Sepher ha-Agudah [Halachic compendium arranged in order of the tractates of the Talmud]
AUCTION 34 |
Tuesday, September 12th,
2006 at 1:00
Exemplary Hebrew Books: The Library of Joseph Gradenwitz, Esq.
Lot 5
ALEXANDER SUESSLIN HAKOHEN OF FRANKFURT
Sepher ha-Agudah [Halachic compendium arranged in order of the tractates of the Talmud]
Cracow: Isaac Prostitz 1571
Est: $5,000 - $7,000
PRICE REALIZED $6,000
From the Library of the Family of R. Yom Tov Lipmann Heller.
R. Yom Tov Lipmann Heller (1579-1654), Chief Rabbi of Prague and Cracow, was one of the great scholars of the 17th-century. A prolific writer, he authored many classical works, the most celebrated being the Tosfoth Yom Tov commentary to the Mishnah.
The signatory on the title-page of this book was the rabbi's oldest son, R. Moshe of Prague, a well known scholar in his own right. His father quotes many of his son’s original comments and insights in his Tosfoth Yom Tov (e.g. Trac. Uktzin, Chap. III, Mishna 12).
N. Z. Friedmann, Otzar Ha-Rabanim (no. 14618), states that R. Moshe was: “Mi-Gedolei chachmei doro” ("One of the greatest scholars of his generation.")
The Sepher ha-Agudah, a popular, authoritative code, is cited extensively by R. Jacob ha-Levi Moellin (Mahari”l) and R. Moses Isserles (Ram”a). The author (d. 1348), was a disciple of R. Isaac of Dueren and served as rabbi in Cologne, Worms and Frankfurt. See EJ, Vol. II, cols. 585-6 (incl. facsimile).