Arizal Siddur Kol Yaakov, Part I – weekday prayers, and Part II – prayers for Shabbat and festivals, with homilies and the kavanot of the Arizal, by the kabbalist R. Yaakov Koppel Lifshitz of Mezeritch. [Slavita: R. Dov Ber Segal and R. Dov Ber son of R. Pesach, 1804]. First edition.
The Kol Yaakov siddur with commentaries, kavanot, laws and customs based on kabbalah, was particularly cherished by foremost Chassidic leaders. Many of them prayed regularly from this siddur, retaining it continually on their table, including the Maggid of Kozhnitz, the maggid R. Mordechai of Chernobyl, the Arvei Nachal and R. Avraham of Tshechnov. Some of them even wrote glosses in the margins of the siddur. R. Asher Tzvi of Ostroh 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, and 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 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.
Copy of R. Yehuda Grünwald author of Zichron Yehuda, which was later passed down to his nephew and disciple R. Avraham Chanoch Friedman. On the final leaf, inscription (presumably handwritten by R. Avraham Chanoch): " From the estate of R. Y.G. author of Responsa Zichron Yehuda, Shevet Yehuda on the Torah, and other holy books"; the inscription concludes with the stamp of R. Avraham Chanoch: "Avraham Chanoch Friedman, Dayan of the Orthodox community, Satmar". Additional stamps of his (faded) on leaf 3.
R. Yehuda Grünwald (1848-1920), author of Zichron Yehuda, a leading rabbi and yeshiva dean in Hungary. An outstanding Torah scholar, renowned since his youth as a holy, G-d fearing man. A disciple of the Ketav Sofer, and son-in-law of the latter's brother R. Yozpa Sofer son of the Chatam Sofer (his teacher the Ketav Sofer acclaimed him at his wedding as "Holy of Holies"). Already as a student, he was a close friend of his fellow students R. Chaim Sonnenfeld (later rabbi of Jerusalem) and R. Moshe Grünwald (later rabbi of Khust, author of Arugat HaBosem), and maintained close ties with them throughout his life. He served as rabbi of Sobotište and Bonyhád, and in 1898, was appointed rabbi of Satmar. Wherever he served as rabbi he also maintained a large yeshiva, which in Satmar numbered hundreds of students, many of whom later served as rabbis and dayanim in Hungary and Romania (his renowned disciples include: R. Yosef Nechemia Kornitzer Rabbi of Selish and Kraków; R. Shemaya Löw Rabbi of Kerestir; R. Chaim Betzalel Paneth Rabbi of Reteag; R. Moshe David Ostreicher Rabbi of Cimpa; R. Naftali Herztke Hönig Rabbi of Sharmash [Sărmaşu]; and others).
When R. Yoel Teitelbaum settled in Satmar as a young Torah scholar, shortly after his wedding, he was held in high esteem by R. Yehuda Grünwald, who drew him close and supported him financially. When slanderers tried contending that R. Yoel was not truly needy, since he distributed much money to charity, R. Yehuda was moved, and exclaimed that in such a case, he was even more needy, and he thereafter increased his regular support. Years later, when R. Yoel served as rabbi of Satmar, he was very careful not to alter the halachic customs of the shechitah in the city, which were based on the holy instructions of the Zichron Yehuda.
R. Avraham Chanoch Friedman (1866-1944; perished in the Holocaust), grandson of the Chatam Sofer, close disciple and confidant of his uncle R. Yehuda Grünwald, who adopted him as a son and arranged his marriage with his niece. He arranged for print and published the writings of his teacher R. Yehuda Grünwald and of his grandfather the Chatam Sofer.
Ownership inscriptions on the front endpaper: "This siddur was allotted to me, as an inheritance from my holy forefathers, Moshe Aryeh son of R. Y.Y. HaKohen"; "Aharon Meir grandson of the aforementioned Tzaddik, and his brother Moshe Aryeh ---". Handwritten emendation on p. 106a.
[5], 156; 134, 146-153, 155-188 leaves. Title page lacking, replaced in photocopy. 20 cm. Partially printed on bluish paper. Fair condition. Many stains, including dark dampstains. Tears, including open tears affecting text (large open tears affecting most of leaf [2]), repaired in part with paper; with photocopy text replacement on several leaves. Worming, affecting text, repaired in part with paper (several leaves with significant worming to inner margins). Two detached leaves. Stamps. New leather binding.