Auction 69 - Part I -Rare and Important Items
This is one of the first books produced by the printing press established in Slavita by R. Moshe Shapira, son of R. Pinchas of Korets. The book was brought to print by his brother "the rabbi, exceptional in Torah, fear of G-d and Chassidism", R. Yechezkel, son of "the renowned and prominent rabbi" R. Pinchas Shapira of Korets.
[1], 123 leaves. 21 cm. Good condition. Stains and wear. Traces of past dampness to several leaves. Small marginal tear to title page, not affecting text. Minor damage. Inscription on title page. Binding with early leather spine. Worming and damage to binding.
Includes the two rare leaves (leaves 122-123) of "Glossary of the Zohar Gadol and Zohar Chadash", included only in some copies.
Chok LeYisrael, with Yosef LeChok by the Chida. Slavita: R. Shmuel Avraham Shapira, [1825-1826].
Complete set in five volumes.
This is the first edition of Chok LeYisrael printed in Slavita.
This edition bears the approbations of prominent Chassidic leaders: R. Mordechai of Chernobyl, the Ohev Yisrael of Apta, R. Yitzchak of Radvil and R. Avraham Dov of Ovritsh.
One of the noteworthy approbations to this edition was accorded by R. Chaim HaKohen, a Torah scholar of Vilna, later the rabbi of Pinsk. In his approbation, he refers to the Ohev Yisrael of Apta (who also gave his approbation to this book) with great admiration.
Signatures, stamps and various inscriptions on the endpapers and title pages.
Bereshit: [8], 266, [1] leaves. Shemot: 258 leaves. Vayikra: 232 leaves. Bamidbar: 226 leaves. Devarim: [2], 256, [2] leaves. 18.5 cm. Vol. II partially printed on bluish paper. Condition varies, overall fair-good condition. Stains, dampstains. Wear and worming to some leaves. Tears and damage to several leaves, affecting text. Title pages of first two volumes detached. Some gatherings of vol. III partially detached. Two final leaves of vol. II supplied from another copy. Original leather bindings, damaged and torn.
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The Significance and Segulah of Reciting Chok LeYisrael Daily
The custom of reciting verses from the Bible and passages from Mishnah, Talmud and Zohar, every single day, was established by the Arizal, who observed this custom himself. The order printed in Chok LeYisrael is for the most part based on the writings of the Arizal in various places. The Chida added to this order daily halachic passages, taken from Mishneh Torah LehaRambam and Shulchan Aruch, as well as passages from books of ethics. The Chida's additions are named Yosef LeChok. The purpose of the Chok LeYisrael order of study, as explained in the writings of the Arizal, is both for the completion and tikkun of the soul, nourishing it through the study of the various parts of the Torah, and for affecting tikkunim and yichudim in the Upper spheres.
Many prominent Chassidic leaders, and especially the Tzaddikim of the Chernobyl dynasty, spoke in sublime terms of the segulah of the Chok LeYisrael study order, and attested that it provides a tikkun for sins in matters of holiness. Rebbe Yisrael Dov of Vilednik writes in his book She'erit Yisrael (Shaar HaShovavim, homily I) that studying Chok LeYisrael serves as Tikkun HaBrit, "as I received from my master [Rebbe Mordechai of Chernobyl], that true tikkun is achieved by attaching oneself to both the Written and Oral Law, through the Chok LeYisrael study order… and therefore in these times with the approach of the Messiah, the Yosef LeChok book has been published, authored by the Chida, disciple of R. Chaim ibn Attar the Or HaChaim, who embodies the lights of both Mashiach ben David and Mashiach ben Yosef, akin to the kabbalistic concept of an all-encompassing Tzaddik capable of effecting a tikkun for the imperfections of the entire Jewish people".
Rebbe Avraham of Trisk, son of R. Mordechai of Chernobyl, writes: "And following the prayers, he should recite Chok LeYisrael, every single day unfailingly… and through this he causes G-d to be filled with mercy for the Jewish people" (Magen Avraham, 96a).
Great rabbis of previous generations have spoken of great segulot attained by reciting Chok LeYisrael. Some wrote that it is also a segulah for livelihood (based on the words of the Talmud, "Chok means sustenance" - in the name of the Shinever Rebbe).R. Yaakov Roke'ach, in his foreword to Chok LeYisrael named Maase Roke'ach, wrote: "It is a mitzvah for every Jew to buy himself a Chok LeYisrael, to read from it every day…".
The book is printed in large, vocalized letters until leaf 84, and from that point onwards, in smaller letters. The title page is printed in red and black.
[2], 136 leaves. Good-fair condition. Stains and wear. Signs of usage. Damage to title page, affecting one letter of the title, with some loss. Original binding, with early leather spine. Worming, damage and wear to binding.
The Bibliography of the Hebrew Book lists only [2], 135 leaves.
Orders Nezikin and Kodashim are from the 1822 edition, the other four orders are from the 1830 edition.
The title page states: "It was added to them… some novellae from the rabbi, outstanding Torah scholar… R. Levi Yitzchak, who served as rabbi in Berditchev".
6 volumes. Zera'im: [4], 132 leaves. Moed: 173 leaves. Nashim: 160 leaves. Nezikin: [1], 196 leaves. Kodashim: 130 leaves. Taharot: 224 leaves. Order Zera'im volume lacking leaves 42-43, 61-64 (altogether lacking 6 leaves). Leaves 129-132 of order Nashim bound out of sequence. Five volumes with average height of 25-27 cm, volume of order Kodashim – 21.5 cm. Condition varies. Volumes of orders Zera'im, Moed, Nashim and Nezikin in overall good condition. Stains, dampstains, worming. Worming slightly affecting text to one volume. Volume of order Taharot in good-fair condition. Stains and wear. Tears to several leaves. Tears to title page, affecting text, repaired with tape. Volume of order Kodashim in fair-poor condition. Stains, dampstains, ink stains and pen scribbles. Severe worming to title page and many leaves, affecting text. Detached gatherings. Order Kodashim volume smaller than other volumes. Stamps. Some volumes with signatures and inscriptions. Some volumes with early leather bindings. Damage and wear to bindings.
Title page printed in red and black.
Many inscriptions, signatures and pen trials on the front and back endpapers ("This Tikunim belongs to the exceptional Torah scholar… R. Gedalia…", "R. Avraham Yitzchak", and more). Ownership inscription on leaf 89: "This Tikunim belongs to R. Efraim Zalman". Early stamps on the title page and final leaf. Censorship signatures on the final leaves.
50, 49-154 leaves. 21 cm. Bluish paper. Fair condition. Stains, dampstains and wear. Signs of usage. Worming. Reinforced and repaired with tape in several places. Restoration paper over entire title page. Many handwritten inscriptions on the endpapers. New binding.
The book opens with an approbation by R. Aharon of Chernobyl (mechutan of R. Yehoshua Heshel), in praise of the printers and of this superior edition, in which mistakes which had crept into previous editions were corrected. The approbation concludes with blessings for "lengthy and good years, and may G-d shower you with goodness, both in material and spiritual matters, with sons, life and plentiful sustenance, Amen".
This copy belonged to the kabbalist R. Yehuda Ze'ev Leibowitz, who annotated it with his lengthy kabbalistic glosses. The glosses are written in his distinctive handwriting, in both cursive and square script, and many include his signature. His glosses contain commentaries from various kabbalistic sources, including the Zohar, the writings of the Arizal, the Remak, the Remez and foremost Chassidic leaders. Some of his glosses cite commentaries and Torah thoughts heard from other kabbalists, including the Baal HaSulam, R. Moshe Yair Weinstock, R. Yosef Weinstock and others. A gloss on p. 120a beginning: "I once wrote to the kabbalist R. Moshe Yair Weinstock…", signed "Yehuda Ze'ev Leibowitz". Some other glosses are signed "Yehuda Ze'ev", "Yehuda Ze'ev son of Golda" or his initials "Y.Z.L".
A penciled inscription on the title page: "R. Yosef Weinstock".
R. Yehuda Ze'ev Leibowitz (1921-2010), disciple of the Baal HaSulam, was a hidden Tzaddik of the generation. An outstanding Torah scholar, both in hidden and revealed realms. His writings were published in the books Kol Yehuda Baal HaKetavim, VeZot LiYehuda, Yizal Mayim MiDaleyav, Or Levi Ziv Yehuda, and others. Born in Satmar, he studied under Rebbe Yoel of Satmar and R. Yehuda Rosner Rabbi of Sekelhid, author of Imrei Yehuda. After surviving the Holocaust, he immigrated to Eretz Israel, and upon the advice of the Chazon Ish, worked at nights in paving roads, living alone in a single room apartment in Tel Aviv. He joined there a group of kabbalists studying under R. Yehuda Leib Ashlag the Baal HaSulam – R. Yehuda Tzvi Brandwein, R. Moshe Yair Weinstock and R. Yosef Weinstock. In contrast to them, he remained anonymous for many years, yet maintained close ties with the foremost Torah leaders, rabbis and rebbes of the generation, such as Rebbe Aharon Rokeach of Belz, Rebbe Yekutiel Yehuda Halberstam of Sanz-Klausenburg, and others, who held him in high esteem and considered him one of the thirty-six hidden Tzaddikim. For many years, he succeeded in concealing his greatness, yet in his final years, when he resided close to his relatives in Bnei Brak, numerous stories of wonders he had performed began circulating, and many flocked to him in quest of blessings and salvation.
[2], 182 leaves. 21 cm. Fair-good condition. Stains and wear. Worming to title page and other leaves. First leaves detached. Tears and minor damage to several leaves. Without binding.
Bound with: Seder Maamadot and Seder Ketoret against epidemics, based on the text instituted by the Ohev Yisrael of Apta. Zhitomir: R. Chanina Lipa and R. Yehoshua Heshel Shapira, 1857. A LaMenatze'ach menorah is featured on the final leaf, with passages of prayers and segulot.
Amarot Tehorot is the first Chassidic commentary to Tehillim to be printed (first published in Warsaw, 1839), authored by R. Eliezer Ish Horowitz (Hořovice, d. 1806, Encyclopedia L'Chassidut, I, 257-259), rabbi of Tarnogród. A descendant of the Shelah, he was the disciple of R. Yechiel Michel of Zlotchov and R. Elimelech of Lizhensk, and disciple-colleague of the Chozeh of Lublin and the Maggid of Kozhnitz. He also authored Noam Megadim Uchevod HaTorah. The Chozeh of Lublin writes in his approbation to the book Noam Megadim: "…all his ways were for the sake of Heaven, to cause pleasure to G-d, and he was very exceptional and unparalleled, whether in Halacha or Aggadah, as he was a prominent preacher…".
A signature extends over leaves 2-11: "This Tehillim belongs to… Yisrael Aharon son of R. Moshe Zaris Villover".
[3], 4-438 pages; [3], 64 pages. 22 cm. Good-fair condition. Stains and wear. Minor tears. Wear and mold stains to first leaves, with marginal paper repairs. Worming to the leaves of Seder Maamadot. New, elegant leather binding.
This 1857 edition is not listed in the Bibliography of the Hebrew Book. Listing 0305437 records a preceding edition of this book printed in Zhitomir in 1855. The listing does not mention leaves 214-219 which appear in this copy – indexes to the book Amarot Tehorot (see Kedem Auction 49, item 13).
Two title pages, printed in red and black.
8, 5-344 pages. 27 cm. Wide margins. Most leaves light-colored, several very darkened leaves. Good-fair condition. Stains. Dampstains. Worming, slightly affecting text on a few leaves. Worming to lower margin of approx. 25 final leaves, not affecting text. New binding.
A commentary to Chad Gadya "Uttered by the holy R. Mordechai of Chernobyl" is printed on leaf 59. This commentary by Rebbe Mordechai Twersky – the Maggid of Chernobyl, was first printed in the book Divrei Torah (Warsaw 1851). The title there states that this commentary contains "the ways and modes of Chassidic conduct", as derived from the Chad Gadya piyyut.
120 pages. Approx. 19 cm. Fair condition. Large open tear to center of title page. Stains and wear. Wine stains. Lower margins of final leaves trimmed close to text, affecting text. New binding.
The text of the Siddur, the laws and the two Chassidic essays were composed and compiled by the Baal HaTanya, and were even published in his lifetime in several editions (the essays are entitled HaKol Kol Yaakov and Heara LeTikkun Chatzot). The other Chassidic discourses (commentaries to the prayers) were delivered by the Baal HaTanya and recorded by his son the Mitteler Rebbe, R. Dov Ber Shneuri of Lubavitch (first published in Kopust, 1816). These siddurim are known amongst Chabad chassidim as Siddur im Dach (Divrei Elokim Chaim – words of the Living G-d). This edition includes the additional Dach essays, first printed in the Berditchev (Berdychiv) 1818 edition, and not appearing in the first, Kopust 1816 edition.
In this edition, the Holy Names in Pesukei DeZimra and in other places were vocalized according to Kabbalah. R. Avraham David Lawat testified that the Tzemach Tzedek, Rebbe of Lubavitch, criticized the printers for modifying what the Baal HaTanya established, thereby allowing the siddur to be used even by those who have no knowledge in Kabbalah, including youths (Shaar HaKollel 6, section 9).
Vol. I (weekday prayers): [4], 308 pages. Vol. II (prayers for Shabbat and festivals): [1], 124; 188, [1] pages. Vol. II bound with printed wrappers (not listed in the Bibliography of the Hebrew Book). Vol. I: 25 cm. Condition varies. Most leaves in fair condition, some in good condition. Stains, extensive wear and signs of usage. Tears and damage to many leaves, repaired. Large tears to approx. 15 leaves, some affecting text considerably, repaired with paper, with handwritten and photocopied text replacement (primarily to leaves 87-96). Vol. II: 24 cm. Condition varies. Most leaves in good-fair condition. Stains and dampstains. Several leaves, mostly in Passover Haggadah, with many dark food and wine stains. Dark marginal dampstains to title page and first leaves. Stains and damage to wrappers, with paper repairs to verso of front wrapper. New, non-uniform bindings.
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 (Mezhirichi) 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 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.
[6], 156; 134, 146-153, 155-188. 19.5 cm. Partially printed on bluish paper. Fair condition. Stains, wear and signs of usage. Dampstains. Worming, primarily to first and final leaves. Large tears to title page, affecting text with some loss, repaired with paper and replaced in photocopy. Tears and damage to first three leaves following title page, in other places in middle of book and to final leaves, affecting text, repaired with paper. Margins trimmed close to text, affecting headings of some leaves. New leather binding.