Auction 89 - Rare and Important Items

Magen David (Tolna) – Zhitomir, 1852 – Copy of the Rebbes of Slonim, the Divrei Shmuel and His Son Rebbe Yissachar Leib Weinberg

Opening: $1,000
Estimate: $2,000 - $3,000
Sold for: $4,000
Including buyer's premium
Magen David, Chassidic essays on the Torah portions and festivals, by Rebbe David Twersky of Tolna. Zhitomir: R. Chanina Lipa, R. Aryeh Leib and R. Yehoshua Heshel Shapira, 1852. First edition.
Two title pages, the second printed in red and black.
Copy of the rebbes of Slonim – the present book belonged to the Divrei Shmuel Rebbe of Slonim, and after his passing, it was passed down to his son Rebbe Yissachar Leib, as the stamps on the second title page testify: " From the estate of my father R. Sh. of Slonim, Yissachar Leib Weinberg".
Rebbe Shmuel Weinberg of Slonim, author of Divrei Shmuel (1850-1916), grandson and close disciple of the Yesod HaAvodah. He began serving as rebbe ca. 1883. He always led his flock in Europe and Tiberias with love and exceptional devotion. For most of his life, he was engaged in raising funds for Kollel Reisin, supporting supporting the immigrants to Tiberias. His most remarkable accomplishment was the establishment of the Or Torah yeshiva in Tiberias. He was also one of the founders of Agudath Yisrael in 1912.
The Divrei Shmuel would often frequent the Tzaddikim and rebbes of his generation, such as the Divrei Chaim of Sanz and R. Mordechai Shraga Feivish of Husiatyn. He especially liked to travel to Rebbe David Moshe of Chortkov, whom he regarded as his prime teacher in all his affairs. The Divrei Chaim of Sanz once praised the Divrei Shmuel and stated that for more than three hundred years, a lofty soul like his had not come down to this world (R. Yitzchak David Lieder, Beit Deli, Jerusalem 2009, pp. 49-50). R. Chaim of Brisk testified that he was well versed in both Babylonian and Jerusalem Talmud, Sifra, Sifri and Tosefta (R. Shmuel Aharon Lieder, Nitei Esh, p. 471).
His eldest son, Rebbe Yissachar Leib Weinberg (1833-1928, Encyclopedia L'Chassidut, II, p 466-467), served as rebbe of Slonim after the passing of his father in 1916, alongside his younger brother Rebbe Avraham Weinberg, the Beit Avraham. The brothers shared a close friendship, and sometimes even led the Tish together, side by side. He was known for his wisdom and insight even in worldly matters, and for his tremendous love for his fellow Jew, giving a warm welcome to one and all. Rebbe Rayatz of Lubavitch stated about the two brothers, whom he knew from a young age, that he did not find such holy and pure brothers in entire Poland. Rebbe Yissachar Leib passed away on 28th Nissan 1928, and left behind his son Rebbe Avraham Yehoshua Heshel (later rebbe of Slonim – Tel Aviv, 1898-1978, Encyclopedia L'Chassidut, I, pp. 95-96).
The author – Rebbe David Twersky of Tolna (1808-1882) began serving as rebbe after the passing of his father Rebbe Mordechai of Chernobyl, in 1837. He was one of the foremost leaders of Ukrainian Jewry, and a rebbe to thousands of Chassidim. His court in Vasilkov (Vasylkiv), and later in Tolna (Talne), was one of the largest and most prominent in his times. Reputedly, many were aroused to repentance from hearing his teachings, including numerous maskilim. R. David was the sixth of the eight illustrious sons of R. Mordechai of Chernobyl. The latter stated: "I and my sons descended to this world to repair the souls of the deceased and the living" (R. Yeshaya Wolf Tzikernik, Sipurim Nifla'im UMaamarim Yekarim, Lviv 1908, p. 6). Rebbe Aharon of Belz would speak of the brothers' exceptional holiness in effusive terms, and stated in the name of his father Rebbe Yissachar Dov: "We cannot conceive the magnitude of their stature", and once, when R. Aharon of Belz mentioned them, his hands shook, and he exclaimed: "They were truly angels… entirely angels…" (Beito Naava Kodesh, Nisan, p. 123).
[2], 3-120, [1] leaves. 20.5 cm. Good-fair condition. Stains. Worming, slightly affecting text (primarily to first and final leaves). Stamps. Old ownership inscriptions on endpapers and other leaves. New leather binding.
Including final leaf of errata (not bound in all copies).
Chassidic Books
Chassidic Books