Auction 78 - Rare and Important Items

Zera Kodesh (Ropshitz) – Two Parts – Lviv, 1868 – First Edition

Opening: $1,000
Estimate: $2,000 - $3,000
Sold for: $3,500
Including buyer's premium
Zera Kodesh, Chassidic homiletics. Part I on the Torah and Part II on the Festivals, by Rebbe Naftali Tzvi Horowitz of Ropshitz (Ropczyce). Lemberg (Lviv), 1868. First edition. Two parts in one volume. Lacking title page of part II.
Interesting approbation at the beginning of part I, by a close disciple of the author – Rebbe Chaim of Sanz. He writes that in the past he did not agree to print the holy teachings of R. Naftali of Ropshitz, "because I knew that the holy author himself did not approve of printing his Torah novellae. However, on second thought, I decided that it was good that the printers published these writings. It is known that R. Chaim Vital also refrained from publishing his novellae and the teachings he received from his teacher, the Ari, and did not allow his disciples to write them; nevertheless, the righteous of the generation made efforts to copy, write and publish them, and the world shone…". On the verso of the approbation leaf is a notice by the person who brought the book to press: "I have called the book Or HaNer, however the holy rebbe of Sanz called it Zera Kodesh… and I have nullified my will before his holy will".
Two parts in one volume. [2], 124; 120 leaves. Lacking title page of part two. 22 cm. Paper partially browned. Good-fair condition. Many stains. Worming, affecting text, repaired with paper (some leaves professionally restored). Stamps and handwritten inscriptions. New leather binding.
Stefansky Chassidut, no. 208.
Chassidut – Manuscripts, Signatures and Books
Chassidut – Manuscripts, Signatures and Books