Second, third and fourth editions of Tehillim with the commentary Tefillah LeMoshe by Rebbe Moshe Teitelbaum, Av Beit Din of Ujhel, author of Yismach Moshe.

1. Svaliava: Chaim Yehudah Goldenberg, 1906. Second edition with additions. At the beginning of the book, introduction by the editor who prepared the book for press, the grandson of the Yitav Lev, Rebbe Moshe David Teitelbaum, Av Beit Din of Magyarlápos (editor and publisher of the first edition of Tefillah LeMoshe, Cracow, 1880). In the introduction, he tells of the additions from the author’s manuscript and corrections in the present edition: “Many good additions that I found had come to me in the writings I had arranged… omitted from the first edition and printed now in their place, and the errors have also been corrected. And it is now, with God’s help, complete in its beauty and splendor”. [4], 4-354 leaves. 21 cm. On the title page, signature of “Yechiel Yehudah HaLevi Rosenfeld”.

2. Berlin: Pardes, 1929. Third edition. At the beginning of the book is the approbation of Rebbe Moshe David Teitelbaum, Av Beit Din of Magyarlápos (editor and publisher of the first and second editions of Tefillah LeMoshe), who tells of the present edition’s printer: “By divine providence and wondrous causes, God led me to encounter… R. Chaim Rand… an excellent man in the capital city Berlin… and he fulfilled his promise to renew the glorious luster of the holy books Yismach Moshe on the Torah and Tefillah LeMoshe on Tehillim… and he did it with beauty and splendor” [apparently, Rebbe Moshe David was also involved in the printing of this edition; see Kedem Catalog 19, item 89]. [3], 5-354 leaves. Leaves [4-5] are missing (supplied in facsimile). Colorful title page. 17.5 cm.

3. Budapest: Mevaser, 1941. Smaller pocket edition. Fourth edition of Tehillim “Tefillah LeMoshe”, printed during World War II, while the Germans had already killed countless thousands of Jews across the border. The introductions from the previous editions are not printed in this edition. [2], 4-347, 350-352, [3] leaves. Approx. 11.5 cm.

3 volumes. Good general condition. Stains and light wear. Marginal tears (mostly in the first volume), some reinforced with paper. Inscriptions and stamps. New leather bindings.

The book of Tehillim with the commentary Tefillah LeMoshe was first printed in Cracow, 1880. At the beginning of the book is printed the introduction and approbation of the author’s grandson, Rebbe Yekutiel Yehudah Teitelbaum, Av Beit Din of Sighet, author of Yitav Lev, who edited the work from his grandfather’s manuscripts. Afterwards appears the introduction of Rebbe Moshe David Teitelbaum (later Av Beit Din of Magyarlápos), who edited the book for printing together with his grandfather the Yitav Lev. In their introductions, the Yitav Lev and his grandson Rebbe Moshe David describe how the Tefillah LeMoshe commentary was not originally composed as a complete, independent work, rather written sporadically on pieces of paper where the Yismach Moshe noted his ideas while reciting Tehillim. They go on to write that the original writings were expressed briefly and in hints, and that in many places the Yitav Lev was compelled to add explanations to decipher the writings and sources. In his introduction, Rebbe Moshe David goes on to add regarding the editing of the book from the author’s handwritten drafts: “…This book I present to you today is not like the day it was born, and I do not present it as its author made it, since he formed it in pen from his thoughts as they came to him…” He goes on to describe the work of his grandfather, the Yitav Lev, in deciphering the short notes: “And who is like the wise man, my grandfather R. Yekutiel Yehudah Teitelbaum, Av Beit Din of the local region, who knows the meaning of the author’s intention, his hints and riddles, his hidden thoughts and mysteries…”.

It is recounted in the name of Rebbe Yoel Teitelbaum of Satmar that some of the comments on Tehillim of his ancestor, the Yismach Moshe, were written on the reverse side of Kvittels his followers brought him asking for salvation and mercy.

Rebbe Moshe Teitelbaum, Av Beit Din of Ujhel (1759-1841), the Yismach Moshe, an illustrious Chassidic leader in Hungary and Galicia, and progenitor of the Sighet and Satmar Chassidic dynasties. An outstanding Torah scholar and kabbalist, he was an expert in both the revealed and hidden Torah. He was famed during his lifetime as a holy wonderworker possessing ruach hakodesh. He first served as rabbi in Shinova from 1785-1808, and subsequently in 1808 he was appointed rabbi and Av Beit Din of Ujhel (Sátoraljaújhely) and the region. Rebbe Moshe was originally opposed to Chassidut, and in his youth he traveled to study with the Vilna Gaon. He joined Chassidut at a later age, influenced by his son-in-law, R. Aryeh Leib Lipschitz, Av Beit Din of Vishnitza (Nowy Wiśnicz), author of Responsa Aryeh DeVei Ila'i, who convinced him to travel to the Chozeh of Lublin. With the Chozeh he became aware of clear manifestations of ruach hakodesh, and from that point on he became his close disciple, devoting himself to the Chassidic way and spreading its teachings in his regions. He likewise traveled to visit the Ohev Yisrael of Apta. Starting in 1815, he began to distribute amulets to those in need of salvation, thereby performing countless wonders. It is told that he hesitated about whether to continue making amulets until he heard a heavenly voice calling out to him while he was awake: "Do not fear, for I am with you" (Tehillah LeMoshe). To this day, most of the amulets and shemirot in Ashkenazic lands are attributed to the amulets of the Yismach Moshe, including the printed shemirot for children and child-bearing women and for plague. The famous "Keresterir's amulets", which were written by rebbes as a Segulah to guard one's house and property, originate with the Yismach Moshe.