Lot 184:

Divrei Chaim - Hilchot Gittin and Mikva'ot. Zholkva 1864. In the Lifetime of the Author the Holy Gaon of Sanz

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Sefer Divrei Chaim (the holy Gaon of Sanz) – Hilchot Gittin and Mikva’ot – Zholkva 1864 – first edition – the first work of Maran the Divrei Chaim of Sanz, which was published anonymously in his lifetime – signature and glosses

Two sections in a single volume. A separate title page for the second section.

Signature on the front guard leaf: "קניתי לכבוד ד’ ותורתו הקדושה ולכבוד המחבר הגאון הקדוש נ"י… הק’ יוסף מנחם הלוי געלב… ".

On the leaves, several scholarly, halachic glosses, criticizing the author. For example, on section I, he wrote: "פירושו אין לו שחר" (6a), אין לו הבנה כלל" (8a); "זה ליתא" (9a) and more. It is unclear whether the writer of the glosses is the above signatory or another Talmid Chacham.

This book is the first one by the Divrei Chaim that was published. It was published anonymously yet from the second edition (Munkatch, 1892) and onward, the author’s name was printed on the title page. It is told that when the book was published and brought to the author, he said: "עת יבא משיח בב"א ונזכה לעמוד לפניו בשורה… אצל הקבלת פנים… גם אני אזכה להתיצב בתוכם עם חיבורי" (Zochreinu Lechaim, Munkatch 1938, p. 331).

In the foreword of the second edition, the author’s so, Rabbi Baruch of Gorlitz, wrote about his father: "קודם פטירתו בעת חליו, אמר בזה הלשון: אני נותן שבח והודיה להשי"ת שיגעתי ומצאתי וכוונתי ההלכה לאמיתה בהלכות גיטין ומקוואות בחיבורי זה. לדעתי כל המורה מתוך ספרי זה, יפסוק כדת וכהלכה".

Two sections in a single volume: [3], 34, [1], 33-44; 27, [1], 23, [1] leaves. 35 cm. Fair condition. The title page and first leaves are detached. Moth signs. Dampness stains and wear to the edges of the leaves. original binding, blemished.

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