Auction 105: Rabbinic Autograph Letters & Passover Haggadot.
By Kestenbaum & Company
Contact Auction House
Apr 4, 2024
The Brooklyn Navy Yard Building 77, 141 Flushing Avenue Brooklyn, NY 11205, United States
The auction commences with a first edition of the Segulah-book "Raziel HaMalach" (Lot 1); followed by books that were owned by significant rabbis:
R. Shlomo Ganzfried (Lot 5); The Aruch Hashulchan (Lot 6); R. Meir Shapira of Lublin (Lot 68).
The auction contains many excellent offerings of Autograph Letters including:
The first Rebbe of Sadigura, R. Avraham Ya'akov (Lot 13); The Chofetz Chaim (Lots 17-20); The Ohr Same’ach (Lot 41); The Kesav Sofer (Lot 58); Reb Chaim Brisker (Lot 59); The Lubavitcher Rebbetzin Chaya Mushka and her sister (Lots 50-51); and dozens more of such letters.
Autograph manuscripts of note are those from R. Menachem Mendel of Shklov (Lot 9A); The Tiferes Yisroel (Lot 40); and a 14th-century Ramba'n manuscript (Lot 9).
As per annual tradition, this pre-Pesach auction features a wide selection of Passover Hagadot:
The rare, the exotic and the curious; with examples from 1545 through until 2008.
Among particularly Early examples: Lot 87 (Venice, 1545); Lot 88 (Riva di Trento, 1561) and Lot 95 (Salonika, 1569).
Beautifully illustrated Hagadoth include: Lot 93 (Venice, 1740); Lot 85 (India, 1874) and Lot 115 (The Avner Moriah Hagadah).
Historically significant Hagadoth include Lot 72 (American/Canadian/Anglo-related) and many examples from Germany, India, Jerusalem; as well as first edition Hagadah commentaries by the Vilna Gaon (Lot 96), R. Ya'akov Emden (Lot 78); and ending with several facsimile editions.
The auction has ended
Sold for:
$10,000
LOT 1:
(KABBALAH) . Raziel HaMalach. FIRST EDITION. [A celebrated cornucopia of mystical texts and magical recipes]. Complex Kabbalistic charts and diagrams throughout. This copy with uncommonly wide margins. ff. 18, (1), 19-45. Light wear, lower inner corners restored and expertly repaired ...
Start price:
$
8,000
VIEW
Sold for:
$1,000
LOT 2:
YEHUDAH HALEVI. Sepher HaKuzari [philosophy]. Translated from Arabic into Hebrew by Yehudah ibn Tibbon. With commentary Kol Yehudah by Yehudah Moscato. Third edition, FIRST EDITION with commentary. ff. 299. Occasional wear, stained in places, title remargined, f.2 loose. Later mottled calf ...
Start price:
$
1,000
VIEW
Sold for:
$3,000
LOT 3:
VOLOZHINER, CHAIM. Nephesh HaChaim. FIRST EDITION. With an introduction by Rabbi Chaim’s son and successor, R. Itzele of Volozhin . A fine, wide-margined copy. ff. (63). Lightly stained, with signatures including: R. Yehoshua b. HaRav Gershon Shapira. Modern full calf over thick boards. 4to. ...
Start price:
$
3,000
VIEW
Sold for:
$55,000
LOT 4:
VOLOZHINER, CHAIM. His personal copy of: Atzmoth Yoseph [novellae and discourses to Masechta Kiddushin] by Yoseph ben Yitzchak ibn Ezra. ff. 120. Interior lightly stained with expert repaired worming. Binding expertly repaired retaining original patterned front and rear covers. Sm. 4to. Fürth ...
Start price:
$
55,000
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LOT 5:
GANZFRIED, SHLOMO. (Author of the Kitzur Shulchan Aruch, 1804-86). His personal copy of: Sepher Ir Damesek Eliezer [novellae to Torah and Haphtarot] by Eliezer of Rozvedov (Rozwadów). Zolkiev, 1764. Title page inscribed and signed Shlomo Ganzfried. Edges worn, repaired with some loss. Modern ...
Start price:
$
2,000
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LOT 6:
EPSTEIN, YECHIEL MICHEL. Aruch HaShulchan: Inscribed and signed by the Author. Aruch HaShulchan [on Choshen Mishpat, section two, from the laws of business (chap. 189) through the laws of injury (chap. 427)]. pp. 532. Brittle. Loose in contemporary boards. 4to. Warsaw, 1893. Verso of title ...
Start price:
$
3,000
VIEW
LOT 7:
MALBIM, MEIR LEIBUSH. Sepher Ikrei Dinim by R. Daniel Tirani. Sudilkov, 1835. Opening two leaves only. SIGNED ON THE TITLE PAGE BY THE MALBIM AND WITH HIS PERSONAL STAMP ON FOLLOWING LEAF. Vinograd, Sudilkov 256. Famed for his exceptional commentary to Tanach, R. Meir Leibush ben Yehiel ...
Start price:
$
2,000
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LOT 8:
SALANT, SHMUEL. His personal copy of: Derech HaMelech [sermons, including in memory of the author’s father and of his mother] by Yechiel Mechel ben Yehudah Leib. [Shklov], 1798. Title page with signature and stamps of R. Shmuel Salant. ff. 60. Wormed, outer corners of several leaves with some ...
Start price:
$
1,000
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LOT 9:
MOSHE BEN NACHMAN (NACHMANIDES / (RAMBA’N). Peirush al HaTorah. Manuscript in Hebrew. Spain, c. 1400. Genesis / Bereishith (end of Parshath Toldoth - end of Parshath Vayetze). Twenty pages written in a Sephardic cursive hand on paper. Stained in places and occasionally wormed, loss of few ...
Start price:
$
5,000
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LOT 9A:
MENACHEM MENDEL OF SHKLOV. Autograph Manuscript in Hebrew [on Kabbalistic topics] Single leaf (two lengthy full pages). Some staining. Bound into modern boards, Folio. (Jerusalem), c. 1824. R. Menachem Mendel of Shklov (1750-1827) was the outstanding disciple of the Vilna Gaon. He emigrated ...
Start price:
$
4,000
VIEW
Sold for:
$550
LOT 10:
ABRAMSKY, YECHEZKEL (“Reb Chatzkel, ” Rabbi in Slutzk, Av Beth Din in London, Rosh Yeshiva in Bnei Braq, 1886-1976). Autograph Letter Signed written in Hebrew to the Chief Rabbinate of Tel Aviv on London Beth Din letterhead. Concerning a divorce matter. One page. London, 23rd Shevat, 1941. R. ...
Start price:
$
300
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Sold for:
$5,000
LOT 11:
ALTER, AVRAHAM MORDECHAI (The “Imrei Emes” Grand Rabbi of Gur, 1866-1948). Autograph Letter Signed, in Hebrew. Written to(?) Provides commercial advice and blesses the entrepreneurial initiative of the writer: “…The work and reward are greater than have been before.” One page. 1927. The ...
Start price:
$
5,000
VIEW
Sold for:
$450
LOT 12:
AUERBACH, SHLOMO ZALMAN. (Posek and Rosh Yeshivah of Kol Torah, 1910-95). Autograph Letter Signed written in Hebrew on letterhead to the Directors of Ezras Torah in Jerusalem. Requests financial assistance on behalf of a (named) widowed Rebbetzin, whose daughter is engaged to be married to an ...
Start price:
$
300
VIEW
Sold for:
$14,000
LOT 13:
AVRAHAM YA’AKOV OF SADIGURA. The First Sadigura Rebbe, (1820-83). Letter Signed, written in Hebrew on behalf of R. Yoseph Vitashkes, who had fallen upon hard times. The Rebbe here appoints R. Meir Babich and R. Michel Schochet to help raise funds to assist their fellow Chossid. One page. ...
Start price:
$
10,000
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LOT 14:
BENGIS, ZELIG REUVEN. (Head of Eidah HaChareidis and author Leflagos Reuven, 1864-1953). Typed Letter Signed, written in Hebrew to Rabbi Yosef Reines on letterhead of Yeshivat Ohel Moshe (Diskin). A condolence letter to a donor. Signed by the directors of the yeshiva, as well as by Rabbi ...
Start price:
$
300
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LOT 15:
BERLIN, CHAIM. (Of Volozhin, 1832-1913). Autograph Letter Signed, written in Hebrew to the directors of the Kollel Perushim and Chassidim in Jerusalem. Donations from six named donors. One page. Kobryn (Belarus), 5th Sivan, 1895. R. Chaim Berlin was the eldest son of R. Naphtali Zevi Judah ...
Start price:
$
500
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LOT 16:
BLOCH, YOSEF YEHUDA LEIB. (Rosh Yeshiva in Telshe (Telšiai, Lithuania), 1860-1930). Typed Letter Signed written in Hebrew on letterhead to Rabbi Yoseph Chaim Sonnenfeld (“grandfather of the Land of Israel.”). Concerning monies collected for the benefit of Kupat Rabbi Meir Baal Haness, for the ...
Start price:
$
400
VIEW
Sold for:
$25,000
LOT 17:
CHOFETZ CHAIM. (R. Yisroel Meir Kagan). Autograph Letter Signed, written in Hebrew to R. David Potash, on letterhead stationery of ‘Israel Meir Hakohen, author Chofetz Chaim and Mishnah Berurah’ (Hebrew) and ‘Rabin I.M. Kagan, Radun’ (Polish). A beautiful Letter with extended blessings for the ...
Start price:
$
25,000
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LOT 18:
CHOFETZ CHAIM. (R. Yisroel Meir Kagan). Typed Letter Signed written in Hebrew on letterhead to Rabbi Isser Yehuda Unterman. A heartfelt plea seeking assistance from Anglo-Jewry, specifically from Rabbi Unterman, leader of the Liverpool community, requesting funds to assist in the care of 300 ...
Start price:
$
10,000
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LOT 19:
(CHOFETZ CHAIM). Autograph Letter Signed written in Hebrew by Menachem Mendel Zaks, the son-in-law of the Chofetz Chaim, on letterhead of his father-in-law, to R. Dovid Potash of Tel Aviv. Posing several questions and concerns from the wife of the Chofetz Chaim, relating to the family’s ...
Start price:
$
3,000
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LOT 20:
(CHOFETZ CHAIM). Autograph Letter Signed written in Hebrew by R. Eliezer Zev Kaplan grandson of the Chofetz Chaim, on Yeshiva letterhead to Rabbi Moshe Shapira. A letter of recommendation for two students. One page. Radun, 19th Ellul, 1935. R. Eliezer Zev Kaplan was the grandson of the ...
Start price:
$
200
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LOT 21:
ELYASHIV, YOSEF (Posek HaDor, 1910-2012). Autograph Letter Signed, written in Hebrew on letterhead: “To my esteemed friends, activists on behalf of the Torah camp…” Signed: “With the blessings of the Torah…” One page. (Jerusalem), (Motzei) Shabbath Vayigash, (no year). Rav Elyashiv was the ...
Start price:
$
300
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LOT 22:
EPSTEIN, BARUCH HALEVI. (Author of Torah Temimah, 1860-1941). Autograph Letter Signed, in Hebrew, written to Avraham Harkavy. Critiques a Hebrew book by one A. Schack, intended for use by schoolteachers. Rabbi Epstein includes a lengthy extract from the book, which has not been published. ...
Start price:
$
4,000
VIEW
LOT 23:
EPSTEIN, YECHIEL MICHEL (Author of the Aruch Hashulchan, 1829-1908). Autograph Letter Signed and stamped, written in Hebrew to Rabbi Menachem Mendel. Extending thanks for funds of 73 rubles and 75 kopeks sent with the “noted darshan” Nachum Aaron Leibowitz. The money will “be put to use ...
Start price:
$
1,000
VIEW
LOT 24:
FEINSTEIN, MOSHE (Pre-eminent American Posek and President of the Agudath HaRabbanim, 1895-1985). Autograph Letter Signed, written in Hebrew on letterhead. R. Moshe here disclaims he would never have uttered that which was attributed to him (a certain unspecified subject) when he was healthy - ...
Start price:
$
700
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LOT 25:
FINKEL, ELIEZER YEHUDAH (Rosh Yeshiva Mir, 1879-1965). Typed Letter Signed written in Hebrew on letterhead. A letter of recommendation on behalf of a student named Moshe Tzvi Jaffe of Novarhdok, who is set to embark on studies in Eretz Yisrael. One page. Mir, 7th Cheshvan, 1934. “Reb Leizer ...
Start price:
$
500
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LOT 26:
GIFTER, MORDECHAI (Rosh Yeshiva Telz, Cleveland, 1915-2001). Autograph Letter Signed written in Hebrew on letterhead to Rabbi Chaim Sarna. A letter of recommendation on behalf of a yeshiva student. One page. Wickliffe, Ohio, Sunday, Parshath Behalothecha, 1982. American-born R. Mordechai ...
Start price:
$
300
VIEW
LOT 27:
GRODNENSKY, ELIYAHU ELIEZER (Chief Posek of Vilna, 1831-87). Manuscript Document Signed. “Shtar Shelishut." Document attesting that the Rabbi has received a note from the bank stating, 140 rubles were deposited under his name, and this money is to be in time, passed on to a girl as an ...
Start price:
$
2,000
VIEW
Sold for:
$300
LOT 28:
HERZOG, YITZCHAK (ISAAC) HALEVI. (Chief Rabbi of Israel, 1888-1959). Autograph Letter Signed, written in Hebrew on letterhead to Sephardic Chief Rabbi Ben-Zion Meir Hai Uziel (1880-1953). Discusses the declining authority of the Beth Din. In a lengthy paragraph R. Herzog quotes himself from a ...
Start price:
$
300
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LOT 29:
JOFEN (YOFFEN), AVRAHAM (1887-1970). Autograph Letter Signed and stamped written in Hebrew on letterhead. Letter of recommendation for a yeshiva student named Shevach Kotowski, a refugee from Soviet persecution. One page. Bialystok, 27th Tammuz, 1934. R. Avraham Yoffen (aka Avraham Pinsker) ...
Start price:
$
300
VIEW
LOT 30:
KAHANEMAN, YOSEF SHLOMO (The Ponevitcher Rav, 1886–1969). Typed Letter Signed written in Hebrew on letterhead to Rabbi Yitzchak Sodden of Brooklyn. Requesting financial assistance for the Ponovezher Yeshiva, as well as for an orphanage “which is the spiritual and physical home of over 500 ...
Start price:
$
500
VIEW
LOT 31:
KAMAI, ELIYAHU BARUCH (Av Beth Din and Rosh Yeshiva of Mir, 1840-1917). Autograph Letter Signed and stamped, written in Hebrew to R. Binyamin Goldberg(?). Warm blessings for the upcoming new year. One page, small tear at blank margin. Mir, 26th Ellul, 1901. One of the very great Lithuanian ...
Start price:
$
1,000
VIEW
Sold for:
$300
LOT 32:
KAMENETSKY, YA’AKOV (Rosh Yeshiva Mesivta Torah Voda’ath, Brooklyn, 1891-1986). Typed Letter Signed written in Yiddish on Agudath Israel of America letterhead to World Agudath Israel headquarters in Tel Aviv. Details food packages and other aid dispatched, and discuss a list of membership of ...
Start price:
$
300
VIEW
LOT 33:
KANIEVSKY, YA’AKOV YISRAEL (The Steipler Gaon, 1899-1985). Autograph Letter Signed and stamped, written in Hebrew. A letter of thanks to the Trumat Israel Relief Fund, led by Rabbi David Elbaum, who had sent the Steipler Gaon a $500 stipend. One page. Bnai Brak, Wednesday, Parshath ...
Start price:
$
500
VIEW
LOT 34:
KANIEVSKY, CHAIM. Autograph Letter written to Rabbi Pinchas Barzel of Kollel Nachalat Raphael, Bnei Brak. Typed letter from Rabbi Pinchas Barzel containing six queries seeking clarifications of difficulties found in: the Shulchan Aruch, Minchas Chinuch, Rashi, Rav Chaim’s Chiddushim on ...
Start price:
$
500
VIEW
LOT 35:
KANIEVSKY, CHAIM. Autograph Letter written to Rabbi Pinchas Barzel of Kollel Nachalat Raphael, Bnei Brak. A typed letter from Rabbi Pinchas Barzel, containing six queries seeking clarifications of difficulties found in: Rav Chaim’s Ta’ama Dekra, a Beraitha in Masechet Kiddushin, Chumash, an ...
Start price:
$
500
VIEW
Sold for:
$500
LOT 36:
KOOK, AVRAHAM YITZCHAK HAKOHEN (First Aschkenazi Chief Rabbi of Israel, 1865-1935). Letter written in Hebrew on letterhead, stamped and signed by Chief Rabbi Rav Kook and three Dayanim of his Jerusalem Beth Din: Rabbi Tzvi Pesach Frank (1873-1960), who headed the Bet Din; Rabbi Eliyahu Re’em ...
Start price:
$
500
VIEW
LOT 37:
KOSSOWSKY, YITZCHOK (1877-1951). Typed Letter Signed written in Hebrew on letterhead to Rabbi Menahem Papo. A heartbreaking letter concerning a Jewish orphan found abandoned in Nairobi, Kenya. The child only speaks Polish and Rabbi Kossowsky advises that the child’s emotional health will ...
Start price:
$
200
VIEW
Sold for:
$300
LOT 38:
L EFKOWITZ, MICHEL YEHUDAH (Rosh Yeshiva Ponovezh Letze’irim, 1913-2011). Autograph Letter Signed written in Hebrew to Rabbi Nathan Tzvi Friedman. Extending thanks for the gift of a newly published work and apologizes for not having yet had the time to read it. He himself is in the midst of ...
Start price:
$
300
VIEW
LOT 39:
LEIBOWITZ, BARUCH BER (Rosh Yeshiva of Kamenitz, 1864-1939). Typed Letter Signed and stamped, written in Yiddish on letterhead. An open letter offering words of spiritual uplift to the supporters of the yeshiva educational systems. He reminds his audience that their generosity sustains ...
Start price:
$
1,000
VIEW
LOT 40:
LIPSCHUETZ, YISRAEL (“The Tiferes Yisrael, ” 1782-1860). Autograph Manuscript. Outlines and themes for various sermons and eulogies. Six pages written in Hebrew and occasional German (in Hebrew letters). With many later corrections and additions. Bound into modern boards. 8vo. 1843-55. ...
Start price:
$
6,000
VIEW
Sold for:
$12,000
LOT 41:
MEIR SIMCHAH HAKOHEN OF DVINSK (The Ohr Same’ach, 1843-1926). Autograph Postcard Signed, written in Hebrew to R. Moshe Rosen (the Nezer HaKodesh). Addressed in Cyrillic on verso. Discussion of halachic topics including Mikvah and concerning the intentional violation of Shabbat. Dvinsk, 25th ...
Start price:
$
12,000
VIEW
LOT 42:
MELTZER, ISSER ZALMAN (Rosh Yeshivah Etz Chaim, Jerusalem, 1870-1953). Autograph Letter Signed written in Hebrew on letterhead to Rabbi Meir Berlin (aka Bar-Ilan). The salutation respectfully notes that R. Berlin is a son of R. Meltzer’s teacher, the Netziv; he here requests financial ...
Start price:
$
700
VIEW
Sold for:
$1,000
LOT 43:
MONTEFIORE, SIR MOSES (English philanthropist, 1784-1885). Lithographed Letter Signed, written in English on letterhead to the Worshipful Mayor of the English town of Walsall. “The great interest which has ever been taken in the Holy Land by all classes and creeds, induces me to believe that ...
Start price:
$
1,000
VIEW
Sold for:
$750
LOT 44:
OVADIA YOSEF (Sephardic sage and Chief Rabbi of Israel, 1920-2013). Autograph Letter Signed written in Hebrew on letterhead. A resounding letter of recommendation for a new yeshiva, Ma’oz Chayil in Bayit Vegan. One page. Jerusalem, 8th Iyar, 1984. Hakham Ovadiah Yosef (1920-2013) was the ...
Start price:
$
200
VIEW
LOT 45:
RABINOWITZ, YITZCHOK YA’AKOV. (“Reb Itzele Ponevicher, ” 1854–1919). Autograph Letter Signed, written in Hebrew. Providing assistance for “HaGaon R. Chaim Yitzchak…” and his desire to find an appropriate pulpit in Lithuania. Continues with Chidushei Torah relating to the topic of Chalitzah. ...
Start price:
$
2,500
VIEW
LOT 46:
REINES, YITZCHAK YA’AKOV (Rabbi of Lida, founder of the Religious-Zionist Mizrachi Movement, 1839-1915). Autograph Letter Signed written in Hebrew to Menachem Ussishkin. Discusses personal matters, mentions with much respect Rabbi Yosef Eliyahu Kaminetsky. Two pages. Lida, 28th M-Av, 1894. ...
Start price:
$
1,000
VIEW
LOT 47:
ROSEN, YOSEPH (The Rogatchover Gaon, 1858-1936). Lengthy Autograph Letter Signed, written in Hebrew. Detailed, scholarly letter of Torah learning. Two pages. Dvinsk, 5th Teveth, 1930. The Rogotchover Gaon of Dvinsk was renowned as an unparalleled Talmudic genius in his time. He authored ...
Start price:
$
4,000
VIEW
Sold for:
$2,200
LOT 48:
ROSEN, YOSEPH (The Rogatchover Gaon, 1858-1936). Autograph Postcard Signed, written in Hebrew to Rabbi Tzvi Hirsch Ferber in London. Addressed in Cyrillic and English on verso. The Rogotchover Gaon queries Rabbi Ferber if he received his letter, as much time has passed without a response. ...
Start price:
$
2,000
VIEW
LOT 49:
RUCH, YEHOSHUA ZELIG (Rosh Yeshiva Lomza, 1879-1941). Autograph Letter Signed, written in Hebrew on letterhead to R. Reuven Katz, Rosh Yeshiva of the Lomza branch in Petach Tikva. Concerns coordination between R. Katz and R. Yechiel Michel Gordon over assistance provided to a party in extreme ...
Start price:
$
500
VIEW
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