Auction 63 - Rare and Important Items
Shivchei HaBaal Shem Tov – Łaszczów, 1815 – Segula Book – Signature of Rebbe Yechezkel Shraga Halberstam Rabbi of Shinova and Stamp of his Brother-in-Law the Rebbe from Oshpitzin, Son-in-Law of the Divrei Chaim
Opening: $5,000
Estimate: $8,000 - $10,000
Sold for: $8,750
Including buyer's premium
Shivchei HaBaal Shem Tov, "Stories of wonders and miracles from the Light of Israel and its holy one… the heavenly R. Yisrael Baal Shem Tov", by R. Dov Ber of Linitz (Illintsi). Łaszczów, [1815].
The title page contains a signature: "Yechezkel Halberstam" – apparently, the handwritten signature of Rebbe Yechezkel Shraga Halberstam Rabbi of Shinova (Sieniawa). The last page bears a stamp of "Elazar HaLevi Rozenfeld, son of the pious man from Kaminka, son-in-law of the Rabbi from Sanz, who lives here in Oshpitzin" – Rebbe Elazar Rosenfeld of Kaminka (Kamianka-Buzka) and Oshpitzin (Oświęcim).
The first Shinova Rebbe, R. Yechezkel Shraga Halberstam, Rabbi of Shinova (1815-1899), was the author of Divrei Yechezkel and eldest son of the Divrei Chaim of Sanz (Nowy Sącz). An outstanding Torah scholar, proficient in all realms of Torah, he was venerated in his role as rabbi and rebbe already during his father's lifetime. Progenitor of important Chassidic dynasties, during the course of his life many of his sons and grandsons served as rabbis and rebbes in various cities. Holy and pure from his youth, he attended leading rebbes of his times and was considered their primary disciple. He was famed for the miracles he performed, and reputedly instructed his students to save his letters, which would afford them protection and salvation.
His brother-in-law R. Elazar HaLevi Rosenfeld of Oshpitzin (1861-1943) was the youngest son-in-law of the Divrei Chaim of Sanz and son of Rebbe Yehoshua of Kaminka (who was a son of R. Shalom of Kaminka). In 1885, he was appointed rabbi of Bochnia, succeeding his father as Rebbe of Kaminka in 1897. In 1900, he went to serve as rabbi and rebbe in Oshpitzin. He immigrated to Eretz Israel in 1936, establishing his Beit Midrash in Jerusalem, yet returned to Poland just before the outbreak of WWII, and perished in the Sosnowiec ghetto.
Shivchei HaBaal Shem Tov was first published in Kopust (Kopys) in 1815. That same year, two more editions were printed, one in Łaszczów (this edition) and one in Berdychiv, presumably due to high demand for the book. Although the rabbi of Kopust in his approbation to the Kopust edition prohibited reprinting the book for a period of six years, the publisher of this edition relied on various dispensations to print this book, as he writes in the publisher's foreword printed at the end of the book. The foreword indicates that books from the first Kopust edition were quickly sold out, which resulted in a second edition in that same town. Within the year of its first appearance, this book was altogether printed in four editions, demonstrating how quickly the book became popular and sought-after.
The name of the author and editor of the book, R. Dov Ber of Linitz, does not appear in the Kopust edition, nor in this edition, and is known only from the Berdychiv edition. R. Dov Ber, a Shochet and Bodek in Linitz, was the son-in-law of R. Alexander Shochet who served as the scribe of the Baal Shem Tov for eight years. Many stories appearing in this anthology were heard from R. Alexander Shochet. Another source for the stories in this book is the rabbi of the city R. Dov Ber resided in, R. Gedalia of Linitz, a disciple of the Baal Shem Tov, who is referred to in the book as "the rabbi of our community".
A Segula book – The book Shivchei HaBaal Shem Tov is cited in several sources as being a Segula for salvation and cure. R. Yissachar Dov Berish HaKohen of Wolbórz, author of Avodat Yissachar, is quoted saying he received a heavenly revelation defining Shivchei HaBaal Shem Tov as the second part of the book of Tehillim and bearing a Segula for salvation. He also offered his advice to all generations, that any Jewish person who takes ill should read narratives about great people from this book, and if they were unable to, a chapter should be read to them morning and evening (Ohel Yissachar, pp. 59-60). A similar tradition is reported in the name of the Tzemach Tzedek, Rebbe of Lubavitch, that reading from the book Shivchei HaBaal Shem Tov is beneficial for lowering fever (see enclosed material).
[1], 32 leaves. Fair-good condition. Stains. Marginal wear and tears. Margins trimmed to varying sizes (several leaves were presumably completed from a different copy). New, elaborate leather binding.
Stefansky Chassidut, no. 548.
The title page contains a signature: "Yechezkel Halberstam" – apparently, the handwritten signature of Rebbe Yechezkel Shraga Halberstam Rabbi of Shinova (Sieniawa). The last page bears a stamp of "Elazar HaLevi Rozenfeld, son of the pious man from Kaminka, son-in-law of the Rabbi from Sanz, who lives here in Oshpitzin" – Rebbe Elazar Rosenfeld of Kaminka (Kamianka-Buzka) and Oshpitzin (Oświęcim).
The first Shinova Rebbe, R. Yechezkel Shraga Halberstam, Rabbi of Shinova (1815-1899), was the author of Divrei Yechezkel and eldest son of the Divrei Chaim of Sanz (Nowy Sącz). An outstanding Torah scholar, proficient in all realms of Torah, he was venerated in his role as rabbi and rebbe already during his father's lifetime. Progenitor of important Chassidic dynasties, during the course of his life many of his sons and grandsons served as rabbis and rebbes in various cities. Holy and pure from his youth, he attended leading rebbes of his times and was considered their primary disciple. He was famed for the miracles he performed, and reputedly instructed his students to save his letters, which would afford them protection and salvation.
His brother-in-law R. Elazar HaLevi Rosenfeld of Oshpitzin (1861-1943) was the youngest son-in-law of the Divrei Chaim of Sanz and son of Rebbe Yehoshua of Kaminka (who was a son of R. Shalom of Kaminka). In 1885, he was appointed rabbi of Bochnia, succeeding his father as Rebbe of Kaminka in 1897. In 1900, he went to serve as rabbi and rebbe in Oshpitzin. He immigrated to Eretz Israel in 1936, establishing his Beit Midrash in Jerusalem, yet returned to Poland just before the outbreak of WWII, and perished in the Sosnowiec ghetto.
Shivchei HaBaal Shem Tov was first published in Kopust (Kopys) in 1815. That same year, two more editions were printed, one in Łaszczów (this edition) and one in Berdychiv, presumably due to high demand for the book. Although the rabbi of Kopust in his approbation to the Kopust edition prohibited reprinting the book for a period of six years, the publisher of this edition relied on various dispensations to print this book, as he writes in the publisher's foreword printed at the end of the book. The foreword indicates that books from the first Kopust edition were quickly sold out, which resulted in a second edition in that same town. Within the year of its first appearance, this book was altogether printed in four editions, demonstrating how quickly the book became popular and sought-after.
The name of the author and editor of the book, R. Dov Ber of Linitz, does not appear in the Kopust edition, nor in this edition, and is known only from the Berdychiv edition. R. Dov Ber, a Shochet and Bodek in Linitz, was the son-in-law of R. Alexander Shochet who served as the scribe of the Baal Shem Tov for eight years. Many stories appearing in this anthology were heard from R. Alexander Shochet. Another source for the stories in this book is the rabbi of the city R. Dov Ber resided in, R. Gedalia of Linitz, a disciple of the Baal Shem Tov, who is referred to in the book as "the rabbi of our community".
A Segula book – The book Shivchei HaBaal Shem Tov is cited in several sources as being a Segula for salvation and cure. R. Yissachar Dov Berish HaKohen of Wolbórz, author of Avodat Yissachar, is quoted saying he received a heavenly revelation defining Shivchei HaBaal Shem Tov as the second part of the book of Tehillim and bearing a Segula for salvation. He also offered his advice to all generations, that any Jewish person who takes ill should read narratives about great people from this book, and if they were unable to, a chapter should be read to them morning and evening (Ohel Yissachar, pp. 59-60). A similar tradition is reported in the name of the Tzemach Tzedek, Rebbe of Lubavitch, that reading from the book Shivchei HaBaal Shem Tov is beneficial for lowering fever (see enclosed material).
[1], 32 leaves. Fair-good condition. Stains. Marginal wear and tears. Margins trimmed to varying sizes (several leaves were presumably completed from a different copy). New, elaborate leather binding.
Stefansky Chassidut, no. 548.
Chassidic Books
Chassidic Books