Bidspirit auction | Thousands of Glosses by Rabbi

Thousands of Glosses by Rabbi Yosef Zechariah Stern on Gittin and Kiddushin. Zhitomir, 1863. * Masechtos Gittin and Kiddushin filled to the brim with hundreds upon hundreds of chiddushim, in the handwriting of the brilliant gaon Rabbi Yosef Zechariah Stern, Av Beis Din of Shavel, author of Zecher Yehosef. The glosses on these masechtos constitute a complete work in their own right, and Rabbi Yosef Zechariah Stern himself referred to his notes as a separate composition, as he wrote in Shu”t Zecher Yehosef: “My writings which are with me in manuscripts, glosses on the whole Bavli, leaf by leaf...” The chiddushim on Maseches Gittin have never been printed . The ones on Kiddushin were published in the memorial sefer Darkei Menachem (Jerusalem, 1981).  Beautiful copies with wider than usual margins, offering ample space for the constant stream of chiddushim of the brilliant gaon. Additionally, at the beginning of the sefer are 2 flyleaves — 4 sides filled with chiddushim. The chiddushim are marked by an unmatched mastery. It is no exaggeration to say that there are literally thousands (!) of references and citations, drawing from all of Chazal and the sefarim of the Rishonim and Achronim. To give a small sample of the sheer scope of these marginal glosses, we point to the note on leaf 65b in Maseches Kiddushin, where he noted and referenced about forty sefarim of responsa from the Achronim! In a number of places one can discern traces of wax from the candle by which he toiled during the nights over these very Gemaras. Rabbi Yosef Zecharya Stern (1831-1904), Av Beis Din of Shavel, was one of the premier Torah geniuses of the previous generation. His proficiency in all realms of Torah was astounding, and he was described as possessing an unparalleled memory. In 1860, before he turned thirty, he published his famous sefer Zecher Yehosef which received the approbation of Rabbi Yaakov Gezundheit, author of Tiferes Yaakov, who wrote: “I stood trembling and astounded by his sharpness and fluency in Talmud Bavli and Yerushalmi with all the early and latter poskim, responsa, and commentaries…” In 1861, he assumed the position of Rav in Shavel where he served his congregation faithfully for 43 years until his passing. Rabbi Itzele of Ponovezh delivered a eulogy at his grave, stating: “Here are buried Bavli and Yerushalmi, Sifra, Sifrei Mechilta, Tosefta, the Rishonim and the Achronim.” Zhitomir, 1863. Shapira Press. Each maseches contains two title pages (partially in red ink). Page Count: Maseches Kiddushin: [1], 100, 19, [1], 4 leaves. Maseches Gittin: [2], 125, 21, 23 leaves. Size: 33 cm. Condition: Good; restoration to the margins of 2 leaves with handwritten chiddushim bound at the beginning of the Gemara. Antique leather binding, worn. ---------------------------------- Any inquiries about this lot? We are also available on WhatsApp >>>