Avodat Yisrael, Chassidic and kabbalistic essays on the Torah portions, Haftarot and festivals; two letters; Chassidic commentary to Tractate Avot and novellae on Talmudic topics in Tractate Chullin, by R. Yisrael Hopstein – the Maggid of Kozhnitz. [Józefów, 1842]. First 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".
Handwritten inscriptions on the first title page, including: "Aharon Labin". Stamp "Yisrael Avraham… Lehman".
[4], 90; 32 leaves. 21.5 cm. Good-fair condition. Stains, including dampstains. Large open tear to final leaf (leaf 32), affecting text; leaf mounted on paper for reinforcement (final page – p. 32b, with errata and publisher's words, entirely covered with paper). Several other tears; open tears to lower margins of five leaves (not affecting text), repaired with paper. Paper repairs to inner margins of title page and leaf 31, affecting border and text. Worming, slightly affecting text in several places. Leaves trimmed close to headings in several places. Stamps, including some deleted stamps. New leather binding.
Without leaf [5] comprising three approbations, which was included in some copies only, since these approbations were brought to the printer only after the printing of the book was completed.
Stefansky Chassidut, no. 452.