Bidspirit auction | Bible – Amsterdam, 1701 [5461].

Bible – Amsterdam, 1701 [5461]. Exceptionally fine “Goral HaGra” edition - An impressive edition of the twenty-four books of the Hebrew Bible – the Five Books of Moses, the Former and Latter Prophets, and the Writings – printed in Amsterdam in 1701 [5461], at one of the city’s distinguished printing houses. This is the edition used by Rabbi Aryeh Levin of Jerusalem for performing the “Goral HaGra, ” according to the ancient tradition originating with the Vilna Gaon and transmitted through the heads of the Volozhin Yeshiva. The title page is beautifully engraved on copper, featuring the figures of Moses and Aaron. In addition, there are two more title pages – in Hebrew and in Latin. At the beginning appears a Latin preface and a six-line Hebrew poem opening with the words: “Torat Olam asher hayeta, beterem kol yetzir nivra” (“The eternal Torah that existed before all creation”). The text of the Bible is printed in two columns per page, fully vocalized and in elegant type. Every page is adorned with manually drawn red border lines, giving the volume a refined and distinguished appearance. This edition is closely associated with the tradition of the “Goral HaGra, ” used by leading Torah scholars including Rabbi Chaim of Volozhin and Rabbi Aharon Kotler as a means of divine guidance in matters of uncertainty. The most famous instance of its use was by Rabbi Aryeh Levin in 1950, to identify the bodies of the twelve fallen members of the Lamed Heh convoy, which could not be identified by other means. [6], 292 leaves, 306–293, [4] pp. 15 cm. Very good to excellent condition. All edges gilt. Magnificent leather binding with gilt decorations, corner guards, and complete silver clasps. Spine artistically restored. Bound together with the New Testament in Greek.