Auction 050 Part 2 Special Chabad Auction in Honor of Chag HaGeulah Yud-Tes Kislev – Rosh Hashana of Chassidut – Marking the Date in which Rebbe Shneur Zalman of Liadi was Released from Czarist Imprisonment
Avodat HaLevi, Chassidic homilies on the Torah portions and festivals, haftarot, Megillot, letters, various selections and halachic responsa by R. Aharon HaLevi Segal Horowitz of Strashelye. [Lviv]-Warsaw, [1842-1866]. Complete set – all four parts. First edition.
R. Aharon of Strashelye's books were not reprinted for many years, and are therefore considered rare. In the present set, a lengthy responsum (18 leaves) is bound twice, which is bibliographically unrecorded – at the end of Part II (selections and responsa) and at the end of Part IV (Devarim).
R. Aharon HaLevi Segal Horowitz (1766?-1829), a prominent disciple of the Alter Rebbe for thirty years. From the age of 17, he did not part from his teacher, and became his confidant and close attendant. When the Baal HaTanya moved to Liadi in 1802, he followed him there, to remain close to his teacher. During most of his teacher's tenure as rebbe, he was the close friend of the Rebbe's son, R. Dov Ber, the Mitteler Rebbe of Lubavitch. Together they offered guidance in service of God to the young men who frequented the Rebbe's court, and both wrote letters to the Chassidim in matters of service of God. The conflict between him and the Mitteler Rebbe began ca. 1809, for various reasons, together with a certain tension between him and his teacher, the Baal HaTanya, which caused him to return to his hometown Osveya. His teacher was deeply sorrowed by his departure, exclaiming "One of my eyes has been gouged out".
After the passing of the Alter Rebbe in 1813, a fierce controversy erupted between R. Aharon and the Mitteler Rebbe regarding the spiritual heritage of the Alter Rebbe – a profound intellectual debate on the Chabad doctrine of service of God. Letters, booklets and books were written and printed on both sides, in which each one exposited his method and approach, and criticized that of the opponent's. Thus, two courts following the teachings of the Baal HaTanya developed. R. Aharon served as rebbe in Strashelye (Starosel'ye), whilst the Mitteler Rebbe served as Rebbe in Lubavitch. Several of the Baal HaTanya's foremost disciples adopted the path of R. Aharon, headed by R. Avraham Sheines, son-in-law of the Baal HaTanya. In 1820, R. Aharon published in Shklow his first composition - Shaarei HaYichud VeHaEmunah, a commentary on Shaar HaYichud VeHaEmunah in the Tanya. In 1821 he printed his second work, Shaarei Avodah, a commentary to Likutei Amarim and Igeret HaTeshuvah in the Tanya. His books Avodat HaLevi on the Torah and festivals, including in-depth responsa, were published posthumously.
Four parts in four volumes. • Volume I (Bereshit-Vayikra, festivals and Megillot – Lviv, 1842): [2], 93, [1]; 76; 56 leaves. • (Selections and Responsa – Lviv, 1842): [1], 35, [2], 45-106; 18 leaves (lengthy responsum). • Volume 3 (Bamidbar – Warsaw, 1866): [2], 76 leaves. • Volume 4 (Devarim – Warsaw, 1866): [3], 2-62; 18, [2] leaves (corrigenda); 18 leaves (lengthy responsum). 22.5-24 cm. Good to good-fair condition. Stains, creases and wear. Damage and light tears (open tears affecting text to title page and some other leaves in Part II). Stamp. New bindings.
Two works by prominent followers of the early Chabad rebbes, R. Hillel Paritcher and R. Eizik Homiler:
• Pelach HaRimon, Chassidic discourses on Bereshit and Chanukah, according to Chabad Chassidic teachings, by R. Hillel HaLevi Malisov, Rabbi of Paritch and Babruysk (R. Hillel Paritcher, 1795-1864). Vilna: Finn, Rozenkranz and Schriftsetzer, 1887. First edition. Two title pages. Approbations from seven grandchildren of the Tzemach Tzedek and important Russian rabbis. Stamps of the "synagogue of Chassidic merchants, St. Petersburg".
VIII pages, [1], 2-140 leaves. Approx. 26 cm. Good condition. Stains and light damage. New binding.
• Chanah Ariel, by R. Yitzchak Eizik HaLevi Epstein, Rabbi of Homel (R. Eizik Homiler). Berditchev: Sheftel, [1912]. First edition. Contains four discourses, selections, homilies, including a lengthy commentary on Tanya chapter 33, responsa, letters and more.
[2], 2-79; [1], 2-5 leaves. 23.5 cm. Good condition. New binding.
First editions of two of the books of R. Avraham David Lavut, Rabbi of Nikolayev (grandfather of Rebbe Menachem Mendel Schneerson, the Lubavitcher Rebbe):
• Kav Naki, on laws of Gittin. Warsaw: Natan Schriftgisser, 1868. First edition. Two parts. Two title pages to Part I; divisional title page to Part II. The book contains approbations by R. Baruch Shalom Schneerson, eldest son of the Tzemach Tzedek of Lubavitch, [whose descendants later married the descendants of the author R. Lavut – R. Levi Yitzchak Schneerson and Rebbetzin Chanah daughter of R. Meir Shlomo Yanovsky, parents of the Lubavitcher Rebbe].
Part I: [4], 4-26, [1], 27-59 leaves; Part II: [1], 2-39 leaves. 29.5 cm. Good condition. Stains, creases and wear. New binding.
• Beit Aharon VeHosafot, index to Talmud, Rabbinic literature, Kabbalah and Chabad Chassidic books according to the order of the Tanach. Vilna: Yehudah Leib Metz, 1880. Only edition. On leaf [2]a is an approbation by the Rebbe Maharash of Lubavitch. Under the approbation is the ink seal and signature of the author, R. Avraham David Lavut. In the leaves of the book are three short handwritten glosses, signed with the initials M. A. H.
[3], 2-180 leaves. 33 cm. Good condition. Stains, creases and wear. Browning of paper. Open tears, affecting text on last leaves. New binding.
The author, Rabbi Avraham David Lavut (1815-1890), disciple of the Tzemach Tzedek and the Rebbe Maharash and one of the most prominent Chabad rabbis in Russia. Served in the rabbinate of Nikolayev (Mikolaiv) and the forty nearby villages for about forty years until his death. Authored several important works, most famously Kav Naki on laws of Gittin (a foundational work still used as a manual by rabbis to this day) and the Torah Or Siddur – an accurate version of the Alter Rebbe's Siddur, to which he appended the works Shaarei Tefillah and Shaar HaKollel.
Three letters and documents from the Neumark family archive (a Chabad rabbi in Russia):
• Leaf handwritten by Rabbi Yisrael Yaakov Neumark, Rabbi of Novhorod-Siverskyi (elder brother of R. Chaim Meshulam Zalman Neumark, Rabbi of Starodub). [Novhorod-Siverskyi, 1864.] Letter of commitment not to drink alcohol [apparently due to R. Neumark's function as a shochet, following an ancient statute].
• Responsum (2 handwritten pages) to R. Chaim Meshulam Zalman Neumark, Rabbi of Starodub, by R. Uri Aryeh Leib Katz, posek in the bordering town of Pahar (Lubyane). [Zlynka?], first day of Rosh Chodesh Tamuz, 1892. Question as to whether the synagogue ark should be changed from the east side to the south side to face Jerusalem.
• Document of sale of chametz (2 pages), handwritten and signed by R. Avraham Yaakov Neumark, Rabbi of Prienai (grandson of R. Chaim Meshulam Zalman Neumark, Rabbi of Starodub). Prienai, 14 Nisan, 1912.
[3] leaves. Varying size and condition. Overall good to fair condition.
R. Chaim Meshulam Zalman Neumark (d. 1893), a leading Chabad rabbi, important disciple of the Tzemach Tzedek, the Rebbe Maharash and the Rebbe Rashab of Lubavitch. One of the most renowned and prominent rabbis of Chabad Chassidut in his times. He served as rabbi of the following prominent Chabad cities and towns: Horki (1857-1867), Starodub (1867-1886), Vitebsk (1886-1888) and Nevel (1888-1893). Rebbe Yehudah Leib of Kopust called him "a renowned posek, both in halachic ruling and in his Chassidic knowledge".
Lengthy responsum (8 pages) handwritten and signed by Rabbi Shlomo Yehudah Leib Eliezerov. Oran (Algeria), Wednesday, 21 Cheshvan [1887].
Responsum letter on a woman who was betrothed to multiple men. R. Eliezerov discusses the issue at length and proffers a ruling.
Interestingly, this letter was sent from Oran, Algeria in 1887, while R. Eliezerov was an emissary sent to raise funds for the Jewish settlement in Hebron at the young age of 24. Little is known about this voyage, which R. Eliezerov describes in the letter.
The letter was printed, with textual variants, in his book Responsa She'elat Shlomo (Jerusalem, 2002), section 55.
R. Shlomo Yehudah Leib Eliezerov (1863-1952), rabbi and leader of the Chabad and Ashkenazi community in Hebron, and emissary to the Jewish community of Bukhara-Samarkand. Founder of the Magen Avot and Torat Emet yeshivas in Hebron. His father R. Eliezer Shimon Kazarnovsky was a grandson of Rebbetzin Menuchah Rachel Slonim, daughter of the Mitteler Rebbe. In 1873 he immigrated with his parents to Eretz Israel and settled in Hebron, where he studied under R. Shimon Menashe Chaikin and R. Eliyahu Mani. He traveled frequently to North Africa and Uzbekistan as an emissary of the Sephardic Hebron community, and in 1897 he was appointed chief rabbi of the Bukhara-Samarkand region, where he changed his surname to Eliezerov (after his father). In 1903 he was appointed Rabbi of the Ashkenazi Hebron community, and after World War I he settled in Jerusalem until his passing. His halachic responsa are printed in She'elat Shlomo.
[4] leaves (8 handwritten pages). Approx. 21 cm. Good condition. Folds. Stains and wear (mainly to last page). Small marginal tears, reinforced with tape.
Four letters of pilpul and halachah sent to R. Chaim Berlin (during his tenure as Rabbi of Yelisavetgrad and during his Jerusalem period), by important Chabad rabbis in Russia during the time of the Tzemach Tzedek, the Rebbe Maharash and the Rebbe Rashab of Lubavitch. Kherson, Romanovka, Yekaterinoslav and Lubavitch, 1902-1912.
1. Letter handwritten and signed by R. Gershon Dov Ber Pinsker, Rabbi of Kherson, regarding permitting an agunah to remarry. Kherson, 18 Shevat, 1902. At the top of the letter is his stamp.
2. Letter handwritten and signed by R. Sheiman (Shlomo) Itkin, Rabbi of Romanovka. Romanovka, 1903. At the top of the leaf is his stamp: "Sheiman son of R. Itkin, posek of the Romanovka community". In the letter R. Itkin asks R. Berlin's opinion regarding a machine for drawing well water into a mikveh [in the beginning of the letter R. Itkin mentions a responsum he had received from R. Berlin a week earlier; see this responsum on mikveh matters in Nishmat Chaim – Yoreh Deah, Jerusalem 2008, section 122, pp. 219-220].
3. Letter (2 pages) handwritten and signed by R. Dov Ze'ev Kozhevnikov, posek in Yekaterinoslav (Dnipro), regarding succession to a position as community shochet. Yekaterinoslav (Dnipro), 11 Nisan, 1905. At the top of the leaf is his stamp.
4. Lengthy letter (10 pages) handwritten and signed by R. Avraham Chaim Naeh. Lubavitch, 27 Sivan, 1912. At the end of the letter are his stamps in Hebrew and Latin script: “Chaim Mendelov”, “Ch. Mendelow”. Lengthy responsum discussing various topics (Chazakah and Chezkat Mamon, Tzrorot and Koach Kocho, and more).
The letter was sent during R. Naeh's stay in Lubavitch with the Rebbe Rashab, at the end of his service as an emissary in Samarkand, Uzbekistan, on the way back to Eretz Israel. During this period R. Naeh wore the characteristic clothing of Bucharan Jews and adopted the surname Mendelov. Despite his young age when sending the present letter, only 22 years old, R. Naeh was famed for his greatness in Torah and corresponded with the great rabbis of Jerusalem. At the beginning of Chanoch LaNaar, a book he had printed during that period for the residents of Samarkand, R. Berlin's letter to him is printed, where he showers him with titles of admiration and affection. [It can be deduced from the beginning of the present letter that he had sent previous responsa.]
Four letters (14 handwritten pages). Approx. 21-22 cm. Good condition. Folds. Stains, creases and light wear.
To the best of our knowledge and research, the four present letters have never before been printed.