Signature and glosses of Rabbi Betzalel Ransburg on the work Kos HaYeshuot of the Rashashach—a foundational work ...

Signature and glosses of Rabbi Betzalel Ransburg on the work Kos HaYeshuot of the Rashashach—a foundational work, first edition from the author’s lifetime, Frankfurt-am-Mein 1711.

“Kos HaYeshuot” on Masechtot of Seder Nezikin (Bava Kama, Metziya, Batra, and Sanhedrin, Makot, Shvuot, and Avodah Zara), by the Gaon Rabbi Shmuel HaKohen Satin, the Rashashach (1644-1719), a Rosh Yeshiva and leader of the Jewish community in Frankfurt and a great sage of his generation. He was the grandfather of the Chatam Sofer, whose father was named Shmuel after him. First edition. Stefanski Sifrei Yesod 76. [2], 159 leaves. Moisture stains and mold. Tape and various defects. Old binding is detached. Overall fair to good condition.

The title page has an old signature: “Betzalel Ransburg”. Throughout the book are a number of glosses, of which three appear to be handwritten by Rabbeinu Betzalel Ransburg (1762-1821), the son of Rabbi Yoel. He was a sage of Prague who became famous in his generation as a gadol. He was student of Rabbi Yehezkel Segel Landau (the Noda B’Yehuda) and was part of his beit din as a dayan. He was also a student of Rabb iLeib Fishles, the Ohr Chadash. He wrote the Horeh Gever, Sadeh Tzofim (a mareh mekomot on the Shas for Hilchot HaRosh, printed later in Shas editions). Two of his compositions have been lost: Emek Sukkot (two editions), and Taharat Chulin (on Masechet Chulin), which according to him took 7 years to write. His work Chochmat Betzalel—Pitchei Nida survived in manuscript form, and was printed in Jerusalem (Mosad Rav Kook, 1957). His tshuvot were printed in a work of Shut and Chiddushim, by the Jerusalem Institute in 1980.