Bnei Yissaschar, Chassidic and Kabbalistic essays on the festivals and months of the year, Part II, Tishrei-Adar, by Rebbe Tzvi Elimelech Shapiro Rabbi of Munkacs and Dinov. [Zhovkva, 1846]. First edition.
Part II of this book was published before Part I, which was first printed in Zhovkva, 1850. The date of printing is indicated in the colophon at the end of the book: "And the work was completed on Tuesday, 38th day of the Omer [23rd Iyar] 1846…".
This first edition was printed without a title page, since the censorship did not authorize the printing of this book (see below). This copy includes a fine, handwritten title page, set within a decorative border. The writer even composed an original text for the title page, including the year of printing (based on the colophon): " Bnei Yissaschar... these delicacies were prepared by the prominent rabbi and Chassid, R. Tzvi Elimelech, many followed the light of his Torah when he served as rabbi of Munkacs and the vicinity, and later… at Dinov, Poland… printed in Zhovkva 1846".
Reputedly, the author would experience exceptional holiness and elevation during Chanukah, and once, when he wished to question his prime teacher the Chozeh of Lublin as to the cause of this phenomenon, his teacher explained, even before he had a chance to ask: You originate from the tribe of Yissachar, and in your earlier incarnation you were a member of the Beit Din of the Chashmonaim, which is why you experience extra holiness during Chanukah. He therefore named his book Bnei Yissaschar. It is recorded that the Divrei Chaim of Sanz once closeted himself in his room on Rosh Hashanah before the shofar blowing, studying the book Bnei Yissaschar for several hours with great intensity, as a preparation for the shofar blowing (foreword to Yod'ei Binah, by R. Elazar Tzvi Shapiro, son of the Bnei Yissachar; Beit Shlomo, New York 2005 edition, p. 15; Shai Agnon, Sefer Sofer VeSipur, p. 457).
The printing of this first edition without a title page is also linked with a wondrous episode. There was once a scholarly young man named Yosef Tarler (1794-1854), who associated with the leading members of the Haskalah from a young age, and would frequently read heretic literature. He once heard the Bnei Yissaschar reading the verses in the Torah pertaining to the prohibition of Gid HaNasheh with great fervor. This Yosef responded with mockery, scorning the holiness of the Torah. When the Bnei Yissaschar heard of this, he retorted: "I am certain that he will eventually convert to Christianity…". Upon hearing of the Bnei Yissaschar's prediction, Yosef Tarler mockingly reported it to R. Naftali of Ropshitz, who replied in jest, "If so, it is a mitzva to follow the words of the sages". Yosef Tarler later served as kosher meat trader in Lviv, and when apprehended for forging documents of a Polish nobleman, he evaded his punishment by converting to Christianity, together with his family. He was then appointed the official censor in Lviv. When approached for permission to publish the book of the Bnei Yissaschar, following the latter's passing, the apostate censor categorically refused, arguing that he did not wish to approve the printing of the book of the one who had predicted his defection. The first edition was therefore printed without title page, in order to obscure the place and year of printing (Ohel Naftali, Warsaw 1911, pp. 98-99; Naftali Ben Menachem, Temirin, I, pp. 313-316).
Rebbe Tzvi Elimelech Langsam-Shapiro (1783-1841), a most prominent Chassidic leader, close disciple of R. Mendele of Rimanov and disciple of the Chozeh of Lublin, as well as of the Rebbe of Apta and the Maggid of Kozhnitz. From a young age, he served as rabbi of various Galician towns, yet is primarily renowned as rabbi of Dinov, where he was later appointed rebbe in 1815. He also served as rabbi of Munkacs, capital of Carpatho-Russia. He authored dozens of compositions on Halachah and Aggadah, Chassidism and Kabbalah. His magnum opus, by whose name he became known throughout the Jewish world, is the book Bnei Yissaschar. His descendants branched out into many dynasties of rabbis and rebbes: Dinov, Munkacs, Bikovsk and more.
Signature on the handwritten title page: "I hereby sign my name, Yaakov Ketina". The book contains three glosses, presumably in his handwriting (pp. 22a and 26a).
R. Yaakov (Klein) Ketina (d. 1890), head of the Khust Beit Din prior to the Maharam Schick's tenure there as rabbi. He was a close disciple of the Divrei Chaim, rebbe of Sanz. He authored Rachamei HaAv and Korban HeAni, which he published anonymously (Rachamei HaAv has since been published in dozens of editions).
116 leaves + [1] handwritten and hand-decorated title page. 22 cm. Bluish paper. Good condition. Stains. Light wear to several leaves. Tear to leaf 9, affecting several letters. Minor worming. Stamp on title page. New binding.
Stefansky Chassidut, no. 92.

Or HaGanuz, novellae on the Torah according to allegoric, kabbalistic and Chassidic approaches, with a second part – VeZot LiYehuda, novellae on Mishnayot "according to allegoric and kabbalistic approaches, lofty secrets", by R. Yehuda Leib HaKohen of Anipoli (Hannopil). Lviv, 1866. First edition.
The book bears approbations of great Chassidic leaders, including the only approbation to a book ever issued by the Tzemach Tzedek of Lubavitch. Another approbation, by R. Mordechai of Chernobyl (the Maggid of Chernobyl), extols the segulah and protective qualities of the book: "Every person should purchase this holy book for merit and excellent protection for himself and his descendants". His holy sons – R. Aharon of Chernobyl, R. Avraham of Trisk (Turiisk) and R. David of Tolna – also mention in their approbations the segulah for protection that their father described. In the publisher's foreword, the author's grandson likewise cites the protective qualities of the book.
The author, R. Yehuda Leib HaKohen of Anipoli (d. 1807, Encyclopedia L'Chassidut, II, pp. 33-34), was a disciple of the Maggid of Mezeritch. According to one source, he was previously a disciple of the Vilna Gaon. He was ostensibly one of the four disciples who were at the side of the Maggid at the time of his death (together with R. Avraham HaMalach, the Baal HaTanya and R. Zusha of Anipoli). He and his friend R. Zusha of Anipoli were approached by R. Shneur Zalman of Liadi to grant their approbation to the Tanya. At the time of printing, Or HaGanuz received enthusiastic approbations from prominent Chassidic leaders of the time, including the only book approbation ever given by Rebbe Menachem Mendel of Lubavitch, the Tzemach Tzedek. The book was also accorded approbations by R. Mordechai of Chernobyl and his holy sons – R. Aharon of Chernobyl, R. Avraham of Turiisk and R. David of Tolna, and by his nephew R. Yitzchak Yaakov of Makariv, as well as approbations by R. Chaim of Sanz and R. Yitzchak Meir of Ger, the Chiddushei HaRim.
Stamps of R. Menachem Mendel Lewi of Jerusalem on the title page. On the front endpaper – stamp of R. Shlomo Telingtor's bookshop in Jerusalem (a prominent Chassid of Boyan). Ownership inscriptions on the back endpapers.
Two parts in one volume. Part I: [1], 12; 84 leaves; Part II (separate title page): 33 leaves. 25 cm. Thin, high-quality paper. Good condition. Stains. Lower part of title page reinforced with paper. Old binding, worn.
Stefansky Chassidut, no. 21.

Zohar Chai, commentary to the Zohar based on Kabbalah and Chassidut, by the kabbalist Rebbe Yitzchak Eizik Yehuda Yechiel Safrin, rabbi of Zidichov (Zhydachiv) and Komarno, author of Heichal HaBracha. Lviv-Premishla (Przemyśl), 1875-1881. First edition. Complete set – five parts in five volumes.
Zohar Chai is an original and profound commentary to the Zohar, based on fundamentals of the teachings of the Arizal and the Baal Shem Tov. In this composition, the author interweaves and combines Kabbalah and Chassidism, as he does in all his works. Unlike his other compositions which were printed in his lifetime, this work was printed after his passing, by his son Rebbe Eliezer Tzvi, author of Damesek Eliezer. The first volume was published during the year of mourning, and includes a lengthy and brilliant foreword from his son, the Damesek Eliezer. In this foreword, the son describes his father's exceptional prominence in Torah and worship of G-d, and relates accounts involving his father which demonstrated the Divine Inspiration his father benefitted from and the heavenly wonders he performed, which the Damesek Eliezer personally witnessed.
One of the stories the son relates was that after his father composed the first four leaves of his commentary, he was approached with a request that he pray for a deathly ill person. His father, who saw with his Divine Inspiration that the sick person required much Heavenly mercy to recover, told the messenger: "I have no way of helping him, but I do possess four leaves which I wrote on the Zohar, go tell this sick person that I am giving these novellae on the Zohar to him as a complete gift… in this merit, perhaps his balance will become positive and he will live for many years". The messenger did as told, and as soon as he reported this to the sick person, the latter started sweating, and began regaining his health. Further in the foreword, he relates that the first four leaves of the commentary pertain to the first two lines of introduction to the Zohar. These leaves were written in summer 1857, at which point the author took a ten-year hiatus from composing his commentary. Approximately in 1867, "he saw the Baal Shem Tov in a dream, and agreed to begin composing a commentary to the Zohar… the next day, he immediately began writing". He completed the commentary several weeks before his passing. In the conclusion at the end of the fifth volume, his son and publisher relates that on two occasions before his passing, his father made him promise to publish the Zohar Chai commentary, "and I rejoice that I have honored my pledge and fulfilled the words of my father".
Rebbe Yitzchak Eizik Yehuda Yechiel Safrin Rabbi of Zidichov and Komarno (1806-1874), a G-dly kabbalist and leading transmitter of the teachings of the Baal Shem Tov, a nephew and close disciple of the Sar Beit HaZohar, Rebbe Tzvi Hirsh of Zidichov. He was cherished by foremost Chassidic leaders – the Chozeh of Lublin (who served as his matchmaker), the Rebbe of Apta, R. Moshe Tzvi of Savran, his uncle R. Moshe of Sambor, R. Yisrael of Ruzhin, and others. He authored many books on Chassidism and Kabbalah, including the Heichal HaBracha commentary to the Five Books of the Torah, based on the teachings of the Arizal and the Baal Shem Tov. The Heichal HaBracha Chumashim are considered basic books in Chassidic thought and Kabbalah. They were especially cherished by rebbes of various dynasties (the Zidichov dynasty, the Divrei Chaim and his descendants, the Tzemach Tzedek of Lubavitch, and others), who extolled the exceptional holiness of the kabbalistic teachings contained in these commentaries.
Vol. I (Bereshit Part I): [4], 215 leaves. Vol. II (Bereshit Part II): [1], 216-348, 348-456, [1] leaves. Vol. III (Shemot Part I): [4], 166 leaves. Vol IV (Shemot Part II): [2], 285 [i.e. 287] leaves. Vol. V (Vayikra-Devarim): [2], 228, [5] leaves. 24.5 cm. Good condition. Stains. Most leaves in very good condition, complete and without wear. Minor tears to title page of vol. I, not affecting text, repaired with tape. New bindings.
Stefansky Chassidut, no. 195.

Likutei Amarim Tanya, by R. Shneur Zalman of Liadi, the Baal HaTanya. Zhovkva, [after 1805].
The title page states: "Tanya, which is a book of collected writings… and we have added a touch… from the outstanding Torah scholar, the author, to explain the essence and topic of Teshuva, and this is a third part which was not included in the first edition printed in Slavita…" (Slavita emphasized on title page).
The Tanya was first published by the author in Slavita, 1796. The second edition was printed in Zhovkva, 1798 (see previous item), and then again in a third edition in Zhovkva, 1805, followed by several variants (this variant was listed in R. Y. Mondschein's bibliography as the fifth edition of the Tanya). These Zhovkva editions were printed during the author's lifetime, presumably without his knowledge. The approbations were omitted in this edition. The chapters of Igeret HaTeshuva – Mahadura Kama were included at the end of the book.
The publisher R. Yaakov of Brody writes at the end of the book that many asked him to undertake printing a new edition of this book, since the book was not available in his country (Galicia-Poland), due to the prohibition to export the book from Russia, where it was originally published.
The following statement appears before Igeret HaTeshuva (p. 67a): "Says the publisher: A precious gem was in my possession from the scholarly author, a manuscript booklet pertaining to topics of repentance, and for the benefit of the public I have brought it to print".
[59] leaves. Approx. 19 cm. Fair-good condition. Stains, wear and tears. Wear and dark stains to title page. Tears to first four leaves, affecting text and title page border (repaired with paper, with some text replacement). New leather binding.
This edition has two variants, see: Yehoshua Mondschein, Torat Chabad – Bibliographies, I, Kfar Chabad, 1982, pp. 46-49.
Stefansky Chassidut, no. 625.