Bidspirit auction | Shu”t HaBach, by Rabbi Yoel

Shu”t HaBach, by Rabbi Yoel Sirkis of Krakow, author of Bayis Chadash. Frankfurt am Main, printed by Johann Wust, [1697]. - Sefer Yesod She’eilos U’Teshuvos Beis Chodosh, by Rabban shel Yisroel Rabbi Yoel Sirkis, Av Beis Din of Krakow, author of the Bayis Chodosh commentary on the Arba’ah Turim. Frankfurt am Main, תנ”ז [1697]. First edition. On the title page appears an ornate signature: “Hakatan Tzvi Hirsch”. This edition is the first and only printing prepared directly from the manuscript of the Bach, and includes an important introduction together with approbations by Rabbi Yosef Shmuel, Av Beis Din of Frankfurt, and Rabbi Yaakov Sasportas, Av Beis Din of the Sephardic community in Amsterdam. The work was printed from the manuscript preserved by the disciples of the Bach’s beis medrash. It was brought to print by Rabbi Shlomo Zalman of Frankfurt, son-in-law of Rabbi Meir Stern of Amsterdam, who inherited the manuscript from his father-in-law through Rabbi Mendeli Bass of Frankfurt, a foremost disciple of the Bach. After Rabbi Meir Stern’s passing, his widow entrusted the manuscript for publication and bore the printing expenses. This copy belongs to the issue that did not undergo censorship, and therefore preserves in full words and passages omitted in some copies. Thus, in responsa 91–92, the word “meshumad” was left intact, unlike copies altered by the censor. In simanim 134–135 are printed the responsa of the author of Sema, Rabbi Yehoshua Falk Katz, addressed to the Bach; in this edition, the signature “Yoel, ” belonging to the Bach, was mistakenly printed at the conclusion. Fine title page within an ornamental floral border topped by two keruvim. Stefansky, Sifrei Yesod 299. Vinograd, Frankfurt am Main 135. [6], 106, [2] leaves. Printed on thick, high-quality paper. Old worn binding, time staining; title page and several leaves slightly trimmed at the lower margins. Good to very good condition.