Auction 94 Part 2 Rare and Important Items
Noam Elimelech, Chassidic essays on the Torah, by R. Elimelech of Lizhensk, with Likutei Shoshana and Igeret HaKodesh. [Shklow: Aryeh Leib son of Shneur Phoebus, ca. 1790]. Second edition.
Rare edition of the Noam Elimelech, printed in Shklow, presumably between 1789 and 1794. The place of printing and name of printer are alluded to on the title page of this edition (lacking in the present copy; see Kedem, auction 89, item no. 42).
Noam Elimelech was one of the first Chassidic books, and is considered until this day to be one of the fundamental works on Chassidut. The book contains the essential part of the doctrine of R. Elimelech of Lizhensk on Chassidut, purity of thought and attachment to G-d. R. Elimelech had five disciples, who disseminated Chassidut to the Jewish people: the Chozeh of Lublin, the Maggid of Kozhnitz, R. Avraham Yehoshua Heshel of Apta, R. Eizik of Kaliv and R. Mendel of Rymanów.
Since its publishing, the book was deemed sacred to all, to the extent that R. Mendel of Rymanów stated that only on Friday after immersing in honor of Shabbat is one able to grasp a little of the pure and lofty thoughts it contains. The Maggid of Kozhnitz would only welcome the Shabbat after studying his teacher's book (Encyclopedia L'Chassidut, I, p. 236). He said that R. Elimelech would appear – after his passing – to his disciple R. Naftali of Ropshitz, to teach him Noam Elimelech (Igra Debei Hilulei, Ashdod, 1999, p. 250). The Divrei Chaim of Sanz once remarked that he could compose a commentary on the Noam Elimelech just like the Beit Yosef did on the Tur, since it contained such profundity (ibid., p. 235). Rebbe Eliezer of Dzikov once saw in a dream a house full of books, about which he was told that one book was the Noam Elimelech, and all the other books the house was filled with were commentaries to the Noam Elimelech (Ohel Elimelech, p. 80, section 193). R. Eizik of Kaliv, after writing several hundreds of papers of commentary to the Noam Elimelech, heard a Divine Voice asking how he had the audacity to write a commentary to the Noam Elimelech, of which even angels and other celestial beings struggle to understand even one word or letter (ibid., p. 80, section 194).
Noam Elimelech was reprinted in numerous editions (until 1982, it had been printed in over 50 editions, and since then in dozens more). Many keep the book as a segulah, and some special miniature format editions were published to serve as amulets for protection and success. Many put it at the head of an ill person as a segulah and protection, for a speedy recovery and to be saved from any misfortune. This book is known to be a segulah for women experiencing difficult labor (several Jewish hospitals worldwide have a Noam Elimelech placed in a velvet pouch in the delivery rooms as segulah for easy births). This segulah is already mentioned in Shulchan Melachim by R. Moshe Tzvi Landau of Kleinwardein, who writes in the laws pertaining to women giving birth: "And the custom of placing a holy book wrapped in a cloth under the head of a women in labor has already become widespread – and the custom is to place the books Noam Elimelech and Or HaChochmah" (pp. 38b-39a, Beregsaz 1931 edition).
[1], 1, 3-89, 70-97; 19 leaves. Lacking title page. 23.5 cm. Most leaves wide margined. Good-fair condition. Stains, including dampstains and wax stains. Minor wear. Minor open tears. Minor worming. Some leaves remargined for conformity (these leaves may have been supplied from a different copy). New leather binding.
This is the first Chassidic book printed in Shklow, which in those days was the stronghold of opponents to Chassidut. The bibliographer Chaim Lieberman in his book Ohel Rachel (I, pp. 176-177) writes that this edition was probably published between 1789 and 1794, and calls attention to the interesting phenomenon of printing a Chassidic book in Shklow at that time. He contends that almost no Chassidic books were printed in Shklow, apart from a few Chabad books printed after 1803. At the end of his thesis, he suggests that this edition may have been printed especially for Galician Jewry, and the place of printing was concealed to enable the book to be smuggled over the border more easily. Since the prohibition of printing kabbalistic books in Galicia was only enacted in 1794, he surmises that the book may have been printed only after 1794 (based on this, listing 000313521 of the Bibliography of the Hebrew Book gives the estimated date of 1795; other places however record the year of printing as 1790).
Meor Einayim, Chassidic essays on the Torah, by Rebbe Menachem Nachum [Twersky] of Chernobyl. Slavita: [R. Moshe Shapira, 1798]. First edition.
Meor Einayim is a fundamental work of the Chassidic movement, and one of the first Chassidic compositions presenting the teachings of the Baal Shem Tov and the Maggid of Mezeritch. The author, the maggid R. Menachem Nachum of Chernobyl (1730-1798, Encyclopedia L'Chassidut, III, pp. 168-175), was one of the founders of Chassidut and the progenitor of the Chernobyl dynasty. He studied directly from the Baal Shem Tov and was a close disciple of the Maggid of Mezeritch. He served as maggid in Norynsk, Pohrebyshche and Chernobyl. He acceded to his disciples' entreaties to print his teachings and delegated the task to his disciple R. Eliyahu son of R. Zev Wolf Katz, instructing him to publish his writings in the "fine and exceptional printing press established in Slavita…" (the printing press of R. Moshe Shapira, then in its early years).
The book was allegedly originally eighteen times longer, but when arranging it for printing, R. Nachum of Chernobyl commanded his disciples to burn many leaves, leaving only the teachings which were divinely inspired. His writings were divided by his disciples into two parts, one part on the Torah, including selections, published under the title Meor Einayim (the present book), and a second part pertaining to Talmudic aggadot, named Yismach Lev. The two parts were printed in Slavita the same year. In later editions, the two parts were combined and published together, under the title Meor Einayim. R. Nachum of Chernobyl passed away during the course of the book's preparation for print.
Chassidic leaders ascribed great importance and holiness to the book, studying it every day and preserving it as a protection. The Chozeh of Lublin and R. Yitzchak of Skver (grandson of the author) reputedly said that the book has the power to light up the person's soul, similarly to the Zohar, and R. Yitzchak Eizik of Komarno asserted that Meor Einayim should never depart from before one's eyes, as all the teachings it contains are lofty and holy.
[2], 1-2, 7-8, 11-66, 68-160 leaves. Lacking 7 leaves: 3-6, 9-10, 67. Leaves 1-2 bound out of sequence. 20.5 cm. Fair-good condition. Many stains, including dampstains. Wear. Tears, including marginal open tears to title page and first and final leaves, slightly affecting text, repaired in part with paper. Worming affecting text, repaired in part with paper. Some leaves presumably supplied from other copies. Leaves trimmed with damage to headings in several places. Stamps, including stamp of the "Synagogue of Kollel Reisin in Tiberias". New leather binding.
Without Yismach Lev, printed concurrently.
Likutei Moharan (Kama and Tinyana), by R. Nachman of Breslov. [Breslov: printed in the home of his disciple R. Natan of Breslov, 1821]. Second edition.
Divisional title pages.
The place of printing of the first edition of each part is emphasized on each title page: the word "Ostroh" is enlarged on the title page of Part I – "…wonderful things added to the first edition printed 13 years ago – in Ostroh" (in the present copy, this sentence is torn and lacking, and was replaced in photocopy); and the word "Mohyliv" is enlarged on the title page of Part II – "This holy book was printed already ten years ago, and is now being reprinted with the addition of references… and with the addition of several new novellae which were not mentioned at all in the first books printed – in Mohyliv".
These books were arranged and printed by R. Natan of Breslov (Moharnat), disseminator of his teacher's doctrine. Disappointed with the quantity of errors which crept into the first edition, Moharnat decided to establish a special printing press in his home in Breslov for the purpose of printing the books of his prime teacher in holiness and purity. In the book Yemei Moharnat, he describes the difficulties in establishing the printing press: "…G-d helped me and placed in my heart thoughts and wonderful ideas, until I merited that year to establish a printing press and to print the books of our teacher, Likutei Moharan Kama and Tinyana…". R. Natan then recounts the many difficulties in obtaining paper (books from these printings are very rare, and were printed on unprocessed paper of uneven size), and the difficulties in obtaining governmental license. The press was eventually closed by the authorities and R. Natan was compelled to flee the city.
4, 122, [1]; [1], 44 leaves. 21.5 cm. Good-fair condition, first and final leaves in fair condition. Stains, including dampstains. Large open tears to first title page (with significant damage to text on both sides of lower part of leaf), and open tears to several other leaves, affecting text, repaired with paper (with photocopy and handwritten text replacements). Worming, affecting text, repaired with paper. Abrasions to final leaves, affecting text, with loss. New leather binding.