Аукцион 100
Important Hebrew Manuscripts and Books from the Victor (Avigdor) Klagsbald Collection
Вторник, 21.1.25, 19:00
8 Ramban St, Jerusalem., Израиль
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Демо
The importance of the Victor (Avigdor) Klagsbald Collection can hardly be overestimated, charting nearly a millennium of Jewish life across the globe – some one thousand years of religion, culture, literature and art.
Mr. Klagsbald, who passed away 5 years ago, was one of the most prominent collectors of Jewish art in the second half of the 20th century and a noted scholar, who built a collection of exceptional quality, much of which is now being offered for auction.
Each item in the collection was professionally catalogued by Mr. Klagsbald himself, who also added detailed descriptions in neat, cursive French along with enclosed photographs. These descriptions were indexed by subject and kept in organized dossiers, of which our researchers made use while preparing the present catalogue. Many items from the collection were made known to the public throughout the years in books and articles he authored; we select for particular mention Klagsbald's catalogue of Moroccan manuscripts, published in Paris in 1980 – Catalogue des manuscrits marocains de la collection Klagsbald – and his book A l'ombre de Dieu: dix essais sur la symbolique dans l'art juif, published in Belgium in 1997. Mr. Klagsbald was also one of the founders of the Museum of Jewish Art and History (mahJ) in Paris, and authored the catalogue of the Cluny collection now preserved in the museum, which was exhibited in the Israel Museum in 1982.
The present catalogue contains a selection of manuscripts, important printed books in first and rare editions, copies of distinguished ownership and with annotations, and letters and signatures spanning Orient and Occident, all scarce to be found. The two hundred lots featured in the catalogue include early manuscripts such as Sefer HaPeliah scribed in Tripoli (Lebanon), 1497; Moshav Zekenim, scribed in Crotone (Italy), 1473 – formerly Ms. Sassoon 409; Midrash HaGadol, written by the renowned scribe R. David son of Benaiah of Sanaa (Yemen), 1473; and several volumes of halachic rulings from Morocco, including hundreds of autographs and thousands of signatures by Moroccan rabbis from various cities. One of the volumes contains a letter handwritten and signed by R. Chaim ibn Attar, the Or HaChaim (many items in the collection originate from the Abensour collection in Fez).
The parchment manuscripts include decorated and illustrated siddurim such as the Arizal's Tikunei Shabbat, crafted by the scribe and illuminator Meshulam Simmel of Polna in Vienna, 1714, and Haggadot illustrated in the style of the Moravian school. The books with handwritten glosses include Zohar Chadash – the personal copy of kabbalist R. Moshe Zacuto, with his glosses, as well as the signature of the Chida; a manuscript of Sefer HaKavanot compiled by kabbalist R. Natan Nata Hannover, with his signature and many glosses in his hand; and a Pri Etz Chaim manuscript, scribed by R. Moshe of Liuboml, which belonged to R. Avraham Gershon of Kitov, brother-in-law of the Baal Shem Tov. The catalogue also includes unpublished manuscript works, including one authored by a disciple of the Pnei Yehoshua and R. Yehonatan Eibeshitz, with an original letter of ordination from the latter; and a Chassidic work with original letters of approbation by Rebbe Mordechai Dov of Hornostaipil and his sons.
On the occasion of its 16th anniversary and its 100th catalogue, Kedem Auction House is honored to present the Klagsbald Collection for public auction. We strive – and will continue to strive – to offer our clients rare and important items and to present them in high-quality and accurate catalogues. We have endeavored to uphold this aspiration in the present catalogue as well.
Далее
Or Ne'erav / Commentary on Yom Kippur Temple Service / Tomer Devorah – First Editions of Books of Rabbi Moshe Cordovero – Venice, 1587-1589 – Glosses of Rabbi Yaakov Abensour, the Yaavetz – Gloss of Rabbi Aharon Siboni
Three books by kabbalist R. Moshe Cordovero – the Ramak. First editions printed posthumously by his son R. Gedaliah Cordovero and R. Moshe Bassola [della Rocca]. Bound in one volume.
· Or Ne'erav, by R. Moshe Cordovero – the Ramak. Venice: Zuan (Giovanni) di Gara, [1587].
The book was proofread by R. Menachem Azariah (Rama) of Fano (as stated by R. Gedaliah Cordovero in his introduction). At the beginning of the book appears an introduction by R. Menachem Azariah.
Or Ne'erav is a fundamental introduction to kabbalah. The Ramak writes of the importance of studying kabbalah and the proper ways to do so. In the book he also mentions excursions into the fields (Gerushim) which Safed kabbalists used to make, and of the holy spirit which they attained. He tells of excursions he had with his brother-in-law and teacher R. Shlomo Alkabetz (author of Lechah Dodi): "The eighth virtue is what I and others have experienced, regarding the excursions that we would make to the field with the kabbalist R. Shlomo ibn Alkabetz HaLevi, to study the verses of the Torah spontaneously with no intense study. And we would conceive of novel ideas that would be unbelievable to anyone who didn't see or try this…" (Part V, chapter 2).
· Perush Seder Avodat Yom HaKippurim, commentary on the Avodah (Yom Kippur Temple service) by R. Moshe Cordovero. Venice: Zuan (Giovanni) di Gara, 1587. On title page: "Printed in a small volume so that it can be attached at the end of a siddur"; "Printed… at the request of R. Gedaliah Cordovero his son".
· Tomer Devorah, "on the straight path for one to select, and one's meditation, goal and contemplation of one's ways", by R. Moshe Cordovero. Venice: Zuan (Giovanni) di Gara, 1589.
First edition of an important ethical work.
On verso of title page, introduction by R. Moshe Bassola, stating that the book was given to him for publication by R. Menachem Azariah.
The present volume belonged to R. Yaakov Abensour – the Yaavetz, who added handwritten glosses to many pages. Most of the glosses are short; some are trimmed. Several glosses by other writers. On p. 9b of second book (commentary on Yom Kippur Temple service), the Yaavetz begins a gloss with his name: "Says Yaakov Abensour …". On the same page is an earlier gloss, signed "Aharon HaSiboni". This gloss is apparently by kabbalist R. Aharon Siboni (HaSiboni; ca. 1630-1707), a rabbi of Salé, disciple of R. Yaakov Sasportas and his fellow opponent of Sabbateanism. His glosses are printed in Heichal HaKodesh, kabbalistic commentary on prayers by R. Moshe Elbaz, published by R. Yaakov Sasportas (Amsterdam 1653).
Lengthy inscription by the Yaavetz on front endpaper, with "Index to Or Ne'erav". Another inscription by him on title page of second book. On front endpaper, additional inscription, in the characteristic handwriting of R. Shlomo Eliyahu (son of R. Yaakov) Abensour (1822-1873), a descendant of the Yaavetz. On title page of first book, stamp of R. Refael Abensour (the youngest) son of R. Shlomo (son of R. Refael) Abensour (1830-1917; succeeded his progenitors as Rabbi of Fez, known for his large library of books and manuscripts).
R. Yaakov Abensour – the Yaavetz (1673-1752), one of the most illustrious figures in Moroccan Jewry. A leading halachic authority of his generation (which included the Or HaChaim and his teachers), a poet and a kabbalist, he was also well versed in practical kabbalah. At the age of twenty, he was appointed scribe of the Beit Din of R. Vidal HaTzarfati, R. Menachem Serero and R. Yehudah ibn Attar in Fez. He then authored Et Sofer – laws and customs of halachic documents. With the passing of R. Vidal HaTzarfati, R. Yehudah ibn Attar was appointed head of the Beit Din and the Yaavetz became his fellow dayan. The Yaavetz (together with R. Yehudah ibn Attar and other leading Torah scholars of the generation) authored the approbation to Chefetz Hashem by R. Chaim ibn Attar – the Or HaChaim (printed in Amsterdam, 1732). Following R. Yehudah ibn Attar's passing, the Yaavetz succeeded him as head of the Fez Beit Din, and became the supreme authority in Morocco, responding to halachic queries from throughout the Maghreb. The Yaavetz was compelled to leave Fez several times. Between 1719-1728 he resided in Meknes, and during the famine of 1738, he wandered to Tétouan. In these places he was also received with great honor and joined the local rabbis in the Beit Din, even heading the list of signatories on Beit Din rulings. In his later years, he appointed five of his disciples to assist him in leading the community, who became known as "the Beit Din of Five", and they served as the leaders of the community in his old age and after his passing.
He wrote numerous halachic responsa and other works. Some of his responsa were published in his two-part book Mishpat UTzedakah BeYaakov (printed in Alexandria, Egypt, 1894 and 1903), some were published in the books of his contemporaries, and the rest remain in manuscript form. The Yaavetz was renowned for his talents as a poet and he even authored books in this field, including his renowned book Et Lechol Chefetz (Alexandria, 1893), containing some four hundred piyyutim and poems he composed. The Chida describes him and his works in Shem HaGedolim, and also mentions the Yaavetz's practice of annotating his books with numerous glosses: "…He authored numerous works, and beyond the many books he authored, all his books are replete with his marginal notes; he was also versed in practical kabbalah" (Maarechet Gedolim, Yud, 256); "Et Sofer, in manuscript, authored by R. Yaakov Abensour regarding the correct way of writing halachic documents, and he authored numerous works… and he also wrote extensively in the margins of his books, and he was well versed in all the customs of the rabbis who were exiled from Spain during the expulsion, and he left no topic unwritten, major or minor…" (Maarechet Sefarim, Ayin, 31).
Three books in one volume. Or Ne'erav: 56 leaves. Commentary on the Yom Kippur Temple service: 40 leaves. Tomer Devorah: 19 leaves. 13.5 cm. Most leaves in good-fair condition; first leaves of Or Ne'erav in fair condition. Stains, including dampstains (mainly to first leaves of Or Ne'erav). Light wear. Close trimming, affecting title frames of Or Ne'erav and Tomer Devorah. Title page of Or Ne'erav partly detached. Stamp on title page of Or Ne'erav. New binding.
