Bidspirit auction | Rare in the extreme. Talmud

Rare in the extreme. Talmud Bavli, with the Rif. Slavuta, printed by the holy Rabbi Moshe Shapiro. 1817–1822 - Talmud Bavli, with all classic commentators and with the Rif (Rabbi Alfasi). Slavuta, printed by the holy Rabbi Moshe Shapiro. 1817–1822 (תקע”ז–תקפ”ב). Two volumes missing. A magnificent and exalted edition — the crown jewel of the sacred Slavuta press, produced by Rabbi Moshe Shapiro, whose printings were revered by the great leaders of Israel as having been made in purity and holiness. The set includes the full Talmud with: Rashi and Tosafot, Ein Mishpat/Ner Mitzvah, Mesoret HaShas, the glosses of Rabbi Yeshayah Pick Berlin, the Rambam’s commentary on the Mishnah, Piskei Tosafot, Piskei HaRosh, and the commentaries of Maharsha, Maharshal, Maharam of Lublin, together with the Halachot of the Rif (Rabbi Alfasi). This is the complete and most desirable edition of the Talmud with the Rif and its commentaries. The printers produced the Rif as an independent set, but in select deluxe copies of the Talmud—such as the present set—they inserted the relevant section of the Rif after each tractate. The pagination of the Rif is independent and continuous across tractates and volumes. This copy also includes the original title pages of each section of the Rif — a rare and important feature. The printing received the blessings and approbations of leading sages of the time, and in later generations the great tzaddikim extolled the virtues of this Slavuta edition, famed for its sanctity and purity. The rare approbation of the Alter Rebbe — Rabbi Schneur Zalman of Liadi, author of the Tanya At the beginning of the first volume appears the unique approbation in which the Alter Rebbe grants Rabbi Moshe Shapiro permission to reprint the Talmud, following the earlier printing initiated by the Rebbe in 1808: “May the Lord, Who desires righteousness, magnify the Torah… inspiring generosity in the noble-hearted, namely the renowned rabbi, distinguished in Torah and fear of Heaven… Rabbi Moshe, Av Beit Din of Slavuta, who has devoted his heart to reprint the Talmud Bavli and the Turim in his superior press… following the model printed recently by my trusted emissaries, my brother Rabbi Mordechai and Rabbi Shalom Shachna… May his strength in Torah be straight and fortified…” Signed: “The small one, Schneur Zalman…”. Additional approbations appear by: • Rabbi Avraham Yehoshua Heshel of Apta, author of Ohev Yisrael • Rabbi Yisrael of Pikov, son of Rabbi Levi Yitzchak of Berdichev (Kedushat Levi) • Rabbi Mordechai son of Rabbi Pinchas of Koretz • And others. A fascinating curiosity – a shell fragment in Tractate Bava Basra The volume of Bava Basra shows clear signs of a shrapnel fragment from one of Israel’s early wars. The fragment entered through the upper edge of the volume, singed approximately 200 leaves in the upper margin — and stopped. Only small portions of the text were affected, and not on all pages. Family tradition suggests that the sanctity of this special Slavuta Talmud protected the household from harm. A total of 34 tractates, bound in 21 volumes in original half-leather bindings. Printed on bluish paper. Size: 33 cm. • Missing two volumes: – Nedarim–Nazir–Sotah – Sanhedrin • Overall condition: fair to good. A detailed condition report for each volume is available upon request.