Bidspirit auction | Exceptionally Rare: Regulations of a

Exceptionally Rare: Regulations of a Chevra Kadisha –– Copy of the Gabbai,   London, 1796 *   A small-format printed booklet containing thirty-two regulations of the Chevra Kadisha d’Gemilus Chasadim of the Hamburg Synagogue in the Jewish community of London. For many years, London was home to a community of Jews originating from the German city of Hamburg. One of its renowned rabbanim was Rabbi Meshulam Zalman Ashkenazi, son of the Yaabetz, who passed away in 1795. Affixed to the front cover is a piece of green leather, impressed with the words: “Mr. Azriel son of Rabbi Yitzchak.” He was the gabbai of the Chevra Kadisha, and his name appears first among the printed signatories to the introduction at the beginning of this booklet of regulations. An exceptionally rare work, originally intended solely for the gabbaim of the Chevra Kadisha and distinguished members of the community, and therefore printed in only a very limited number of copies. The booklet is not recorded in the Institute for Hebrew Bibliography and is not held by the National Library of Israel. The international database WorldCat records only one copy, in the library of Hebrew Union College. London, 1796. A mixture of Yiddish and Hebrew, printed in square type. Page Count: [20] leaves. Size: Medium format. Condition: Fine-quality, clean paper. Good condition. Original leather binding, detached. Bibliography: Hebrew Printing in London, by Bezalel Roth, no. 77 (in Kiryat Sefer, Year 14, p. 380); Beis Eked Sefarim, by C. D. Friedberg, letter Taf, no. 1934.