Kisei Rachamim, by the Chida. First Edition. Notations from Rabbi Yitzchak Zvi of Salant. Signatures and marginalia

Kisei Rachamim, by the Chida. First Edition. Notations from Rabbi Yitzchak Zvi of Salant. Signatures and marginalia

Sefer Kisei Rachamim, a commentary on the tractates Kallah, Sofrim, and Avot—acronym: K.S.A.—with two layers of commentary styled after Rashi and Tosafot. Authored by Rabbi Chaim Yosef David Azulai (the Chida). Livorno, Eliezer Saadon Press, 1803. First edition printed during the Chida’s lifetime.

This copy belonged to the Beit Midrash Menachem Tzion, in the "Hurvat Rabbi Yehudah HaChassid" synagogue. As is known, when the saintly Kabbalist Rabbi Zundel of Salant immigrated from Lithuania to Eretz Yisrael, he declined any rabbinic position and served instead as librarian of the Otzar HaSefarim (library) of the Hurva synagogue.

As with many volumes in the Hurva’s library, this copy contains multiple ownership inscriptions and dedications to Beit Midrash Menachem Tzion, written in the distinct and well-known handwriting of Rabbi Zundel Salant: two lines on the title page, another note at the top of leaf 40a, and again at the top of leaf 58a.

Another signature appears on the title page: “The humble Eliezer son of my father Yosef Binyamin, of blessed memory, Bergman”—this refers to the emissary and Torah scholar Rabbi Eliezer Bergman, a founder of Kollel Holland veDeutschland and a key figure in the development of the Old Yishuv in Jerusalem.

Scattered throughout the book are scholarly glosses and notes, written in an Eastern script, some of them lengthy. The content and authorship of these notes have not been researched.

Benayahu, Sifrei HaChida, no. 39.

120 leaves. 29.5 cm. Fine-quality paper.

Condition: Good. Signatures, inscriptions, stamps. Aging stains, a few wormholes. New binding.

Rabbi Yosef Zundel of Salant (1786–1865), father of the Mussar movement. Disciple of Rabbi Chaim of Volozhin and teacher of Rabbi Yisrael Salanter. His son-in-law, Rabbi Shmuel Salant, Chief Rabbi of Jerusalem, wrote about him: “As great as he was in character, so was he in Torah; as deep his knowledge in the revealed, so too in the hidden; he was the Gadol HaDor in Torah as in character, and through his extraordinary humility he succeeded in concealing his greatness from others.” In his final years, he settled in Jerusalem and served as the halachic authority for the Ashkenazic community.

Rabbi Eliezer Bergman (1799–1952), a Jerusalemite leader, founder of Kollel Holland veDeutschland, and builder of the Old Yishuv. He was the study partner of the Aruch LaNer. He corresponded on halachic matters with many great sages of his generation, including the Ksav Sofer and Rabbi Yisrael of Shklov, whom he praises effusively in his work BeHar Yera'eh—though he does not hesitate to respectfully dispute his rulings. His descendants include Rabbi Meir Tzvi Bergman and the Admor Eliezer Goldman of Zhvill. His works include Shaarei Aviv and BeHar Yera'eh.