Bidspirit auction | Rare: Chamishah Chumshei Torah in

Rare: Chamishah Chumshei Torah in Five Volumes Rabbi Shmuel Avraham Shapira Press Slavita, 1827 * The Five Chumashim with the Targum of Onkelos and the classic foundational commentaries: Rashi, Baal HaTurim, and Sifsei Chachamim. Issued in five separate volumes, each with its own individual title page. Chumash Bereishis is lacking twelve leaves at the beginning of Parshas Vayishlach. This edition was printed by Rabbi Shmuel Avraham Shapira of Slavita, son of Rabbi Moshe Shapira, Av Beis Din of Slavita, and grandson of Rabbi Pinchas of Koritz. Chassidim and tzaddikim took particular care to study and daven from the sefarim printed in Slavita, which were produced with exceptional holiness. This edition is exceptionally rare. To the best of Zaidy’s knowledge, it has not appeared at auction in a complete set. The Institute for Hebrew Bibliography has not seen the Bereishis volume and did not record it. The National Library of Israel lacks the Bereishis and Devarim volumes. Its rarity stems from the fact that these Chumashim were printed as affordable editions for every segment of the Jewish public, from young to old, and consequently saw constant use over many generations. Contents: Bereishis: 135, 148–322 leaves. Lacking leaves 136–147 (part of Parshas Vayishlach). Shemos: 322 leaves. Vayikrah: 150 leaves. Bamidbar: 175 leaves. Devarim: 176 leaves. The words “Chamishah Chumshei Torah, ” “Slavita, ” “Shapira, ” and the name of the Chumash, are printed in striking red ink. Following the title page of the Bereishis volume is a leaf of approbations by Rabbi Yosef of Old Konstantin, Rabbi Yitzchak Isaac, Av Beis Din of Berditchev, and Rabbi Ephraim, posek of Sedlikov.Slavita, 1827. Five Chumashim in five volumes. Height: 20 cm. Condition: Overall good to fair. Restorations and paper repairs to the title pages and several additional leaves. A few leaves have losses affecting several lines of text. Some missing text has been supplied in facsimile: stains and wear. Please note: The set is not complete. It is offered for sale because of its rarity and importance. - - - - - - - - - - The Slavita Printing Press The printing press of Rabbi Moshe Shapira and his son, Rabbi Shmuel Avraham Shapira, produced numerous works of Chassidus, sifrei yesod, and prayer books that were treasured by the Chassidic greats of every generation. The Baal HaTanya described the Slavita press as “the finest printing press, superior to all others in these regions.” Rabbi Yisrael of Ruzhin wrote that “sifrei kodesh printed in Slavita are more precious than gold and pearls” (from his approbation to Maseches Brachos, Slavita, 1835). Rabbi Mordechai of Chernobyl wrote that the Shapira family “has illuminated the world through the precious sefarim printed by them” (from his approbation to Chumash Ohr HaChaim, Slavita, 1832). The Shomer Emunim wrote: “Every G-d-fearing person should make an effort to acquire sefarim from old printings, which were for the most part produced by G-d fearing Jews, especially from the presses of Slavita and Zhitomir, the grandsons of the Rav of Koritz, who were great and holy printers” (Taharas HaKodesh, ch. 6).