Willowsky, Jacob David (Ridva”z). Nimukei Ridva”z [commentary on Genesis and Exodus]

AUCTION 63 | Thursday, November 13th, 2014 at 1:00

Fine Judaica: Books, Manuscripts, Autograph Letters, Graphic and Ceremonial Art

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Lot 24

(AMERICAN JUDAICA).

Willowsky, Jacob David (Ridva”z). Nimukei Ridva”z [commentary on Genesis and Exodus]

<<FIRST EDITION.>> This copy <<signed and inscribed by the author>> to R. Abraham Jacob Gershon Lesser of Cincinnati. Ex-library, brittle, title-page loose with loss along margins. Contemporary boards, upper cover detached. 4to. Goldman 721.

Chicago: 1904

Est: $1,000 - $1,500

PRICE REALIZED $1,000

The Ridva”z traveled to America in 1903 and was appointed Chief Rabbi of Chicago. The present work contains an important introduction pertaining to the history of Kashruth supervision in Chicago, in which the author castigated the overseeing rabbis - and the overall state of Jewish education and religious practice in America. The recipient of this volume, R. Abraham Jacob Gershon Lesser (1834-1925), was one of America’s great early rabbis. He studied in Mir and in 1880 was invited to serve as rabbi in Chicago and then Cincinnati. He was one of the founders of the Agudath HaRabbanim. See L. Jung (Ed.) Guardians of Our Heritage, pp. 345-59.