Auction 90 Judaica - Books, Manuscripts, Letters, Ceremonial Art
Chumash Bereshit with the Or HaChaim Commentary – Slavita, 1825
Opening: $800
Sold for: $10,625
Including buyer's premium
Chumash Bereshit, first of the Five Books of the Torah, with Rashi and Targums, and with the Or HaChaim commentary by R. Chaim ibn Attar. Slavita: R. Shmuel Avraham Shapira, [1825].
82, 89-196 leaves. 26.5 cm. Bluish paper. Fair-good condition. Stains, including ink stains to first leaves. Worming affecting text (extensive worming to first leaves). Tears and wear. Stamps. Early leather binding, damaged and partially detached (title page and front board detached from rest of book), with extensive worming.
The Or HaChaim commentary by R. Chaim ibn Attar was held in high regard by the Chassidic leaders, who considered it to be on the level of the Zohar in its ability to purify the soul. His disciple the Chida quotes the Chassidic custom of studying the Or HaChaim commentary on Friday night: "And we heard that it is now held in high regard in Poland, and was printed there in another two editions. And this was due to the praise of the holy R. Yisrael Baal Shem Tov on the greatness of R. Chaim's soul".
Chassidic leaders praised the holiness of the author profusely. The Baal Shem Tov stated that every night, the Or HaChaim hears Torah directly from G-d. He also stated that when his soul ascended to Heaven each night, he saw that only R. Chaim ibn Attar preceded him in his ascent, and all his efforts to precede him were unsuccessful. Reputedly, the reason the Baal Shem Tov attempted to immigrate to Eretz Israel was in order to meet R. Chaim ibn Attar, who was "a spark of Mashiach", and thereby bring the Redemption.
Reputedly, "R. Pinchas of Korets… commanded his sons [=R. Moshe Shapira rabbi of Slavita, and his brother R. Yechezkel Shapira, who was also involved in the establishment of the Slavita printing press] to print the Or HaChaim book every year… and they will thereby be saved from calamity and misfortune, and they fulfilled his directive, yet after the Or HaChaim book became so prevalent that they could no longer find buyers for it, they stopped printing it, and that year the infamous slander and misfortune occurred" (Migdal Oz, p. 268).
PLEASE NOTE: Item description was shortened in translation. For further information, please refer to Hebrew text.
82, 89-196 leaves. 26.5 cm. Bluish paper. Fair-good condition. Stains, including ink stains to first leaves. Worming affecting text (extensive worming to first leaves). Tears and wear. Stamps. Early leather binding, damaged and partially detached (title page and front board detached from rest of book), with extensive worming.
The Or HaChaim commentary by R. Chaim ibn Attar was held in high regard by the Chassidic leaders, who considered it to be on the level of the Zohar in its ability to purify the soul. His disciple the Chida quotes the Chassidic custom of studying the Or HaChaim commentary on Friday night: "And we heard that it is now held in high regard in Poland, and was printed there in another two editions. And this was due to the praise of the holy R. Yisrael Baal Shem Tov on the greatness of R. Chaim's soul".
Chassidic leaders praised the holiness of the author profusely. The Baal Shem Tov stated that every night, the Or HaChaim hears Torah directly from G-d. He also stated that when his soul ascended to Heaven each night, he saw that only R. Chaim ibn Attar preceded him in his ascent, and all his efforts to precede him were unsuccessful. Reputedly, the reason the Baal Shem Tov attempted to immigrate to Eretz Israel was in order to meet R. Chaim ibn Attar, who was "a spark of Mashiach", and thereby bring the Redemption.
Reputedly, "R. Pinchas of Korets… commanded his sons [=R. Moshe Shapira rabbi of Slavita, and his brother R. Yechezkel Shapira, who was also involved in the establishment of the Slavita printing press] to print the Or HaChaim book every year… and they will thereby be saved from calamity and misfortune, and they fulfilled his directive, yet after the Or HaChaim book became so prevalent that they could no longer find buyers for it, they stopped printing it, and that year the infamous slander and misfortune occurred" (Migdal Oz, p. 268).
PLEASE NOTE: Item description was shortened in translation. For further information, please refer to Hebrew text.
Books Printed in Slavita, Zhitomir, Russia
and Poland – 18th-19th Centuries
Books Printed in Slavita, Zhitomir, Russia
and Poland – 18th-19th Centuries