Hashterot Melech HaNegev im Melech HaTzafon—only edition, Amsterdam 1737. Copy belonging to Rabbi Avraham Erlanger ...

Hashterot Melech HaNegev im Melech HaTzafon—only edition, Amsterdam 1737. Copy belonging to Rabbi Avraham Erlanger of Lucerne.

An interesting and unique work of mussar using florid language on the battle between the yetzer hatov (the Negev) and the Yetzer HaRah (HaTzfoni), by Rabbi Yaakov London of Lisa—the student and son-in-law of the Smichat Chachamim. Many endorsements from rabbis of the period. [4 (originally 5)], 68 leaves. Binding and first pages are detached. Moth damage, tears in the margins of the first and last pages with damage to text. Overall ok condition.

Signature of ownership: “Yaakov…ben Baruch Guggenheim [?].” Blank first page has the stamp of ownership in Latin letters: “Abraham Erlanger Lucerne (Suisse)”. Rabbi Abraham Erlanger (1853-1932) was a leader of the Orthodox community in Switzerland (based in Lucerne) in the 19th century. He is the father of the Erlanger family in Switzerland and Israel, and he established many rabbis and community leaders. In practice he established the religious life in the city, and for that purpose in 1867 he established a mikvah there out of his own money. His home was open to all visitors and people of all kinds came to visit: students and soldiers, upper class people like Baron Rothschild, and even rabbis like the Katav Sofer. He was a charitable man, he gathered money for Sha’arei Tzedek hospital in Jerusalem. He married Berta Hertz, the daughter of a well-known Jewish family in Halle. Even before they had children they adopted an orphan. Over the years they had 15 of their own children. In honor of his 70th birthday he was given the title “Morenu” by the rabbis of Germany, Hungary, and Romania, in recognition of his service.