Auction 74 - Judaica - Books, Manuscripts, Rabbinical Letters, Ceremonial Art
Birkat David (Buchach) – Lviv, 1845 – First Edition
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Birkat David, Chassidic commentaries on the Five Books of the Torah, by Rebbe Avraham David Wahrman of Buchach. Lviv, [1845]. First edition
The imprint states both the Hebrew year 5565 (=1805) and the civil year 1800, with Jihdas Rosanis (Yehudis Rosanes) as printer. The name and the two (contradictory) dates are false. The actual year of printing is hinted to in the closing note of the publisher at the end of the book, where a chronogram indicates the year 5605 (=1845). This type of falsification was common in Chassidic books printed in Galicia at that time, due to censorship restrictions and the persecution of Chassidim by the Haskalah movement (A. Yaari lists 16 books with similar false imprints; see A. Yaari, The Printing Press of Rebbetzin Yehudit Rosanes in Lviv, Kiryat Sefer, XVII, 1940, p. 107, no. 43).
On the verso of the title page, the verse "Torat Hashem Temima" is printed in large letters, followed by a statement that the approbations were not printed "for the concealed reason". Apparently, the omission of approbations was also part of the effort to hide the printing details for the reasons stated above.
Rebbe Avraham David Wahrman, the "Gaon of Buchach" (1770-1840, Encyclopedia L'Chassidut, I, pp. 68-72), a leading Torah scholar and Chassidic figure, and prominent posek in his times. When he was only nine years old, R. Meshulam Igra discussed Torah thoughts with him and declared that this boy will become a phenomenal posek, an example to all the rabbis of his generation. After his marriage, he embraced Chassidut and became close to the most eminent rebbes of his times: R. Levi Yitzchak of Berditchev, R. Moshe Leib of Sassov, R. Chaim of Czernowitz and R. Tzvi Hirsh of Nadvorna. At the age of 20, he was appointed rabbi of the city of Yazlovets. Reputedly, R. Meir of Premishlan passed through the city and sensed holiness emanating from the place, which he attributed to the merit of R. Avraham David. In 1814, he was appointed rabbi of Buchach, succeeding his father-in-law and teacher R. Tzvi Hirsh Caro Rabbi of Buchach, author of Neta Shaashu'im. He was renowned as an outstanding Torah scholar and tzaddik. He wrote many books, including: Daat Kedoshim on Yoreh De'ah, Ezer MiKodesh on Even HaEzer, Kesef HaKodashim on Choshen Mishpat, Birkat David on the Torah, etc. His halachic works became classics in halachic rulings. His work Eshel Avraham on Orach Chaim was printed in many editions of the Shulchan Aruch and is cited thousands of times in halachic literature (this book is usually called Eshel Avraham Buchach, to differentiate it from an earlier work with the same title).
[2], 182 leaves. Leaves 125-126 bound after leaf 128. 22 cm. Printed on thick, high-quality (mostly) bluish paper. Good condition. Stains. Leaves trimmed close to text, affecting headings. Minor worming in a few places. New binding.
Stefansky Chassidut, no. 100.
The imprint states both the Hebrew year 5565 (=1805) and the civil year 1800, with Jihdas Rosanis (Yehudis Rosanes) as printer. The name and the two (contradictory) dates are false. The actual year of printing is hinted to in the closing note of the publisher at the end of the book, where a chronogram indicates the year 5605 (=1845). This type of falsification was common in Chassidic books printed in Galicia at that time, due to censorship restrictions and the persecution of Chassidim by the Haskalah movement (A. Yaari lists 16 books with similar false imprints; see A. Yaari, The Printing Press of Rebbetzin Yehudit Rosanes in Lviv, Kiryat Sefer, XVII, 1940, p. 107, no. 43).
On the verso of the title page, the verse "Torat Hashem Temima" is printed in large letters, followed by a statement that the approbations were not printed "for the concealed reason". Apparently, the omission of approbations was also part of the effort to hide the printing details for the reasons stated above.
Rebbe Avraham David Wahrman, the "Gaon of Buchach" (1770-1840, Encyclopedia L'Chassidut, I, pp. 68-72), a leading Torah scholar and Chassidic figure, and prominent posek in his times. When he was only nine years old, R. Meshulam Igra discussed Torah thoughts with him and declared that this boy will become a phenomenal posek, an example to all the rabbis of his generation. After his marriage, he embraced Chassidut and became close to the most eminent rebbes of his times: R. Levi Yitzchak of Berditchev, R. Moshe Leib of Sassov, R. Chaim of Czernowitz and R. Tzvi Hirsh of Nadvorna. At the age of 20, he was appointed rabbi of the city of Yazlovets. Reputedly, R. Meir of Premishlan passed through the city and sensed holiness emanating from the place, which he attributed to the merit of R. Avraham David. In 1814, he was appointed rabbi of Buchach, succeeding his father-in-law and teacher R. Tzvi Hirsh Caro Rabbi of Buchach, author of Neta Shaashu'im. He was renowned as an outstanding Torah scholar and tzaddik. He wrote many books, including: Daat Kedoshim on Yoreh De'ah, Ezer MiKodesh on Even HaEzer, Kesef HaKodashim on Choshen Mishpat, Birkat David on the Torah, etc. His halachic works became classics in halachic rulings. His work Eshel Avraham on Orach Chaim was printed in many editions of the Shulchan Aruch and is cited thousands of times in halachic literature (this book is usually called Eshel Avraham Buchach, to differentiate it from an earlier work with the same title).
[2], 182 leaves. Leaves 125-126 bound after leaf 128. 22 cm. Printed on thick, high-quality (mostly) bluish paper. Good condition. Stains. Leaves trimmed close to text, affecting headings. Minor worming in a few places. New binding.
Stefansky Chassidut, no. 100.
Chassidic Books
Chassidic Books