[3] Books of "Aruch LaNer." First Editions Published During the Author’s Lifetime. Altona, 5618-5624 ...

[3] Books of "Aruch LaNer." First Editions Published During the Author’s Lifetime. Altona, 5618-5624 (1858-1864). Fine Copies

The "Aruch LaNer" books are foundational works and treasures in the halls of yeshivot, among the most important compositions of the later authorities on Talmudic tractates.

Stefansky, Sifrei Yesod 82.

• "Aruch LaNer" on Tractate Nidah: Altona, 5624 [1864]. 98 leaves. 27.5 cm. First printing.
• "Aruch LaNer" on Tractate Sukkah. Altona, 5618 [1858]. 111 leaves. 27.5 cm. First printing. Bound with:
• "Bikurei Yaakov" on the laws of Sukkah and Lulav, second printing, first edition of "Tosefet Bikurim." Altona, 5618 [1858]. [1], 54 leaves. 27.5 cm.

[2] volumes.

Condition: Very Good. The vast majority of pages are clean and beautiful. Very slight stains on the first and last pages. Old preserved bindings.

The author, Rabbi Yaakov Yokav Ettlinger [5558-5632 (1798-1871)], Chief Rabbi of Altona, was one of the leaders of Orthodox Judaism and the supreme rabbinic authority among Ashkenazi rabbis. He was a distinguished student of the author of "Sha’agat Aryeh." Already in his generation, the author of "Aruch LaNer" was considered one of the greatest halachic decisors, with halachic questions directed to him from all corners of the Jewish world. Rabbi Yosef Shaul Nathanson, author of "Sho’el U’Meshiv, " conditioned a permit for an agunah "on the condition that the Gaon of Altona joins the permit." Prominent rabbis in Germany were his students, including the well-known: Rabbi Shimshon Rafael Hirsch; Rabbi Azriel Hildesheimer; Rabbi Tzvi Binyamin Auerbach, Chief Rabbi of Halberstadt; and other rabbis who became leaders of German Jewry in the following generation.

Beyond his great genius, he was also known for his righteousness. Rabbi David Wiskopf (Chief Rabbi of Wallerstein), who studied with him, testified that he practiced self-mortification and fasting. He also studied Kabbalah in secret, yet despite the secrecy, he became renowned as a kabbalist with immense expertise in the Zohar. The Admor Rabbi Menachem Mendel of Dej wrote of him that he and the "Ktav Sofer" were "the righteous of the generation" (Ma’aglei Tzedek, Part 1, Parshat Va’era). In his will, he instructed that after his passing, he not be called a tzaddik and that only the titles of his books and the years he served as rabbi in Altona be inscribed on his tombstone.

Rabbi Yaakov Yokav authored the monumental series "Aruch LaNer" on the Babylonian Talmud, books that became foundational works and treasures in yeshiva halls. He passed away on the first night of Chanukah, and Rabbi Yosef Chaim Zonnenfeld eulogized him, noting that the number of "Aruch LaNer" books is eight, like the days of Chanukah [including Tractate Pesachim, which has not yet been printed], and his soul knew to name his series "Aruch LaNer, " meaning: he was prepared for his departure from the world on the Chanukah candle.

Please note: The translation to English was performed using artificial intelligence. In any discrepancy between the Hebrew and English versions, the Hebrew version prevails. For any clarification questions, feel free to contact us.