Bidspirit auction | Sefer HaMinhagim of Rabbi Avraham

Sefer HaMinhagim of Rabbi Avraham Klausner – Riva di Trento, 1558 – First Edition of an Early Ashkenazic Book of Customs - Minhagim of R. Avraham Klausner, with selected glosses. Riva di Trento: Yaakov Marcaria and Antonio Bruin, 1558. First edition. Early signature at top of title page, in Italian semi-cursive script: ”Menachem Azariah”. First edition of an early Minhagim book, including customs, laws and prayers according to the French and Ashkenazic rites, following the days of the year. The main part of the book is based primarily on Siddur Rashi and Machzor Vitri, along with several other sources, with additions by R. Yechizkiyah of Magdeburg and R. Chaim Paltiel; the latter converting the book to follow the Ashkenazic rite. The glosses on the margins include those of R. Avraham Klausner, some of which name him explicitly, giving this work its name. On the last leaf a notable story is printed: ”I, the scribe, personally had this experience, that I vowed to fast Mondays and Thursdays for an entire year, and Tishah B'Av of that year fell on a Tuesday, and the Torah scholar R. Lipman of Neustadt and R. Mendel Klausner permitted me to have, after the Mincha prayer, only one cooked dish of lentils with no oil and no other supplement”. R. Avraham Klausner (Maharak), a Torah scholar of Austria, rabbi and yeshiva dean in Vienna in the 14th century. Among his disciples were the Maharil and R. Eizik of Tyrnau, authors of famous Minhagim books which quote many sayings from their teacher; their teacher's Minhagim book was likely the inspiration for their own. R. Avraham Klausner's halachic rulings are also cited in the writings of R. Yaakov (Mahari) Weil and other Ashkenazi rabbis. 28, 33-43, [1] leaves. 15.5 cm. Good-fair condition. Stains, including light dampstains and traces of former dampness. Small marginal tears and open tears, including tear affecting text of one leaf (without loss). Worming to some leaves, repaired with paper. New binding. On verso of last leaf, signature of censor Giovanni Domenico Carretto, dated 1618 (?).