Portrait of R. Sekel Leib of Michelstadt. Lithograph by an unidentified artist (signed: Toussainct / Moll Lith.?). [Presumably Germany, ca. 1830s].
Hebrew caption beneath the portrait: "R. Sekel Leib Michlestadt". The lithograph was presumably printed during his tenure as rabbi of Michelstadt (in the 1830s).
R. Seckel Leib (Yitzchak Aryeh) Wormser (1768–1847) – the Baal Shem of Michelstadt, a scion of the Luria Ashkenazi family, relative of the Maharshal and the Arizal. As a child, he earned the reputation of a Talmudic prodigy, and received his Torah education from his father. He founded and headed a yeshiva in Michelstadt. Torah leaders in his times, including the Chatam Sofer and the Chiddushei HaRim, would send his requests for prayer. On Rosh Hashana 1847, he prepared his students for his passing, and he indeed died the following day, on the Fast of Gedalia.

24X20.5 cm. Overall good condition. Stains. Some tears, professionally restored. Small pieces of paper pasted on verso.

Provenance: The Gross Family Collection, Tel Aviv, 112.011.012.