Rare: Complete, nice copy in the original binding of the book Nahala L’Yehoshua with the Shita Mekubetzet on ...

Rare: Complete, nice copy in the original binding of the book Nahala L’Yehoshua with the Shita Mekubetzet on Masechet Beitza at the end. Only edition, Constantinople, 1731. Copy owned by Rabbi Haim Berlin

Nahala L’Yehoshua, “questions and answers from psakei denim…on Masechet Eruvin and Masechet Shvu’ot, prepared and researched by Rabbi Yehoshua Tzuntzin…”. Only edition of this work printed. “At the end of the book is included the Shita Mekubetzet for Masechet Yom Tov [Beitza], probably from Rabbi Betzalel Ashkenazi…”, otherwise the first edition of the Shita Mekubetzet for this mascehet printed in many editions subsequently but featuring a wary “probably” on this title page but this work is actually not by Rabbi Betzalel Ashkenazi and is instead chiddushim from a student of the Ran (se more: Stefanski Sifrei Yesod 62). Printed in Constantinople in 1731.

[2] 51; 2-44 leaves, 32cm. Original leather binding with wear at the edges and the spine. Pretty copy, printed on high-quality paper, with wide margins. Stains, light defects and a few tears in the margins of some pages. Overall very good condition, rare for its age and in comparison to other existing copies.

Stamps of ownership of Rabbi Haim Berlin, handwritten note of ownership on the title page: “Holy Avraham Yaakov Stein hardt of Dolina”. Gloss handwritten, probably the handwriting of Rabbi Haim Berlin, on leaf 43 (side 2), in the Shita Mekubetzet.

Rabbi Haim Berlin of Volozhin was the son of the Natziv. He served as Chief Rabbi of Moscow, and as the most famous Rosh Yeshiva in the world, of the Volozhin yeshiva (known as the Mother of Yeshivot). In 1906 he moved to Jerusalem, and after the death of Rabbi Shmuel of Salant he became leader of the Ashkenazi Eida in Jerusalem, even though he refused the official position.