Group of [4] Sefarim. Venice, C. 1600. Signature by the Gaon Rabbi Ya'akov Shemesh, the Chatam Sofer's Rabbi. ...

Group of [4] Sefarim. Venice, C. 1600. Signature by the Gaon Rabbi Ya'akov Shemesh, the Chatam Sofer's Rabbi. Special Binding.

"I heard something like this from the great Admo"r Rabbi Ya'akov Shemesh ztz"l - who was a rabbi in the kloiz - the large study hall in my native town of Frankfurt am Main (From the Chatam Sofer, about his rabbi) 

Four important sefarim bound together (with separate title pages). Venice presses, c. 1600. The sefarim are all personal copies that belonged to the sacred gaon Rabbi Ya'akov Shemesh, head of the yeshivah and the kloiz in Frankfurt in its golden era, and the Chatam Sofer's rabbi during that same period. Rabbi Ya'akov Shemesh's signature appears on the title pages of two of the sefarim as well as the date they were signed (the same date on both sefarim) "18 Menachem Av 1647." (For a total of four signatures by him). The front flyleaf (the main one) bears period notations and additional signatures. The sefarim are bound together with an antique parchment binding made from the reverse [blank] side of an official document in a foreign language. (The writing on this document remains. It is clear and strong, and is somewhat discernible from the visible side of the parchment.)

(The identical date of the signatures proves that apparently when the sefer was signed, the sefarim were already bound together, which leads to the conclusion that all four sefarim were copies that belonged to Rabbi Ya'akov Shemesh.)

* Minchah Belulah Verona, 1594. First edition.

Minchah Belulah - commentary on Chamishah Chumshei Torah by Rabbi Avraham Menachem HaKohen Rafa of Porto [Rapoport]. Verona, 1594.

Three of Rabbi Ya'akov Shemesh's signatures appear at the top of the title page with the date alongside, "18 Menachem Av 1647." The front flyleaf bears interesting notations in period Ashkenazic script with many verses of joy such as "The Jews had light and gladness and joy and honor, " "You shall draw water with joy from the springs of salvation, " "For in gladness you shall go out and and in peace ..." It is interesting to consider the possible miracle or event for which they were written.

The author is one of the patriarchs of the rabbinic Rapoport family - refer to Shem HaGedolim by the Chid"a in the section on sefarim, the entry on Minchah Belulah. Large, impressive printer's device at the end of the book from the Rapoport family that depicts a raven and two hands as a symbol of kehunah. Rare introduction with a 1000-word word count that is made up only of words starting with the letter ב! With a poem in honor of the sefer written by Rabbi Avraham Fishkrol. One of the first sefarim printed in Verona.

[3], 13, 15-208, [1] leaf, 20 cm.

Bound with:  

* Sefer Toaliyot HaRalba"g. Riva de Trento, 1560. First edition.

Sefer Toaliyot HaRalba"g on Chamishah Chumshei Torah and Nevi'im Rishonim by Rabbi Levi ben Gershon. Riva de Trento, 1560.

The top of the title page bears the rabbi's rare and lengthy signature: "לה' הארץ ומלואה, הקטן יעקב שמש, יום ד' חי מנחם ת"ק זיין לפ"ק".

This book compiles all the toaliyot written by the Ralba"g in his commentary on the Torah and Nevi'im Rishonim (in his commentaries on the Torah and Nevi'im, the Ralba"g often interprets the lesson and the toelet [purpose] learned from each verse and topic).

40; 27 leaf. 20 cm.

Bound with:

* Sefer Bedek HaBayit Venice, 1606

Sefer Bedek HaBayit, revisions and completions for Sefer Beit Yosef by Rabbi Yosef Karo. Venice, 1606.

Sefer Bedek HaBayit has been printed dozens of times after Rabbi Yosef Karo's passing, from compilations he wrote for himself after the printing of the first edition of his Sefer Beit Yosef. In later editions of Sefer Beit Yosef, the supplements and the revisions were included in brackets. This edition was printed only one year after the first edition.

[2] 68 leaf, 20 cm.

Bound with:

Shu"t Mahar"i Ben Lev. Venice, 1606

Responsa with novellae from Tractate Kiddushin and from Tractate Avodah Zarah by Rabbi Yosef ibn Lev. Venice, 1606.

Responsa and novellae by Rabbi Yosef ibn Lev - the Mahariva"l, a rabbinic leader of his generation. Second edition. 78 [4] leaf, 20 cm.

Refer to the Hebrew catalog text for a brief biography of the gaon Rabbi Ya'akov Shemesh.

It is hard to ignore the fact that this copy belonged to the Chatam Sofer's first teacher, the one who brought him to the gates of study. According to the date of the signatures, these sefarim reached Rabbi Ya'akov Shemesh's hands many years before the Chatam Sofer's birth, and it is not impossible that it was from these fundamental books themselves that the Chatam Sofer began his primary Torah study. 

Overall fine-very fine condition. Aging stains. Isolated perforations/ tears. Parchment binding, partially detached. With remnants of closure buckles.