4 rare books with signatures of the Gaon Rabbi Yaakov Shemesh, the first Rav of the Chatam Sofer. Printed in Italy ...

4 rare books with signatures of the Gaon Rabbi Yaakov Shemesh, the first Rav of the Chatam Sofer. Printed in Italy, 16th century. Special binding.

All the books are the personal copies of the Gaon Rabbi Yaakov Shemesh, the head of the yeshiva and Kloiz of Frankfurt in its golden era and the Chatam Sofer's Rav at that time.

Appearing on the title pages of two of the books are the handwritten signatures of Rabbi Yaakov Shemesh alongside the date they were signed (which is identical in both books): "ח"י מנחם אב תק"ז" (the 18th of Menachem Av, 1747) - a total of 4 handwritten signatures. Appearing on the flyleaves are interesting notations from the period and additional signatures.

The books are bound together in an ancient parchment binding, made of the blank verso of an official foreign document (the calligraphic script remained clear and strong so much so that it is reflected on the obverse side of the parchment).

1. Mincha Belulah. Verona, [1594]. First edition. One of the first books printed in Verona. Commentary on Chamisha Chumshei Torah by Rabbi Avraham Menachem Hacohen Rappa of Porto [Rappaport]. With a poem in honor of the book by Rabbi Avraham Fischkrol.

With a rare foreword of 1,000 words, each one of them containing the Hebrew letter Bet ((ב!

Printed at the end of the book is a large, impressive printer's mark of the Rapaport family depicting a raven and palms symbolizing the Kehuna.

On the top of the title page there are three handwritten signatures of the Chatam Sofer's Rav, Rabbi Yaakov Shemesh alongside the date: "ח"י מנחם תק"ז" (the 18th of Av, 1747).

Appearing on the front flyleaf are interesting notations in Ashkenazic script from the period, of many joyful verses such as ליהודים היתה אורה ושמחה וששון ויקר", "ושאבתם מים בששון", "בשמחה תצאו ובשלום וכו' ", It would be interesting to know for which miracle or event they were written.

Rabbi Avraham Menachem Hacohen Rappaport (ca. 1520-ca. 1596): one of the forefathers of the Rappaport family of Kohanim. His original family name was Rappa, a Raven in German, possibly also referring to the Raffa Plain north to Regensburg, Bavaria. To his name, he added the name of his hometown Porto (Legnago of today) in the Verona district of Italy, forming his name Rappaport. As a youth, he studied Talmud, science and medicine in Venice. Witnessed the burning of the Talmud in Italy in 1553 and ever since, used to fast on that day. Authored the Mincha Belula commentary on the Torah and the books Tzofnat Pa'ane'ach, Ma'amar al Metzi'ut Hashem, Da'at Kedoshim and a Shut book. He studied Hebrew grammar under Rabbi Eliyahu Bachur and since 1554, edited Hebrew books.

[3], 13, 15-208, [1] leaves.

2. Sefer To'aliyot HaRalbag. Riva de Trinto, [560]. First edition.

On Chamisha Chumshei Torah and Nevi'im Rishonim. By Rabbi Levi ben Gershon. This book compiles all the To'aliyot written by the Ralbag in his commentary on the Torah and Nevi'im Rishonim (in these commentaries, the Ralbag explains the To'elet (benefit) of each verse and Parasha).

On the top of the title page, the rare and lengthy signature [2 lines] of the Gaon Rabbi Yaakov Shemesh, the Chatam Sofer's Rav: "לה' הארץ ומלואה, הקטן יעקב שמש, יום ד' חי מנחם ת"ק זיין לפ"ק".

40; 27 leaves.

3. Sefer Bedek Habayit. Venice, [1605]. An edition that was published one year after the first one.

Corrections and completions of Sefer Beit Yosef, by Rabbi Yosef Karo.

Sefer Bedek Habayit was published dozens of years after Rabbi Yosef Karo's passing, based on Kuntresim he had written for himself after the publishing of the first edition of his book Beit Yosef. In later editions of Sefer Beit Yosef, the additions and corrections were added in parentheses.

[2], 68 leaves.

4. Shut Mahari Ben Lev. Venice, [1606]. Second edition.

Shut, with Chidushim from Masechet Kiddushin and Masechet Avodah Zara. By Rabbi Yosef ben Lev [Maharibal].

78, [4] leaves.

The Gaon Rabbi Yaakov Shemesh [passed away in 1785. Otzar HaRabbanim 9960], one of the first rabbis of Rabbeinu Maran the Chatam Sofer, who called him "My teacher and Rav": served as the Rav of the Kloiz and Rosh Yeshiva of Frankfurt during the years 1765 until his passing in 1785. For several years he also served as Rosh Av Beit Din of Frankfurt am Main. During that period, the Rav of the town was Rabbi Pinchas Halevi Horowitz, Baal Hahafla'ah. He was the fourth signatory of the letter of the sages of Frankfurt about the Gett of Kleve. In ca. 1775, he was chosen as the Rav of Wurzburg yet declined the offer and remained until 1785 as Rosh Yeshiva of Frankfurt am Main. In the Yizkor book of the community, it was written that he studied and taught Torah and Mishnah, Talmud Bavli and Yerushalmi, Sifra and Sifri. He was eulogized by two contemporary leading rabbis.

Maran the Chatam Sofer, who saw Rabbi Yaakov as his Rav, calls him in several places "אדמ"ו" and " מורי ורבי". About his Chidushim he said: "ושפתים יושק לי". And he also wrote: "I have heard similar things from my master, teacher and Rav Rabbi Yaakov Shemesh who was Rav of the Kloiz of my hometown Frankfurt am Main" (Chidushei Chatam Sofer Gittin 31, b).

In his eulogy, the Gaon author of Or Chadash said of him: "And in the month of Nissan… we received the word from Frankfurt am Main that the sharp, knowledgeable Gaon the famed Rosh Beit Din Rabbi Yaakov Shemesh passed away. What a shame that the sun [Shemesh] who was great in Torah and Yirah has been lost to the world and the sun [Shemesh] has untimely set" (Chavot Yair Hachadash leaf 37b and see more Yerushateinu 4 p. 85).

Good-very good overall condition. Aging stains. Perforations and some tears, Parchment binding, partly detached. With traces of closing buckles.

This is a copy with 4 rare books that belonged to the first Rav of the Chatam Sofer.