leaf was taken out from a binding of a book. Moth signs and tears. In some places, the script has faded and is hard to read.