This Lot has been Withdrawn. (Mikulash / Liptószentmiklós, Hungary). Sepher Zichronoth - Hazkara und Legaten-Buch [Memorial Book]. Manuscript in Hebrew, written in a variety of square calligraphic hands on paper.

(PINKAS).

Liptau-Sankt-Nikolaus (today, Liptovský Mikuláš, Slovakia)

1901-20’s

The remarkable title-page of this volume, composed in striking red and black, features a skillfully draw watchful eye at top. The artist, Isaac Levin, composed many handsome entries here which carry his signature. Each entry is on a dedicated page bearing the title Keren Kayemet (‘the principal endures’ see Mishnah Pe’ah 1:1). These pages list the name of the deceased member of the community, the donations they bequeathed, and related biographical information. After the initial section, there appears another, this time by a scribe who signs simply as “Schorr.” These entries are of a different artistic class, but have a charm to them. Finally, a third group of entries are signed by the scribe David Klaubauf and these are quite bold and striking in appearance. After this are a series of unsigned entries that are of a variety and degrees of professionalism.

The Slovakian Jewish community of Liptószentmiklós (Mikulash in Yiddish) dates to the 18th century. The community's rabbi, R. Yehuda Leib Kunitz, a frequent communicant with R. Yechezkel Landau, established a yeshiva there in 1776, the first in Slovakia. He died in 1813, after leading the community for 40 years. His successor was Rabbi Elazar Loew (1758-1837), the author of Shemen Rokeach. Liptószentmiklós was thus an important Torah center in Central Europe. See R. Buchler & R. Shashak (eds.) Pinkas HaKehilot Slovakia (Jerusalem, 2003) pp. 303-304.