Sefer Binyan Ariel by Rabbi Shaul of Amsterdam. First edition, from the author’s lifetime, Amsterdam 1778. Very ...

Sefer Binyan Ariel by Rabbi Shaul of Amsterdam. First edition, from the author’s lifetime, Amsterdam 1778. Very good condition.

Binyan Ariel, the important work by Rabbi Shaul Levinstam (often named after his city of Amsterdam). Divided into two sections, the first is “Chedrei Torah” with exegeses on the Torah, and “Beit Moed” with chiddushim and droshim on the moadim and megillot. The second section has a separate title page, called “Beit Talmud”, with chiddushei Gp"t and halachot.

First edition from his lifetime. Printed by the sons of Shlomo Propus (based on what is noted in the title pages, it appears all three took part in the printing). Amsterdam 1778. [6], 36, 40, [4], 44 leaves in the original, this copy is missing the last 2 leaves and 2 additional from the [4] section (not the body of the work). National Library has it in the Rare Books section. Long introduction by the author, long approbations from Amsterdam rabbis: Rabbi Shlomo Shalem and Rabbi Shaul Segal of the Hague, who praise the author greatly.

At the beginning of each section are poems of friendship from the author’s brother-in-law, Rabbi Zvi Hirsch the Av Beit Din of Berlin.

New binding, waved paper, tear on a number of consecutive pages in the upper margins at the beginning, tape on the first title page, overall good condition.

The title page has the stamp: “Meir yonah Hirsch”, in Hebrew and Latin letters, and a blurred stamp: “Beit HaMidrash Ashkenazim in Amsterdam, Etz Chaim.”