"Seder Tefilla for the entire year with Kavanot HaAri", two parts in one volume, for weekdays and for the Holidays, by R. Shabtai of Raszków, disciple of the Ba'al Shem Tov. Lemberg, 1866.
The top of the title page bears the signature "Feish Segal"; presumably, this is the signature of R. Meshulam Feish Segal, the first Tosher Rebbe. Another inscription [signature?] appears above this signature: "Feish Segal".
This siddur belonged to the Rebbe of Spinka, author of Imrei Yosef, and to his son-in-law R. Nachman Kahana who served in the Spinka rabbinate and bears both their glosses. The title page and several other leaves are stamped "Nachman Kahana Rabbi of Spinka". Signatures of his son-in-law "Yitzchak Isaac Adler" appear on the title page and on the preceding leaf. Another obscure signature appears on the title page: "Yosef ---".
The leaves of the siddur bear dozens of Kabbalistic glosses, apparently in the handwriting of R. Yosef Meir Weiss, author of the Imrei Yosef of Spinka and hundreds of glosses handwritten by his son-in-law R. Nachman Kahana R. of Spinka, author of Orchot Chaim (Siget 1888). The glosses of the Imrei Yosef are written in purple ink.
These glosses present comparisons with the kavanot printed in Pri Etz chaim and in Mishnat Chassidim. The glosses of the author of Orchot Chaim present novellae, explanations and many comments, questions and answers. A gloss on the Passover Haggadah which appears on p. 6a [of the last pagination] poses a Kabbalistic explanation of a custom that a woman assists her husband in raising the seder plate upon reciting Ha Lachma Anya. A gloss on p. 24 [ibid], alongside the words Lamud Hu of the piyyut E-l Bene in the Passover Haggadah states: "See my book Orchot Chaim Siman 480 Ot 2…". This gloss indeed appears in the book Orchot Chaim by R. Nacham Kahana. On p. 98b is a gloss in a third handwriting.
Names of people in need of prayer are inscribed in several places in the siddur. Presumably, the names were written by a Chassid who gave the siddur to the rebbe as a gift, so that the Rebbe should pray for them.
R. Meshulam Feish Segal Lowy (I), born in Moravia, the first Tosher Rebbe (1821-1873) was a leading Hungarian Rabbi renowned for his holiness and ability to perform wonders. During his formative years, the Enlightenment movement and Torah abandonment spread throughout Moravia rousing him to leave home and study in Hungarian yeshivas headed by the Maharam Ash and R. Avraham Shaag. After his wedding, he moved to the village of Nyirvasvari (Eshvor) near Nyírbátor [famed for its illustrious kabbalists and G-d-fearing Jews whom the Komarno Rabbi called "Fire and light scholars", a play on the name of the place Esh ("fire" in Hebrew) "v'or" ("and light" in Hebrew)], near his father-in-law, who was a disciple of the Kaliver Rebbe and of the Rebbe of Komarno. R. Meshulam Feish had ties to prominent Chassidic Rebbes in Hungary and Galicia: The Rebbe of Liska, the Divrei Chaim of Sanz, the Mohari of Zhydachiv, the Rebbe of Komarno, the Rebbe of Roslavl, and others. His primary rebbe was R. David of Dynow who ordained him as rebbe.
R. Lowy served as Rabbi and Av Beit Din in Nyirtass (near Kleinwardein [Kisvárda]) and was renowned for his fiery enthusiasm and his fervent prayers serving G-d. Prominent rebbes of his times (R. David of Dynow and R. Asher Anshel Yungreiss of Csenger) sent people seeking deliverance to R. Lowy relying on his pure prayers and the merit of his Torah study and holiness. Revelations of Ruach HaKodesh are known to have appeared in his Beit Midrash. Reputedly, all his wonders were performed at the time he danced on Shabbat. The entire week he fasted, yet no suffering could by detected on his countenance [see Pe'er Meshulam for many stories about his wonders and the great elevation felt by those in his proximity].
R. Yosef Meir Weiss, author of Imrei Yosef of Spinka (1838-1909), was the first Spinka Rebbe, forefather of the dynasty of Spinka rebbes. A prominent Torah scholar and Chassid, disciple of the Maharam Ash, Rabbi of Uzhhorod (Ungvár) and others. He was close to the Sar Shalom of Belz, to R. Menachem Mendel of Vizhnitz and to R. Chaim of Sanz, author of Divrei Chaim. However, his primary rebbe was his relative, R. Yitzchak Isaac of Zhydachiv - the Mahari, who considered R. Yosef Meir his most illustrious disciple.
In 1870, his teacher the Mahari of Zhydachiv appointed him rebbe, but he refused to officiate as rebbe during his teacher's lifetime. Only in 1876, after R. Chaim of Sanz ordained him rebbe, did he begin receiving Chassidim in his hometown of Săpânța in the Maramureş region. His name quickly spread throughout Hungary and Galicia and thousands of Chassidim became his followers including many prominent Torah scholars, such as R. Shalom Mordechai Schwadron the Maharsham of Berezhany, and others.
He was reputed for his amazing proficiency in revealed and hidden Torah. The Spinka Chassidism preserved the Zhydachiv version of prayer and conduct. His fervent prayers inspired the Chassidic multitudes, and are described as prayers with superhuman exertion. Stories are told of the amazing wonders he performed, through his blessings and counsel which were given with Ruach HaKodesh. His son, the Mahari of Spinka, attests that "his blessings worked many wonders and that many childless women bore children as a result of his prayers and his prayers cured the ill… I can almost say that every word which was emitted from his holy mouth was answered…". After his death, his grave is renowned as a site for prayer and deliverance. In 1972, his remains were brought to Eretz Israel and buried in the special plot of Spinka Chassidim in the Segula cemetery in Petach Tikva.
R. Nachman Kahana Rabbi of Spinka (1861-1908), son-in-law of the Imrei Yosef, officiated as Rabbi of Spinka from 1885. Renowned for his book Orchot Chaim on the Shulchan Aruch Orach Chaim, an anthology (similar to the Pitchei Teshuva). His book contains glosses and many additions by the Maharsham of Berezhany. The Aderet wrote supplements titled Over Orach which are printed at the end of R. Kahana's book. He died at a young age in the lifetime of his father-in-law. His son-in-law R. Yitzchak Isaac Adler officiated as Rabbi of Seredneye.
[56], 57-130, [4], 104; 114 leaves. 21 cm. Good-fair condition. Stains and wear. Dampstains to some leaves. Title page is repaired with paper. Tears to several other leaves, slightly affecting text, some repaired. New leather binding.

Letter signed by the Vizhnitz Rebbe R. Yisrael Hager, author of Ahavat Yisrael. [Vizhnitz], Tishrei 1912.
Sent to Tiberias to the "G-d fearing Chassidim, named Agudat Machzikei HaDat in the holy city of Tiberias". The subject of the letter is the Rebbe's approval of their activities to reinforce Torah observance and to distance people who do not tread the straight path from membership in Kollel Vizhnitz.
"…I hereby inform them that I am willing to uphold their suggestion, not to provide regular support to those who 'breach fences'. However, if only I had proof of this, because in our times, correspondence from Eretz Israel exists with contradicting testimonies. But since you write that you have a way to inform exactly who perform these actions of Zimri [evil], please do so and let me know as soon as possible and I will instruct the appointees of our kollel to supervise the members of our kollel that they do not become corrupted and he who does not heed will not receive even one coin…Yisrael, son of R.B. [Baruch]".
R. Yisrael Hager (1860-1936. Encyclopedia Galicia Vol. 2, pp. 49-53; Encyclopedia L'Chassidut, Vol. 2, pp. 538-541). Prominent Chassidic leader, son of R. Baruch Hager of Vizhnitz (Vyzhnytsia) and Kosiv. Vizhnitz Rebbe from 1893. Uprooted during WWI, he eventually established his court in the city of Oradea (Grosswardein). During his tenure, Vizhnitz became the largest Chassidic court in Hungary, Máramaros and Galicia. The rebbe dedicated his life to establishing yeshivot and Torah education and to drawing Jewish youth to Torah study and fear of G-d. Known for his fervent, soulful prayers. Very active in charitable undertakings, he directed the Eretz Israel charity fund. Extremely fond of Eretz Israeli settlers, he would greatly honor anyone traveling to Eretz Israel and would walk him to the door. Called after his book Ahavat Yisrael.
His holy sons officiated as rebbes and rabbis in Romania and in Eretz Israel and continued his holy work of disseminating Torah and Chassidism: R. Menachem Mendel of Vishova; R. Chaim Meir of Vizhnitz, author of Imrei Chaim who succeeded his father as rebbe in his court in Oradea and after the Holocaust established his Beit Midrash in Bnei Brak; R. Eliezer, author of Damesek Eliezer; R. Baruch of Seret and Haifa, author of Mekor Baruch.
[1] leaf. 23 cm. Good condition. Folding marks on text.

Large decorated and colorful certificate – "Crown of holy leader and administrator in the Holy Land…", R. Yisrael Friedman of Chortkiv, from the Tiferet Yisrael Yeshiva in Jerusalem. [Shevat 1905].
Charming square calligraphic writing in various colors, with verses and titles in rounded writing, adorned with "crowns", with an ornate border.
This certificate confers the title of "Nesi Eretz Israel" on Rabbi Yisrael of Chortkiv, who one year previously was appointed rebbe succeeding his father R. David Moshe (who died on Sukkot 1904), a prominent Rebbe of the Ruzhyn "royal" Chassidism.
R. Yisrael Friedman, the Chortkov Rebbe (1854-Kislev 1933), son of R. David Moshe of Chortkiv and son-in-law of R. Avraham Ya'akov of Sadigura, both sons of R. Yisrael of Ruzhyn. Prominent Torah scholar and Chassidic leader. One of the founders of Agudat Yisrael and chairman of Mo'etzet Gedolei HaTorah.
Chortkov Chassidism was one of the largest Chassidic groups in Jerusalem and most of the gaba'im of the Tiferet Yisrael synagogue (the central synagogue of the Jerusalem Chassidic population) belonged to the Chortkov and Ruzhyn Chassidic courts. This certificate by the "Tiferet Yisrael Yeshiva Talmud Torah in the Beit Midrash of Beit David Ohel Moshe" appoints the rebbe administrator of the gaba'im "In all places in our circles… to appoint gaba'im to collect… R. Meir Ba'al HaNess… in all places in Russian and Volhynia…".
Large leaf, 56X82 cm. High-quality paper. Good condition. stains and folding marks. Wear and small tears to margins and creases.

Lengthy letter (4 pages, over 90 lines) handwritten and signed by Rebbe "Aharon Roth", author of Shomer Emunim. "Sakmar" [Satmar, Cheshvan 1931].
Interesting letter of inspiration and guidance addressed to his followers in Jerusalem, containing the Rebbe's detailed report of his plans to immigrate to Eretz Israel, his intent to print his books Shulchan HaTahor and Taharat HaKodesh, and portraying his efforts to establish additional groups in Satmar (Satu Mare), to draw hundreds more people closer to G-d. The Rebbe describes the persecution he and his group were being subjected to in Satmar, and states his acceptance of G-d's will with love.
This letter was printed partially and in a censored format in Toldot Aharon (part III, Jerusalem 1997, pp. 213-214), with the omission and revision of the passages portraying the hindrances and persecutions the Rebbe endured in Satmar.
Rebbe Aharon (R. Aharele) Roth – (1894-1947) studied in his youth in the yeshiva of R. Yeshaya Silberstein in Waitzen (Vác), and was drawn to Chassidism through his teachers Rebbe Tzvi Elimelech of Bluzhov and Rebbe Yissachar Dov of Belz. He worshiped G-d from a young age with absolute devotion. He established groups of men dedicated to service of G-d in Budapest and in Satmar, under the name Shomer Emunim. In 1925, he immigrated to Jerusalem where he also established a community of Chassidim and disciples who served G-d according to Chassidic principles. Between 1930-1939, he returned to his followers in Satmar, and later in Beregsaz (Berehove). Throughout that time, he maintained his connection with his Chassidim in the Holy Land through correspondence – this letter is from the beginning of that period.
In 1939, he returned to Jerusalem and reorganized his holy group, which is perpetuated until this day, through the Chassidic communities of Toldot Aharon, Shomrei Emunim, Toldot Avraham Yitzchak, Mevakshei Emuna and others. These Chassidic communities are still currently known as R. Aharelach, after their first teacher R. Aharele, whose passionate Chassidism and fear of G-d continues to burn within them. His many books were printed in numerous editions, and are fundamental works in Chassidism and fear of G-d: Taharat HaKodesh, Shulchan HaTahor, Shomer Emunim, Mevakshei Emuna and more.
[1] double leaf. 23 cm. 4 written pages (over 90 autograph lines and signature). Fair-good condition. Dampstains and wear.