This is a Hebrew prayer book (Machzor) for the holiday of Sukkot, with additional information in Russian at the bottom.
This 1879 Warsaw publication of a Machzor for Sukkot, produced by the Widow Levin-Epstein and Sons, is a comprehensive prayer book enriched with three distinct commentaries—Maaseh Arg, Mateh Levi, and Beit Levi—aimed at elucidating the prayers and rituals of the holiday. It further expands upon these commentaries with additions from "Likutei Tzvi," Mishnayot from Rosh Hashanah, Yoma, and Sukkah with Bartanura's commentary, explanations of difficult liturgical poems from Etz Yosef, and Anaf Yosef's interpretations of Midrashim. The book also contains various prayers and additional liturgical materials, some of which are noted as being previously unprinted, and potentially related to a Bredenheim printing tradition. The inclusion of Russian text indicates its intended use within the Russian Empire's Jewish community, marking it as a significant cultural and religious artifact.
The Widow Levin-Epstein and Sons was a prominent Jewish publishing house in Warsaw, active during the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Their achievements lie in their significant contribution to the dissemination of Jewish religious and scholarly texts, making important works like this Machzor accessible to a wider audience within the Russian Empire's Jewish communities. Their publishing house played a crucial role in preserving and distributing Jewish cultural and intellectual heritage, particularly during a period of social and political challenges. By producing editions like this Sukkot Machzor, they facilitated the continuity of Jewish religious practice and scholarship, ensuring that traditional texts and commentaries remained available to those who sought them. They were a major force in Jewish publishing in their time.
In Summary:
This is the title page of a Machzor (holiday prayer book) specifically for Sukkot, containing three collected commentaries and additional material. It was published in Warsaw by the Widow Levin-Epstein and Sons publishing house, located on Gęsia Street. The Russian text confirms it is for the holidays and is part 3 of a larger series. The mention of Bredenheim suggests a possible connection to a previous printing or a specific printing tradition.
Here's a translation:
Top Center:
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מחזור (Machzor) - "Cycle" (referring to a prayer book for a specific holiday)
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לסוכות (L'Sukkot) - "For Sukkot" (The Feast of Tabernacles)
Below:
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עם שלשה באורים מלוקטים ממפרשים שונים (Im shlosha beurim melukatim mimefarshim shonim) - "With three commentaries collected from various commentators."
The Three Commentaries are Named Below:
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מעשה ארג (Maaseh Arg) - "The Work of Arg"
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מטה לוי (Mateh Levi) - "The Staff of Levi"
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בית לוי (Beit Levi) - "The House of Levi"
Descriptions of the Commentaries (loosely translated):
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[In Maaseh Arg] are gathered gleanings... - It mentions the collection of various interpretations and explanations.
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[Mateh Levi is] to explain the continuation and connection of all... - This commentary clarifies the flow and context of the prayers.
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[Beit Levi is] to explain all the words... - This commentary focuses on explaining the meanings of individual words.
Continuing Downward:
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ונוספו על שלשתם כל ההוספות מספר לקוטי צבי. וסידורים שייכים לכל חלק וחלק וכל התפלות וק"ש תיקנו כמקומם. (Venosafu al shloshtam kol hahosafot misfar Likutei Tzvi. Vesidurim shayachim lechol chelek v'chol hatefilot v'K"Sh tiknu kimkomam.) - "And added to the three [commentaries] are all the additions from the book "Likutei Tzvi." And arrangements [of prayers] appropriate to each section, and all the prayers and the Shema, are arranged in their place."
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ונוסף בהם עוד מחדש כל המשניות מס' ר"ה, יומא, סוכה, עם הפ' ברטנורא, וגם פירושים על פיוטים קשים מהמחבר עץ יוסף, וענף יוסף על המדרשים, ועוד הרבה תפלות ודברים נאים אשר לא היו בהנדפסים עד הנה אצל ברעדעלהיים (Venosaf bahem od mehadesh kol hamishnayot mis' R"H, Yoma, Sukkah, im haP' Bartanura, v'gam piurushim al piyutim kashim mehamhaber Etz Yosef, v'anaf Yosef al hamidrashim, v'od harbeh tefilot udvarim na'im asher lo hayu bahandpasim ad hannah etzel Bredenheim) - "And added to them further, anew, are all the Mishnayot from [tractates] Rosh Hashanah, Yoma, Sukkah, with the commentary of R' Bartanura, and also explanations of difficult poems by the author of Etz Yosef, and Anaf Yosef on the Midrashim, and many more prayers and beautiful things that have not been printed until now at Bredenheim."
Center Bottom:
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ברעדעלהיים (Bredenheim) - This is likely the name of the printer or the location of printing.
Below:
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בהוצאות בית מסחר ספרים של האלמנה לעווין עפשטיין ובניה (Behotzaot beit mischar sfarim shel haalmna Levin Epstein u'baneha) - "At the expense of the book trading house of the widow Levin Epstein and her sons."
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בווארשא רחוב גענשא 25 (B'Varsha Rehov Gensa 25) - "In Warsaw, Gęsia Street 25" (This provides the location of the publisher).
Russian Text (Transliterated and Translated):
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МАХЗОРЪ КОРБАНЪ АР НЪ (Makhzor Korban Ar N) - "Makhzor Korban Ar N" (Likely a title variation or a reference to a specific version)
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т. е. Молитви на Праздники. Часть 3. (t. ye. Molitvi na Prazdniki. Chast' 3.) - "i.e. Prayers for the Holidays. Part 3."
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ВАРШАВА (Varshava) - "Warsaw"
Please review each photo carefully for wear and usage. This item came from a local estate sale and was in the previous owner's home office for many years. Send me a message if you have questions or would like additional photos.
