2 Seforim by the Gaon of Vilna – First Editions. Eliyahu Rabba, Brünn 1802/ Michtav Eliyahu, Prague 1811- Signature ...

2 Seforim by the Gaon of Vilna – First Editions. Eliyahu Rabba, Brünn 1802/ Michtav Eliyahu, Prague 1811- Signature of the Holy Gaon Rabbi Michael Papa of Szerdahely.

Volume with two Seforim by the Gaon of Vilna, First Editions. Signature of the Holy Wonderful Gaon & Tzadik Rabbi Michael Papa (Hoffman) of Dunaszerdahely.

1. Eliyahu Rabba, Part I, commentary on Mishnayot Order Taharot, by the Gaon of Vilna.

Brünn, 1802. First edition.

The Sefer was printed by Rabbi Meir of Shad, who had the merit of studying Torah from the Gaon of Vilna. In his foreword to the Sefer, he relates how he sat by the Gaon of Vilna and recorded his commentary as he heard it from him.

At the beginning of the Sefer, after the approbations, there are letters of recommendation for the author by the Gaon of Vilna and his brother Rabbi Yissachar Ber.

The sons of the Gaon of Vilna contested the authenticity of this commentary at the beginning of the commentary on the book of Yonah (Vilna 1800). They allege there that the Sefer was copied from the commentary on Order Taharot written by Rabbi Menachem Mendel of Shklow, disciple of the Gaon of Vilna. They claim that Rabbi Meir of Shad borrowed the manuscript from R. Menachem Mendel of Shklow and had it hurriedly transcribed, resulting in it being error-ridden. They contend that the accurate commentary is in their possession. Conversely, R. N.N. Rabinowitz writes in his foreword to Geon Yaakov (Lviv, 1861) that this Sefer was written by Rabbi Yaakov Kahana (disciple of the Gaon of Vilna and son-in-law of the brother of the Gaon of Vilna, R. Yissachar Ber, based on brief notes which R. Meir of Shad wrote while he studied by the Gaon of Vilna.

 [2], 44 leaves. 22.2 Cm.

Very Good condition, few stains.

2. Sefer Michtav Eliyahu – Commentaries of the Gaon of Vilna on Shir HaShirim, Chabakuk and More/

Prague, 1811. First Edition 

Published by  "Shmuel HaKatan" [Rabbi Shmuel Klein]. First edition of the commentary on Shir HaShirim and Chabakuk. In subsequent editions, a different, emended text was printed.

The publisher printed the commentary on Shir HaShirim and Chabakuk based on a manuscript copying which he obtained. The commentary was printed with errors and omissions. In 1842, the grandsons of the Gaon of Vilna published a corrected version of this commentary, with the addition of sections which were not printed here (they referred to this commentary as "commentary a"). They also added an additional commentary by the Gaon of Vilna (which they refer to as "commentary b"). In their edition, the grandsons of the Gaon of Vilna do not relate at all to the present edition.

There are three prenumeranten leaves at the beginning of the Sefer, with names of subscribers from Bohemia and Moravia. A foreword was printed on verso of title page, by "the sons of the outstanding rabbi…", signed by "Yehuda Leib son of the late Gaon R. Eli." – this is the foreword of the sons of the Gaon of Vilna to Perush al Kama Aggadot (Vilna, 1800). The publisher, R. Shmuel Klein, omitted the final two paragraphs and the name of R. Avraham son of the Gaon of Vilna (who had passed away by then). Furthermore, he shortened the first paragraph, omitting the passage criticising R. Menachem Mendel of Shklow and R. Moshe of Pinsk.

Vinograd, Thesaurus of the Books of the Vilna Gaon, no. 150.

[4], 24 leaves. 22 Cm.

Good condition, light wear, light worming mostly marginal.

Signature on the front flyleaf of the Holy Wonderful Tzadik Rabbi Michael Papa of Dunaszerdahely (Dunajská Streda). The father of the Holy Gaon Rabbi Moshe Yosef Hoffman. His signature is Very Rare!

Please see the Hebrew description for his biography.

Included:

3. Sefer Yonah. Commentary by the Vilna Gaon,

Commentary by the Gaon on Sefer Yonah as well as on various parts of the Agadata.

Prague 1810. Second Edition.

With approbations of Rabbi Eliezer Fleckles, Rabbi Shmuel Landau and Rabbi Mordechai Banet.

18 Leaves. 22 Cm.

Overall in Good condition, light wear, light marginal worming, stains, tear with loss to text to last page.

Title pages of the 3 Seforim with antique signature: David Hakatan Semnitz.

Some antique marginal notations to the Sefer  Eliyahu Rabba.