Arizal Siddur Kol Yaakov, part I, weekday prayers, with homilies and the Kavanot of the Arizal, by the Kabbalist R. Yaakov Koppel Lifshitz of Mezeritch (Mezhirichi). Part I, for weekdays. [Slavita]: R. Dov Ber Segal and R. Dov Ber son of R. Pesach, [1804]. First edition.
Copy of Rebbe Elazar Menachem Mendel Biderman of Lelov (Lelów) and of his son the Rebbe of Sosnowitz (Sosnowiec). The title page and leaf 89 bear stamps of Rebbe "Elazar Menachem son of R. Moshe, in the holy city of Jerusalem". Several leaves contain stamps of his son R. Alter Avraham Betzalel Natan Notte Biderman, the Rebbe from Eretz Israel in Sosnowitz, Poland.
Siddur with commentaries, Kavanot, laws and customs, according to Kabbalistic teachings.
Many of the foremost Chassidic leaders prayed regularly from this siddur, retaining it continually on their table, including the Maggid of Kozhnitz (Kozienice), the maggid R. Mordechai of Chernobyl, the Arvei Nachal and R. Avraham of Tshechnov (Ciechanów). Some of them even wrote glosses in the margins of the siddur. R. Asher Tzvi of Ostraha writes in his approbation to the siddur: "I have heard that the holy Baal Shem Tov saw this siddur and deemed it fit".
The Kabbalist R. Yaakov Koppel of Mezeritch also composed the Kabbalistic work Shaarei Gan Eden (Korets, 1803). The title page of the latter states that a reliable source related how this siddur was brought before the Baal Shem Tov, he read a few verses from it, hugged and kissed it, expressing great reverence for it. The scholars of Mezeritch likewise write in their approbations of the veneration the Baal Shem Tov displayed for this siddur. R. Levi Yitzchak of Berditchev (Berdychiv) praises the author in his approbation: "He is already renowned amongst the Jewish people as a reliable Kabbalist, who's words all emanate from Divine Inspiration".
R. Yaakov Koppel's books are adapted and edited compilations of the writings of the Remak, R. Chaim Vital and R. Yisrael Sarug, with the addition of his own novellae.
R. Elazar Menachem Mendel Biderman of Lelov (1827-1883), the third Rebbe of Lelov, was the son of R. Moshe of Lelov. He headed the Chassidic population of Jerusalem, where he was reputed as a wonder-worker and holy man endowed with Holy Spirit. He was revered by the righteous men of his times, both Chassidim and Mitnagdim. The Tiferet Shlomo of Radomsk sent him kvitlach, and the Divrei Chaim of Sanz on one Passover eve stated that "the seder now being conducted by R. Elazar Mendel in Jerusalem surpasses all the sedarim of all righteous men".
R. Elazar was the first Jerusalemite Rebbe, and was a Jerusalemite with all his being. He was renowned for his lengthy daily prayers at the Western Wall. Reputedly, he designed the first Jerusalem gold-colored kaftan, which was purposefully different from the Turkish-Sephardi kaftan (which was more similar to the Arab robe), and from that time on, this type of kaftan became the typical attire of the Jerusalem Old Yishuv (see: Tiferet Beit David by his grandson R. Moshe Yair Weinstock, Jerusalem, 1968).
His son, Rebbe Avraham Betzalel Natan Notte, known as R. Alter (d. 1933), emigrated to Poland at the outbreak of WWI and settled in Sosnowitz, where he held his court. He was known in Poland as the Rebbe from Eretz Israel.
Complete copy. [6], 156; 134, 146-153, 155-188 leaves. 21 cm. Some light-blueish leaves. Good-fair condition. Stains, dampstains and signs of past dampness. Tears and wear. Large tears to the title page, affecting text, repaired with paper. Tears to several more leaves, affecting text in two places, partially repaired with paper. Worming to several leaves. New, elaborate leather binding.