Auction 96 Early Printed Books, Chassidut and Kabbalah, Books Printed in Jerusalem, Letters and Manuscripts

Lot 105

Signatures of the Yitav Lev of Sighet on Endpaper of a Book

Opening: $500
Sold for: $3,750
Including buyer's premium

Endpaper of a book, with signatures of Rebbe Yekutiel Yehudah Teitelbaum of Sighet, the Yitav Lev.
The leaf contains many inscriptions and scribbles, including several signatures of Rebbe "Yekutiel Yehudah Teitelbaum", as well as his initials: "Yitav" and inscriptions in Latin characters (of the surname "Teitallbaum" and more), as well as an ownership inscription: "This book Atzei Levonah belongs to… R. Yekutiel Yehudah Teitelbaum, Rabbi of Sighet and the region… his servant who prostrates himself at the dust of his feet".
There likewise appears a kvitel inscription and other inscriptions.


Rebbe Yekutiel Yehudah Teitelbaum (1808-1883), the Yitav Lev, 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 Ujhel, and a disciple of Rebbe Asher Yeshayah of Ropshitz. In 1833 (around 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 Ujhel (Sátoraljaújhely). He was then appointed Rabbi of Gorlice, and later of Drohobych. In 1858, he went on to serve as Rabbi of Sighet (Sighetu Marmației), capital of the Maramureș region, and founded a large yeshiva there, which numbered at its zenith two hundred students. In Sighet, he earned worldwide renown, and thousands of Chassidim flocked to seek his counsel and wisdom and his blessings for salvation.


[1] leaf. Approx. 25 cm. Good-fair condition. Stains, tears and wear.

Chassidut Sighet and Satmar – Books, Letters and Manuscripts
Chassidut Sighet and Satmar – Books, Letters and Manuscripts