Bidspirit auction | Nefutzot Yehudah (by Rabbi Yehudah

Nefutzot Yehudah (by Rabbi Yehudah Moscato) – Venice, 1589 – First Edition – Early Parchment Binding – Signatures of German and Dutch Rabbis of 18th-19th Centuries - Nefutzot Yehudah, 52 sermons on various topics, by R. Yehudah Moscato. Venice: Zuan di Gara, 1589. First edition. Anthology of 52 sermons, including for various occasions and festivals, by R. Yehudah Moscato (ca. 1530-1589), an Italian rabbi, poet and philosopher, author of Kol Yehudah commentary on the Kuzari (Venice, 1594). Moscato is best known for his sermons, and the present book is regarded as a classic of homiletics, displaying his wide-ranging expertise in Torah as well as secular sciences. Distinguished copy, with signatures of R. Avraham HaLevi of Chelm, Rabbi of Emden, and R. Yissachar Berish Berenstein, Rabbi of the Hague. On title page, ownership inscription (somewhat blurred): ”G-d granted me this book, Avraham HaLevi of Chelm” – R. Avraham HaLevi of Chelm, Rabbi of Emden, was a leading rabbi of his generation, and successor of R. Yaakov Emden as Rabbi of Emden (ca. 1750-1760). He served as Rabbi of Hildesheim in 1760. He joined R. Yaakov Emden in his opposition to the remains of Sabbateanism in Germany. On front endpaper, signature (in square script): ”Yissachar Berenstein”, and ownership inscription on title page: ”This book belongs to R. Yissachar Berish [with a blessing for the deceased]” – R. Yissachar Berish Berenstein (1808-1894), grandson of R. Yissachar Berish of Hanover and a descendant of the Pnei Yehoshua, served as dayan in Amsterdam and the Hague. 14, 239 leaves. 19.5 cm. Varying condition; first leaves in fair condition, most leaves in good-fair condition. Stains, including dampstains. Wear. Tears and open tears, to title page and several other leaves, affecting text, partially repaired with paper. Slight worming. First gathering partially detached. Early parchment binding. Illustrated bookplate of R. Justus (Tzadok) Tal, a leading Dutch rabbi. Rabbi of Utrecht from 1918, and Chief Rabbi of Amsterdam and Holland after the Holocaust (d. 1955). Bookplate of Mozes Heiman Gans.