'Acharit HaShanim' - The Original Copy that Revealed the Anonymous Author's Name.

'Acharit HaShanim' - The Original Copy that Revealed the Anonymous Author's Name.

Group of [8] rare and interesting books and booklets. Jerusalem-Jaffa-Warsaw, late 19th century-early 20th century. These rare and important compilations before us were bound together in one volume by the gaon Rabbi Yechiel Michel Tukachinsky - one of the leading sages of Jerusalem; one of the most erudite bibliographers in the field. Rabbi Yechiel Michel Tukachinsky's signature appears at the beginning of the volume.

* Sefer Acharit HaShanim - about the commandment of vidui ma'aser. Warsaw, 1893. Very special copy. Given by the author. Owner's stamp. 29 leaves. Extraordinarily rare.

The book was written by the gaon Rabbi Eliyahu David Rabinowitz Teomim - the Adere"t, anonymously (for unknown reasons).  The Adere"t wanted his anonymity as the book's author so much that he himself wrote an approbation for the book so as to remove all suspicion that he himself wrote this book. The Adere"t even went so far as to write several comments (about ten pages' worth) on the author's words, who was none other than the Adere"t himself!

Before us is the original copy given by the Adere"t to the gaon Rabbi Yechiel Michel Tukachinsky, rosh yeshivah of Etz Chaim, who was tremendously erudite, and the latter realized that it was none other than the Adere"t who authored the book. So writes Rabbi Tukachinsky in his book Ir HaKodesh V'HaMikdash (Part IV, p. 112) about the book before us: "And with respect to vidui ma'aser, the gaon the Adere"t ztz"l published a special compilation in 1893 while he was still a rabbi in the city of Ponovezh. He printed the booklet anonymously, to the extent that he even gave an approbation to his own compilation. When he came to Jerusalem as a rabbi in 1901, I already knew that it was the booklet's author, the Adere"t, who gave me this compilation." Rabbi Yechiel Michel Tukachinsky's owner's signature appears on the flyleaf. The copy before us therefore proves without a doubt the identity of the author who hid his name with a special ruse.

It is interesting to note that the Adere"t, apparently from a place of deep humility, hid the fact that he authored the book, and as mentioned, wrote an approbation to the book for himself. In this approbation, he praises himself with superlative descriptions - all in an attempt to conceal the fact that he was the book's author. The Adere"t writes as follows in his approbation to his book: "May works like these only increase ... I would like to be of assistance to the rabbi, the great light(!), the author, shlit"a, whose intentions and deeds are for the sake of Heaven ... signed, Eliy' David Rabinowitz Teomim ... here in Ponovezh." Facts such as these are told about several rabbinic leaders who would use the attribute of pride in order to hide their great humility.

* Kuntress K'Dvar B'Ito - elucidation of the hakhel commandment ... authored by Medo ibn Tzorev [in fact Rabbi Eliyahu David Rabinowitz Teomim]. Jerusalem, 1904. Rare.

Summary of the compilation Zecher L'Mikdash printed by the author in Warsaw, 1889. The name of the author, according to his son Rabbi Binyamin Rabinowitz Teomim at the beginning of the HaKhel anthology, Jerusalem, 1946, p. 4.

Another work by the Adere"t printed anonymously. The rare compilation before us includes 8 leaves. Copies with 12 leaves are known; apparently the other leaves were added later.

* Kuntress a"d Hechsher HaNa'aseh MiShushumim Yeveshim SheLo Niltetu. Jaffa, published by the Breslev Brothers. 1909. Uncommon compilation.

Compilation about the kashrut of sesame oil for Passover. The kashrut certificate given by Rabbi Kook is printed at the beginning of the work, followed by a lengthy letter from him. Printed without a title page.

24 pp.

* Zahav HaAretz journal, dedicated to Torah and Judaic studies, by Pirchei Yerushalayim. 1909. 2 compilations (which were all that were published).

Especially rare booklets. The second booklet is not in the collection at the National Library, and even in the photocopy edition made in 1993 in New York, only the first booklet appears.

Booklet I: 8 leaves. Booklet II: [2], 29, [3] pp.

* Luach Eretz Yisrael L'Shnat 1910 - the most important and popular calendar to this day, by Rabbi Yechiel Michel Tukachinsky. Jerusalem. 47 pp.

Before us is the personal copy of the progenitor of Luach Eretz Yisrael!

* Chug HaAretz, Part I, including the halachahs and laws of Purim, by Rabbi Ya'akov Yisrael Algazi, by Yitzchak Becher, Michael Becher and Rephael Badhav. Jerusalem, 1910. 12 leaves.

* Seder HaPurim HaMeshulash, with supplements by Rabbi Chaim Berlin, with the Pesach Meuvin compilation. Jerusalem, 1910. 4 leaves.

* Kuntress Teshuvah MeYir'ah by Rabbi Eliyahu David Rabinowitz Teomim. Jerusalem, 1906. [4] 56 pp.

Various sizes and conditions. Overall fine condition: several leaves are detached. Partially detached binding.