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The Important Judaica sale held by Sotheby's on December 15 2016 which began with a significant selection of property from the estate of Shlomo Moussaieff totalled 5,33 million dollars.

The group was led by Simeon Solomon's Carrying the Scrolls of Law, which set a new world auction record for the artist when it sold for $492,500 – nearly double its high estimate of $250,000. Other highlights in include the First American Jewish Prayer Book printed in New York in 1761 – of which sold to applause for $468,500. A record for a work of American Judaica at auction.

This sale of Important Judaica featured significant property from the distinguished collection of the late Shlomo Moussaieff, a renowned collector whose home was a meeting place for connoisseurs from all over the world. Mr Moussaieff delighted in sharing his treasures with others and  gave generously of his time and knowledge.

Highlights from his collection included a remarkable selection of Kabbalistic manuscripts and a magnificent array of menorahs and Hanukah lamps – mostly of substantial size – featuring examples from Europe and the Middle East. The second part of the auction presented silver and books from various owners, notably two outstanding 18th-century silver Sabbath lamps, a magnificent Italian silver-gilt Torah crown, some fine 17th Century standing cups and important American Judaica, including the above mentioned earliest Jewish Prayer book printed in America as well as splendid textiles and paintings.

A magnificient decorated 1698 kettubah (marriage certificate) from Livorno fteched 125 000 USD against a high estimate of 70 000 while a miniature torah scroll of the late 19th Century went for 43 750 USD. A Sefer ha-Hinnuk by Pinhas ben Joseph ha-Levi of Barcelona dated 1351 written in brown ink in Italianate Hebrew semi-c ursive script by Moses ben Joseph of Assisi sold for 137 500 USD, an exceptional 18th Century important compendium of practical Kabbalah, an Eastern Europe manuscript went for 81 250 USD, a Rhineland Yiddish manuscript prayer book for the entire year (circa 1560) sold for 68 750 USD and a 1734 Hanover Sefer Tehillim (Pslams) illuminated and decorated manuscript on vellum sold for 112 500 USD.