Heshiv Moshe, responsa on the four parts of the Shulchan Aruch, by Rebbe Moshe Teitelbaum, Av Beit Din of Ujhel, author of Yismach Moshe. Lemberg (Lviv): U. W. Salat, 1866. First edition.

On the reverse side of the title page, approbations of the Shoel UMeshiv and Divrei Chaim of Sanz, and an introduction by the author's grandson, Rebbe Yekutiel Yehudah Teitelbaum, Av Beit Din of Sighet, author of Yitav Lev, where he recounts how the responsa were gathered and prepared for press: "Most of them were dispersed, each in a different place, written on small papers that were found worn and blurred, nearly illegible without much effort. With God's mercy, they were gathered one by one, integrated and arranged properly… all copied from his holy handwriting".

Learned gloss on the margins of page 5a.

Signatures on the title page: R. Moshe Gras, and Moshe Seidenfeld; inscriptions of the front endpaper: "This book Heshiv Moshe belongs to my father and master, great in Torah and fear of heaven, Moshe Gras of Ujhely"; "I bought it from the above, Moshe Seidenfeld". R. Moshe Gras of Ujhel, son-in-law of R. Yirmiyahu Lev, Av Beit Din of Ujhel, author of Divrei Yirmiyahu [son of R. Binyamin Wolf Lev, author of Shaarei Torah].

On the title page, stamp of R. Dr. Eliezer (Alois) Schweiger (1872-1943), Rabbi of Yeshurun community in Nitra, Slovakia (in Latin characters).

Rebbe Moshe Teitelbaum, Av Beit Din of Ujhel (1759-1841), the Yismach Moshe, an illustrious Chassidic leader in Hungary and Galicia, and progenitor of the Sighet and Satmar Chassidic dynasties. An outstanding Torah scholar and kabbalist, he was an expert in both the revealed and hidden Torah. He was famed during his lifetime as a holy wonderworker possessing ruach hakodesh. He first served as rabbi in Shinova from 1785-1808, and subsequently in 1808 he was appointed rabbi and Av Beit Din of Ujhel (Sátoraljaújhely) and the region. Rebbe Moshe was originally opposed to Chassidut, and in his youth he traveled to study with the Vilna Gaon. He joined Chassidut at a later age, influenced by his son-in-law, R. Aryeh Leib Lipschitz, Av Beit Din of Vishnitza (Nowy Wiśnicz), author of Responsa Aryeh DeVei Ila'i, who convinced him to travel to the Chozeh of Lublin. With the Chozeh he became aware of clear manifestations of ruach hakodesh, and from that point on he became his close disciple, devoting himself to the Chassidic way and spreading its teachings in his regions. He likewise traveled to visit the Ohev Yisrael of Apta. Starting in 1815, he began to distribute amulets to those in need of salvation, thereby performing countless wonders. It is told that he hesitated about whether to continue making amulets until he heard a heavenly voice calling out to him while he was awake: "Do not fear, for I am with you" (Tehillah LeMoshe). To this day, most of the amulets and shemirot in Ashkenazic lands are attributed to the amulets of the Yismach Moshe, including the printed shemirot for children and child-bearing women and for plague. The famous "Keresterir's amulets", which were written by rebbes as a Segulah to guard one's house and property, originate with the Yismach Moshe.

[1], 38; 82, [1] leaves. 36.5 cm. Good condition. Stains and wear. Marginal tears to several leaves, some of which are repaired with paper. Stamps. Fine new leather binding.