Tzemach Hashem LiTzvi, Chassidic essays on the Torah portions, by R. Tzvi Hirsh of Nadvorna. [Berditchev (Berdychiv): R. Yisrael Bak, ca. 1818]. First edition.
The author, Rebbe Tzvi Hirsh of Nadvorna (1740-1802; Encyclopedia L'Chassidut, III, pp. 604-607), was a leading third generation Chassidic rebbe. Disciple of the Maggid of Mezeritch. His primary teacher was R. Yechiel Michel of Zlotchov, who was known to say that R. Tzvi Hirsh was the greatest of his disciples and that Eliyahu HaNavi desires his closeness. R. Tzvi Hirsh's disciples include R. Menachem Mendel of Kosov, R. Tzvi Hirsh of Zidichov, R. Avraham David of Buchach and others. He wrote many books and was famous for his primary work Tzemach Hashem LiTzvi. His book Alfa Beta merited many editions and R. Eliezer Papo, author of Pele Yo'etz, included it in his composition.

[3], 28; 138 leaves. Approx. 20 cm. Bluish paper. Fair-good condition. Stains, including dampstains. Tears and open tears, affecting text in several places, repaired with paper (photocopy replacements on final leaves). Inscriptions and stamps. New leather binding.

Including leaf [3] with third approbation and omissions from Parashiot Ki Tisa and Shemini, found in some copies only.

The date of printing follows A. Yaari, HaDfus HaIvri BeBerditchov, Kiryat Sefer, 21, 1944-1945, pp. 120-121. The title page decoration, a Torah shield, is the printer's device of R. Yisrael Bak.

Five books of the Torah, with Rashi, Baal HaTurim and the Panim Yafot commentary by R. Pinchas HaLevi Horowitz Rabbi of Frankfurt am Main. Ostroh: Abraham Klorfein and David son of Isaac Mordechai, 1825-1826. First edition. With approbations by the Ohev Yisrael of Apta, R. Akiva Eger, the Chatam Sofer, R. Yaakov of Lissa and the Baruch Taam.
Five parts in five volumes. The title page states: "Panim Yafot… part III of the Haflaa composition". The first parts of the Haflaa: Ketubah on Tractate Ketubot (Offenbach 1787) and HaMikneh on Tractate Kiddushin (Offenbach 1801).
This book was published two decades after the passing of the author. The book consists of commentaries on the Torah, following various approaches – the basic meaning, pilpul, derush, remez, ethics, kabbalah and chassidut. The book was compiled and brought to press by the mechutan of the author, R. Efraim Zalman of Brody, who also composed a lengthy, detailed and interesting foreword, printed at the beginning of the book. R. Efraim also added at the end of the volumes his own commentary to Rashi, named Shem Efraim.
In his approbation, R. Akiva Eger describes the importance and great merit that lies in the purchase of this book.
R. Pinchas HaLevi Ish Horowitz, rabbi of Frankfurt am Main, author of the Haflaa (1731-1805), served in his youth as rabbi of Witkowo and Lachovice. On 26th Tevet 1772, he was appointed rabbi and dean of Frankfurt am Main, which at that time was the largest Torah center in Germany. He held this position for over thirty-three years, until his passing. He edified many disciples in his yeshiva, the most prominent of them being his close disciple the Chatam Sofer. He led the battles against Haskalah and the reform movement. R. Pinchas and his Torah novellae were held in high regard by all the Torah leaders of his generation, both Chassidim and Mitnagdim.
At the end of 1771, shortly before he arrived in Frankfurt, R. Pinchas spent several weeks together with his brother R. Shmelke Rabbi of Nikolsburg, by the Maggid of Mezeritch, where they absorbed the secrets of Torah and worship of G-d from the Maggid and his leading disciples (the Mitteler Rebbe of Lubavitch relates to this in his famous foreword to Shulchan Aruch HaRav, first printed in 1814). The Tzemach Tzedek of Lubavitch defines R. Pinchas as a disciple of the Maggid (Likutei Torah, Bamidbar, Zhitomir 1848, p. 29b, in a gloss on the words of his grandfather the Baal HaTanya). In his book Panim Yafot, the Haflaa brings several principles from the teachings of the Maggid of Mezeritch (see: Erkei HaHaflaa, Jerusalem 2006, I, pp. 40-41), although he only mentions him explicitly in one place, in Parashat Beshalach (p. 57b), in the commentary to "Vayavo'u Marata" (some claim that the omission of the name of the Maggid from the book Panim Yafot is the fault of the copyists of the manuscript. In his foreword, the publisher R. Efraim Zalman Margolies states that the book was not printed based on the author's own manuscript, but from a copying produced by one of the grandsons of the author, "based on a copying of the book produced by various scribes", meaning that the book was printed based on a third hand copy. This claims still does not explain the fact that the name of the Maggid of Mezeritch is not mentioned in any of the books published by the Haflaa in his lifetime, even when the source of the ideas quoted is from the teachings of the Maggid).
Complete set in five volumes. Two title pages for each volume – one concise title page (printed in red and black ink), and a second, more detailed title page.
Bereshit vol.: [4], 156, 2-7 leaves. Shemot vol.: [3], 100, 100-105, 105-112, 121-168, 149-160, 166-171, [1]; 10, [3]; 21-32, [2] leaves. Vayikra vol.: [2], 26, 26-59, 58-139, [2]; 6, [7] leaves. Bamidbar vol.: [2], 146; 4, [1] leaves. Devarim vol.: [2], 153; 18, [8] leaves. 24 cm (Shemot vol. – 21 cm). Shemot vol. printed on bluish paper. Good to good-fair condition. Stains, including minor dampstains. Dark inkstains to first leaves of Vayikra vol. (affecting book title on title pages). Minor wear to some leaves. Tears, including open tears, affecting text in several places, repaired in part with paper. Tears to title page of Shemot vol., including open tear to lower part of leaf, close to text. Minor worming to Shemot vol. Inscriptions, signatures and stamps. New leather bindings (Shemot vol. non-matching).

Avodat Yisrael, Chassidic and kabbalistic essays on the Torah portions, Haftarot and festivals; two letters; Chassidic commentary on Tractate Avot and Talmudic novellae on Tractate Chullin; by R. Yisrael Hopstein, the Maggid of Kozhnitz. [Józefów, 1842]. First edition.
This copy contains the rare leaf, not present in most copies, with three approbations by prominent Chassidic leaders: R. Mordechai David of Dombrowa, the Aryeh D'Vei Ila'i R. Aryeh Leib Lipschitz, and the famous approbation by the Divrei Chaim of Sanz, in which he attests: "In my opinion, there is no one in our generation capable of grasping his [the Maggid of Kozhnitz's] wisdom". These three approbations are not found in most copies of the first edition (they were presumably brought to the printer only after the printing of the book was completed), and were never printed again until the Bnei Brak 1965 edition.
The author, R. Yisrael Hopstein, known as the Maggid of Kozhnitz, (1733/1737-1814) was a holy kabbalist and founder of Chassidut in Poland. He was renowned as an outstanding, profound and innovative Torah scholar. He was the close disciple of the Maggid of Mezeritch, R. Elimelech of Lizhensk, and R. Levi Yitzchak of Berditchev. In 1765, he began serving as maggid in Kozhnitz. Thousands of Chassidim streamed to his door, and he became known as one of the leading rebbes in Poland. His renowned disciples include R. Yitzchak Meir Alter, the Chiddushei HaRim, who was raised in his home. The Maggid of Kozhnitz authored many books in all Torah fields, including halachah, novellae, homiletics and kabbalah, and was considered one of the leading kabbalists in his times. He was renowned for his tremendous knowledge of all kabbalistic works, including varying approaches. Reputedly, already in his youth, before he began frequenting the court of the Maggid of Mezeritch, he had studied some eight hundred kabbalistic works. Some of his kabbalistic compositions are explanations of early kabbalistic books, as well as the books of the Maharal of Prague.
Avodat Yisrael was published 27 years after the passing of its author, and it is the first of his books to be published (a few of his essays were printed in his lifetime). Avodat Yisrael is considered a classic Chassidic work, and it portrays the depth of the inner richness it contains. Rebbe Yechezkel Halberstam of Shinova stated: "All the books of the disciples of the Baal Shem Tov are holy, while the book Avodat Yisrael is holy of holies". The Torat Chaim, rebbe of Kosov declared that one must study this book in great depth, just like one studies the Zohar. Reputedly, R. Yitzchak Eizik of Zidichov held the books of the Maggid of Kozhnitz in very high esteem, and when he received the book Avodat Yisrael, "he experienced tremendous joy", and exclaimed to the person who brought it to him that had he known he was coming to bring him the book, he would have come to meet him to welcome the book "due to his cherishing the holiness of the book".
[4], 90; 32 leaves. Lacking first title page (originally printed with two title pages). 21.5 cm. Some leaves printed on bluish paper. Most leaves in good condition. Stains, including dark stains. Minor worming, affecting text. Many stamps (over text in some places). New leather binding. Bookplate illustrated by Ilya Schor.

Bnei Yissaschar, Chassidic and Kabbalistic essays on the festivals and months of the year, Part I – Shabbat and the months of Nissan-Elul, and Part II – months of Tishrei-Adar, by Rebbe Tzvi Elimelech Shapiro Rabbi of Dinov. Zhovkva: [1846]-1850. First edition.
Two parts in two volumes. Part II was published in 1846, before Part I, which was only published in 1850. The date of printing is indicated in the colophon, printed at the end of Part II: "And the work was completed on Tuesday, 38th day of the Omer (23rd Iyar), 1846…" (Part II was printed without a title page, since the censorship did not authorize the printing of the book – see below).
Reputedly, the author would experience exceptional holiness and elevation during Chanukah. He once wished to question his prime teacher the Chozeh of Lublin as to the cause of this phenomenon, and even before he had a chance to ask, his teacher explained: 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 story. There was 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. 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 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 (Dynów), where he was later appointed rebbe in 1815. He also served as rabbi of Munkacs (Mukachevo). He authored dozens of compositions on halachah and aggadah, Chassidut and Kabbalah. His magnum opus is the book Bnei Yissaschar. His descendants branched out into many dynasties of rabbis and rebbes: Dinov, Munkacs, Bikovsk and more.
Two volumes. Part I: [1], 24; 72 leaves. Leaf 64 erroneously bound after leaf 62. Part II: 116 leaves. 24-24.5 cm. Part II mostly printed on bluish paper. Part I in fair condition. Part II in good condition. Stains, including dampstains. Wear. Worming to vol. I, affecting text on title page and other leaves, repaired in part with paper. Minor worming affecting text in vol. II. Marginal open tears to title page of vol. I (affecting text on verso), repaired with paper. Open tears to other leaves of vol. I. Minor abrasions and singeing to vol. II, affecting text in several places. New leather bindings.

Ohev Yisrael, Chassidic homiletics on the Torah portions, by Rebbe Avraham Yehoshua Heshel of Apta. Zhitomir: R. Chanina Lipa and R. Yehoshua Heshel Shapira, grandsons of the rabbi of Slavita, 1863. First edition.
The book was brought to press by the author's grandson, Rebbe Meshulam Zusia of Zinkov (Zinkiv). In his foreword, he relates how his father, Rebbe Yitzchak Meir, son of the author, realized that many were copying the rebbe's teachings – each person according to his own understanding, and was concerned that this would lead to mistakes. He therefore chose one astute, outstanding Torah scholar and designated him to record the holy teachings, after which the writings were reviewed, and when necessary corrected, by the rebbe. Further in the foreword, he explains that the book was named Ohev Yisrael, based on the author's repeated assertion that the only character trait in which he could confidently take pride, even before the Heavenly court, was his outstanding love for his fellow Jew. Before his demise, he instructed his sons to write no other praise on his tombstone but Ohev Yisrael (Lover of Jews).
In his approbation (to the Lviv edition), R. Yosef Shaul Nathansohn writes: "...he loved every Jewish person with his heart and soul, and would show great affection particularly to Torah scholars. And our fathers related to us that while he was here [in Lviv], all the leading Torah scholars of the city would arise early to come and absorb his wondrous teachings...".
[1], 117 leaves. 23.5 cm. Fair condition. Stains, including dampstains. Worming and open tears to title page and other leaves, affecting border and text, repaired with paper. Inscriptions. New leather binding.