Bidspirit auction | Ancient and distinguished provenance –

Ancient and distinguished provenance – Beis Chadash (the Bach). First Edition. Krakow, 1635. Copy of the Maran Rishon LeTzion, Rabbi Moshe Galanti (the Magen) – with gloss signed in his holy handwriting. - Beis Chadash on Tur Yoreh De’ah, by Rabbeinu the Bach – the Gaon Rabbi Yoel Sirkish, one of the major foundations of halachic literature. Krakow, 1635 (Shu”h). First edition. At the beginning of the sefer the Bach printed the “Kuntres Acharon, ” glosses on the Derishah and Prishah. A highly distinguished and extremely rare copy, formerly owned by Maran Rabbi Moshe Galanti (the Magen) – the first Rishon LeTzion, among the leading halachic authorities of Eretz Yisrael in the 17th century, containing a gloss in his holy handwriting, signed. Rabbi Moshe Galanti (Sh”ch–T”m) was Rosh Rabbanim of Yerushalayim and the figure after whom the title “Rishon LeTzion” was first established, a title that later became the official designation of the Sephardic chief sages of Eretz Yisrael. His halachic authority was among the highest of his generation, and his responsa were sent to the greatest decisors in Eretz Yisrael and the diaspora. He stood at the head of the yeshivah “Beis Yaakov, ” led the Jewish settlement in Yerushalayim for decades, openly opposed the Shabtai Tzvi movement, and instituted foundational regulations for the distribution of halukah funds among the holy cities. His figure is also remembered in Yerushalayim tradition in connection with the well-known episode during the year of drought, when he led the community in prayer at the cave of Shimon HaTzaddik; following his prayers, rains of blessing fell – an event that further enhanced his renown as a holy and revered spiritual leader. Rabbi Galanti passed away after a short illness and was buried on the slopes of the Mount of Olives, near the graves of Rabbi Klonimus Baal HaNes and Rabbi Ovadia of Bartenura. Thus, before us is a copy with a remarkable and significant chain of provenance, passing through generations of the great sages of Yerushalayim, from the first Rishon LeTzion to the leaders of the city’s yeshivos. A copy of primary historical, Torah, and collector significance – among the rare foundational works of halachah, with exceptional lineage to the great sages of Yerushalayim across generations. The author, Rabbeinu Yoel Sirkish, the Bach (Sh”k–T”), is counted among the greatest halachic authorities of Klal Yisrael and one of the pillars of psak in later generations. His work Beis Chadash, a foundational commentary on the Arba’ah Turim, was accepted throughout the Jewish world as one of the central works of halachic decision-making, and is among the cornerstone texts upon which later authorities relied, including the Taz, Shach, and Magen Avraham. The great sages greatly praised his sanctity and stature; in Beis Efraim he is referred to as “the holy man of God, our master the author of Beis Chadash… who built a ‘new house’.” He passed away in the year T” (400), during the printing of his work on Orach Chaim. An ancient tradition cited in the introduction to Tosefes Shabbos relates that at his passing it was proclaimed in Heaven: “Make room for Rabbeinu Yoel of Krakow.” In Chassidic tradition as well, the Bach occupies a special place, and it is transmitted in the name of the Baal Shem Tov that the well-known ruling he issued regarding Chadash outside Eretz Yisrael was accepted even in the Heavenly Beis Din – “since the Bach ruled thus, so it was ruled Above.” Additional ownership and provenance notes On leaf 2 appears the signature of the Magen’s great-grandson, the first Rishon LeTzion Rabbi Moshe Yosef Mordechai MiYuchas (Tz”ach–T”ov), among the leading rabbis of Yerushalayim, head of Yeshivas Knesses Yisrael, physician and important posek, author of numerous works and a contemporary of the Chida. During his tenure he was among the leaders of Yerushalayim during the years of Napoleon’s campaign in Eretz Yisrael. Also recorded in the sefer is an ownership note indicating that it belonged to Yeshivas Or HaChaim, where is mentioned: “Beis Medrash of the Rav the Chassid Moreinu HaRav Menachem Mendel ztz”l, ” apparently referring to the beis medrash of Rabbi Menachem Mendel of Shklov, one of the foremost disciples of the Vilna Gaon and among the leaders of the Ashkenazi settlement in Yerushalayim. Incomplete copy: originally 13, [2], 424 leaves; here: 6-13 407. Missing 24 leaves. Worn on first and last leaves, as well as one leaf torn in the middle; leaf 398 detached; stains, worming concentrated mainly in the margins. New binding. Most of the book in good to very good condition.