Collection of Incomplete Volumes of the Rif
Early and Important Editions
Venice and Sabbioneta, 1522–1554
Sefer Halachos Rav Alfasi by Rabbi Yitzchak Alfasi, universally known as the ‘Rif.’ This monumental halachic work summarizes the halachos of the Talmud Bavli and is one of the foundational pillars of Jewish law. Rabbi Yosef Karo, author of the Beis Yosef and Shulchan Aruch, based his halachic rulings upon the three principal authorities: the Rif, the Rambam, and the Rosh.
The Rif was first printed in Constantinople in 1509. Offered here are incomplete portions from the following three editions, each of which introduced major scholarly additions that became standard in all subsequent important printings:
Second Edition: Venice, 1521–1522. Daniel Bomberg Press. This edition contains the first appearance of Rashi’s commentary on the Rif, together with the Tosefta. The order of the tractates is different from that of the Constantinople edition.
Third Edition: Venice, 1552. Bragadin Press. Printed for the first time in this edition were HaMaor HaGadol and HaMaor HaKatan by Rabbi Zerachiah HaLevi (the Razah), Milchemes Hashem by the Ramban, and the reference systems Ein Mishpat, Ner Mitzvah, and Shiltei HaGiborim by Rabbi Yehoshua Boaz LeBeit Baruch, author of Shiltei HaGiborim. In this edition, these reference notes were printed anonymously.
Fourth Edition: Sabbioneta, 1554–1555. Tuvia Foa Press. In this edition, Rabbi Yehoshua Boaz considerably expanded the reference system and identified himself as its compiler.
Details of the Volumes:
A. Approximately 100 leaves from Rav Alfasi, Part II, Venice, 1522. Daniel Bomberg press.
B. Rav Alfasi, Part II, Venice, 1552. Incomplete copy. The volume contains more than thirty-five handwritten glosses, apparently by the gaon Rabbi Yitzchak HaLevi, Raavad of Constantinople (d. 1720).
C. Rav Alfasi, Part III, Venice, 1552. Incomplete copy.
D. Rav Alfasi, Part I, Sabbioneta, 1554. Incomplete copy.
E. Rav Alfasi, Part II, Sabbioneta, 1554. Incomplete copy.
A copy with distinguished provenance: Throughout the sefer, there are approximately thirty glosses in different handwritings, including one autograph note signed by the gaon Rabbi Moshe Galanti: "המג"ן יג"ן" — an acronym for "HaTza’ir Moshe Galanti ben Yehonasan Galanti."
See below for a detailed description of each volume and its condition.
Venice and Sabbioneta, 1522–1554.
Four volumes together with one group of leaves. Overall condition: Fair to poor.
Please review the detailed description and photographs before placing a bid. Additional photographs are available upon request.
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A. Fragments from Rav Alfasi, Part II. Daniel Bomberg Press.
Venice, 1522.
Presented here are two groups of leaves:
1. Rav Alfasi, Mordechai, and the Tosefta on Tractate Gittin. Leaves 554–619, comprising the entire section devoted to Tractate Gittin. Most leaves have wide margins and measure approximately 39 cm in height; several measure approximately 34 cm.
Ownership inscriptions include: “Eliyahu Ventura, ” “The young Meir Shlomo son of Rabbi Yaakov Parchi, ” “The last redeemer, the young Mordechai Galanti, ” and on leaf 619b: “Shimon son of Yaakov.”
2.
Part of the Tosefta from Part II, leaves 745–780 (Part II originally concludes with leaf 781).
Size: Approximately 35 cm.
Condition: Fair. Holes, repairs, and tears.
Bibliography: Stefansky, Sifrei Yesod, no. 139 (in the supplement).
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B. Rav Alfasi, Part II. Bragadin Press. Venice, 1552.
Present are leaves: [1], 402–619; [1], 64–81.
Missing leaves: 620–778; 82–93.
(The complete volume originally contains: [1], 402–778; [1], 64–93.)
The title page bears numerous signatures, including “Eliyahu son of Rabbi Yeudah Uziel” and “Eliyahu Uziel.”
Throughout the volume are approximately thirty-five handwritten glosses by Rabbi Yitzchak HaLevi. Most begin with the words “Amar Yitzchak, ” and one is signed “Yitzchak HaLevi.”
He is apparently Rabbi Yitzchak HaLevi, Raavad of Constantinople, one of the leading Torah scholars of his generation. The Chida wrote of him that he “was renowned for his wisdom and extraordinary mastery of Torah.” He passed away at a young age.
Many of his responsa have recently been published under the title Shu”t Rabbi Yitzchak HaLevi of Constantinople from manuscripts preserved in the archives of the Karliner Rebbe. An autograph manuscript of his work is scanned in the National Library of Israel.
No comparison has yet been made between the glosses in this volume and the published responsa.
Some glosses have been partially trimmed at the margins.
Height: 40 cm.
Condition: Fair to fair-poor. Holes, tears, wear. Without a binding.
Bibliography: Stefansky, Sifrei Yesod, no. 140.
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C. Rav Alfasi, Part III. Bragadin press. Venice, 1552.
Present are leaves: [1], 2–391.
Missing leaves: 392 and 1–20.
(The complete volume originally contains leaves 392 and 20.)
A brief manuscript gloss appears on leaf 318a by an unidentified writer, quoting Rabbi Ephraim Navon, author of Machaneh Ephraim, one of the leading rabbanim of Constantinople.
Height: 40 cm.
Condition: Fair to fair-poor. Holes, tears, repairs, and stains.
Bibliography: Stefansky, Sifrei Yesod, no. 140.
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D. Rav Alfasi, Part I. Tuvia Foa press. Sabbioneta, 1554.
Incomplete copy containing the tractates Brachos, the Tosefta to Seder Brachos, Hilchos Ketanos, Shabbos, and Eruvin.
Present are leaves: 3–98, 97–98, [1], 101–170, [2], 171–225, 225–229, [1].
The title page and following leaf are missing, as well as leaves 227–267 and 265–410 at the end.
(The complete volume originally contains: 98, 97–98, [1], 101–170, [2], 171–225, 225–229, [1], 227–267, 265–410.)
Several handwritten corrections.
Height: 36 cm.
Condition: Fair. Holes, stains, tears, including a few with minor loss. Several leaves are shorter.
Bibliography: Stefansky, Sifrei Yesod, no. 140 (in the supplement).
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E. Rav Alfasi, Part II. Tuvia Foa press. Sabbioneta, 1554. Incomplete copy.
Contains the tractates Yevamos, Kesubos, Kiddushin, Gittin, and Chullin (with Kiddushin bound before Gittin).
Present are leaves: [1], 402–647, 650–719, 721–744.
Missing leaves: 648–649, 720, 745–778, and one additional leaf.
(The complete volume originally contains: [1], 402–778.)
Contains important glosses in different handwriting.
On leaf 612b there is a brief autograph gloss signed "המג"ן יג"ן" – this is the Rishon Letzion Rabbi Moshe Galanti, one of the leading rabbanim of Eretz Yisrael during the first half of the seventeenth century. He was the first rav to bear the title ‘Rishon LeTzion.’ He was succeeded in that position by his brother-in-law, Rabbi Moshe ben Chaviv, author of Get Pashut. His grandson was the renowned Rabbi Moshe Chagiz, known as ‘HaManiach.’
The title page bears the signature of Rabbi Avraham Griani, apparently the author of Sha’arei Dimah (Venice, 1627), one of the sages of Jerusalem during the late 16th and early 17th centuries. Beneath it appears the faded signature of Rabbi Chiya (or Chaim) Raphael Yitzchak, son of Rabbi Shmuel Tradiola Ashkenazi, who acquired the volume from Rabbi Avraham. Rabbi Shmuel Tradiola Ashkenazi was among the distinguished scholars who settled in Jerusalem during the early seventeenth century.
Height: 34.5 cm.
Condition: Fair-poor. Numerous holes throughout the volume; in places, the trimming is on the text; stains and wear.
Bibliography: Stefansky, Sifrei Yesod, no. 140 (in supplement).
