Tehillim, in large letters, with the Metzudot commentary. [Slavita: R. Shmuel Avraham Shapira, son of R. Moshe Shapira, 1835].
Copy lacking title page and other leaves, and without Seder Maamadot. This copy was previously owned by Rebbe Yaakov Yosef Twersky of Skver (Skvyra) in the United States, who used it to recite Psalms.
When his close friend R. David Moshkowitz, Rabbi of Bonyhád presented him with a complete copy of a Slavita Tehillim, the Rebbe gave him in return as a gift his old Tehillim, which was lacking the title page and foreword leaves. In the endpaper, a letter handwritten and signed by the son of the rabbi of Bonyhád is pasted, dated Nisan 1997, testifying that "I heard from my father that he gave Rebbe Y.Y. of Skver a Slavita Tehillim, and in exchange received his old Tehillim which was lacking several leaves at the beginning of the book, and I am hereby signing on this [Yaakov Moshe?] Moshkovitz".
Rebbe Yaakov Yosef Twersky of Skver (1899-1968) was a leading Rebbe in the United States. Born in Skvyra, he served as Rebbe in Kalarash (Călăraşi, Romania). After the Holocaust, he reached New York, where he established his community in a distinctive neighborhood – New-Square, community reputed until this day for its conservative character, preserving authentic Chassidic Judaism like it was in the European Shtetls before the Holocaust.
R. David Moshkovitz (1909-1985) was born in Kerestir (Bodrogkeresztúr). After the Holocaust, he served as rabbi of Bonyhád and Miskolc. In the 1950s, he immigrated to Jerusalem, serving as posek in the Eda HaCharedit. Reputed as a holy, pious and ascetic man, wondrous stories of his holiness and fiery fear of G-d abound. He adopted special conducts regarding holiness, one of which was that he would not touch anyone who hadn't immersed in a ritual bath, wearing a glove when needing to pay on the bus or in similar situations. A leading Belzer chassid, he was also close to the Skver, Dushinsky and Satmar Chassidic courts (in the period between the passing of Rebbe Aaron of Belz and the appointment of the current Rebbe, Belz chassidim would gather to pray during the High Holidays in the Belz yeshiva in Jerusalem, and would honor the rabbi of Bonyhád with conducting the Mussaf prayers – prayer usually led by the Rebbe).
1-3, 5-166 leaves (originally: [2], 166 leaves. Lacking 3 leaves). 17.5 cm. White and blueish paper. Fair condition. Many handling marks. Various stains. Tears and extensive wear. Repairs from various periods. Tears and damage to leaves 1-3 with significant loss of text (repaired, with professional photocopy replacements of the missing passages). Several glosses handwritten in blue pen. New, elegant leather binding.
Reciting Tehillim from the Slavita edition, printed in holiness and purity by the pious Rebbe Moshe Shapira of Slavita, son of R. Pinchas of Korets, and by his son Rebbe Shmuel Avraham Shapira, is a reputed Segula.