Auction 72 - Rare and Important Items

Handwritten Leaf, Novellae Revealed to the Yismach Moshe in a Dream – Variations from the Printed Versions – Notes Handwritten by His Grandson and Disciple, the Yitav Lev of Sighet – Hitherto Unprinted Novellae – After 1850

Opening: $5,000
Estimate: $8,000 - $12,000
Sold for: $17,500
Including buyer's premium

Handwritten leaf, aggadic novellae, by R. Moshe Teitelbaum Rabbi of Újhely, author of Yismach Moshe. Handwritten by a scribe. With notes handwritten by his grandson and disciple Rebbe Yekutiel Yehuda Teitelbaum Rabbi of Sighet, author of Yitav Lev. [The notes were written between 1851 and 1883].
Large-format leaf, written on both sides (two columns per page), copying of aggadic novellae of the Yismach Moshe, in preparation for print, including two novellae revealed to him in a dream and a novella on Tractate Shabbat which was never printed. With two notes by his grandson, the Yitav Lev. The heading on the first page reads: "Selections".
In the left column of the second page: Copying of an account written by the Yismach Moshe, describing a dream in which it was revealed to him that interpreting midrashim which are difficult to comprehend is a great mitzvah. He then expands on the matter. At the end of the page, following this copying, is a note in the handwriting of the Yitav Lev: "So says the editor: I have already copied this in the weekly portion of Mishpatim… however, several words were erroneously omitted during printing, therefore I have decided to copy it here in its entirety…".
The account of the dream was printed in the book Yismach Moshe in the weekly portion of Mishpatim (p. 55b, Lviv 1850 edition), but with several textual variations (as mentioned by his grandson the Yitav Lev). In the printed book, preceding the dream, the Yitav Lev writes: "So says the editor: I have decided to copy here that which I have heard from his holy mouth, and is also found written in a manuscript". The account of the dream and the preceding words of the Yitav Lev were printed in all editions of the book Yismach Moshe, as well as in dozens of books which copied it, using the erroneous text and not the correct version as it appears here. Apparently, the Yitav Lev's aforementioned note was also never printed.
In the right column of the first page: Copying of an account written by the Yismach Moshe, describing another dream, "On Monday Rosh Chodesh Iyar 1796, I fell asleep over a book and it was revealed to me…". This section is headed with the note, apparently also handwritten by the Yitav Lev: "So says the editor, here is the place to copy that which I have found in the holy manuscript of my father the author…".
This account and the preceding words were printed in the book Yismach Moshe in the weekly portion of VaYetze (p. 72a, Lviv 1849 edition), but with textual variations. The printed version is dated "2nd day of Rosh Chodesh Adar", whereas this leaf reads Iyar. In addition, the word "book" (in Hebrew: sefer), in the phrase "I fell asleep over a book", was abbreviated in the printed version, and later erroneously deciphered in some editions as "sofa" (in Hebrew: sapah).
A novella beginning with the words "In Tractate Shabbat" appears in the left column of the first page. It was apparently never printed.
The writings of the Yismach Moshe include many wondrous novellae revealed to him in dreams. His great-great-grandson, R. Moshe David Teitelbaum Rabbi of Laposh (Târgu Lăpuş), writes in his book Tehillah L'Moshe: "His visions and dreams were wondrous, and he said that his dreams are similar to prophecy; several times he lectured in his dream astute teachings". 
Rebbe Yechezkel Shraga Halberstam Rabbi of Shinova (Sieniawa) heard an interesting testimony from the Yismach Moshe regarding the interpretation of difficult midrashim. The Yismach Moshe was often troubled by the fact that his astute explanations of difficult midrashim may not be "true Torah", not being the correct interpretation of the midrash. He then "received in his dream a Divine revelation, that if one explains rationally… even if the explanation deviates from the truth… as originally intended, now in Heaven it is deemed as truth". This testimony is brought by the Munkatcher Rebbe, author of Minchat Elazar, in his book Divrei Torah (Mahadura Shetitaa, section 36). The Minchat Elazar adds there that many believed this dream to be the same dream described in the present manuscript (on the second page).
The Yitav Lev inherited all the manuscripts of his grandfather the Yismach Moshe (manuscripts which were by no means prepared for print), and he arranged their copying and editing, adding his own glosses and notes. Between 1849 and 1861, he published the five volumes of Yismach Moshe on the Torah. The Yitav Lev delegated the task of copying and publishing the rest of his grandfather's manuscripts, to his son-in-law R. Yisrael Yaakov Yukel Teitelbaum Rabbi of Gorlitz and to his grandson R. Moshe David Teitelbaum Rabbi of Laposh (Tîrgu Lăpuş).
[1] leaf. Approx. 42 cm. Good condition. Stains. Worming to top of leaf, affecting text.


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R. Moshe Teitelbaum, Rabbi of Ujhely (1759-1841), was the progenitor of the Sighet and Satmar dynasties, as well as other prominent Chassidic dynasties. Renowned already in his youth as an outstanding Torah scholar, he merited studying in the beit midrash of the Vilna Gaon. He served as rabbi of Shinova (Sieniawa) and Ujhely. He embraced Chassidut is his later years, and became a disciple of the Chozeh of Lublin and the Ohev Yisrael of Apta. In 1808, he was appointed rabbi of Ujhely and began disseminating Chassidut in Hungary. He was renowned in his times as rebbe and wonder-worker and frequently gave out amulets. His books include: Responsa Heshiv Moshe on Halacha, Yismach Moshe on the Torah and Tefillah L'Moshe on Tehillim.

Rebbe Yekutiel Yehuda Teitelbaum (1808-1883), son of R. Elazar Nisan Teitelbaum Rabbi of Sighet, and son-in-law of R. Moshe David Ashkenazi – rabbi of Tolcsva who immigrated to Safed. He was a close disciple of his grandfather the Yismach Moshe – Rebbe Moshe Teitelbaum Rabbi of Ujhely, who drew him especially close and disclosed to him Heavenly revelations which he had perceived with Divine inspiration. He was also a disciple of Rebbe Asher Yeshaya of Ropshitz. In 1833 (at the age of 25), he was appointed rabbi of Stropkov, and after the passing of his illustrious grandfather, he was selected to succeed him as rabbi of Ujhely (Sátoraljaújhely). He was then appointed rabbi of Gorlitz (Gorlice), and later of Drohobych. In 1858, he went to serve as rabbi of Sighet, capital of the Maramureș region, and founded there a large yeshiva, which numbered at its zenith two hundred students. Amongst his renowned disciples from that time was R. Shlomo Leib Tabak author of Erech Shai and head of the Sighet Beit Din. His grandson attested that "he was a merciful father to his disciples, carrying them on his shoulders as a nurse carries a suckling, and overseeing each one individually to ensure they studied Torah in holiness and purity". In Sighet, he earnt worldwide renown, and thousands of Chassidim flocked to seek his counsel and wisdom, blessing and salvation. He was renowned for his exceptional holiness, and his grandson R. Yoel of Satmar attested that his holiness was never tainted. Numerous stories circulated of the wonders he performed, including incredible insights which were revealed to him with Divine Inspiration and through his exceptional wisdom. He was reputed in his generation as one who could read the minds of those standing before him, and amazing stories were told of this ability. His epitaph reads: "The renowned rabbi, he edified upstanding and reputable disciples, left behind valuable compositions". He is renowned for his books: Yitav Lev on the Torah, Yitav Panim on the Festivals, Rav Tuv on the Torah and Responsa Avnei Tzedek.


Chassidut – Manuscripts and Glosses
Chassidut – Manuscripts and Glosses