Yismach Moshe, Part I – homilies on Neviim, Ketuvim and the Five Megillot, by Rebbe Moshe Teitelbaum, Av Beit Din of Ujhel (Sátoraljaújhely). Budapest: Meshulam (Zalman) Katzburg, 1934.

Part I, comprising six works: 1. Yismach Moshe on Neviim and Ketuvim. 2. Yashir Moshe on Shir HaShirim. 3. Klil Tiferet on Ruth. 4. Evel Moshe on Eichah. 5. Mor ULevonah on Kohelet. 6. Asis Rimoni on Esther. At the beginning of the book (leaves 2-24) is a biography of the author called Tehillah LeMoshe – by the author's great-grandson, R. Yisrael Yaakov Yukel Teitelbaum of Volove (1838-1924), and the latter's son the publisher Rebbe Moshe David Teitelbaum, Av Beit Din of Magyarlápos.

Two copies, with change of publisher – in the first copy, the publisher’s name is given on the title page as “R. Yitzchak Segal Klein” (and in Latin characters on the reverse side of the title page: “Rabbiner I. Klein” of Ujhel); on the second copy notes are pasted on top of R. Klein’s name on which it is printed that the publisher is “R. Naftali Tzvi Mandel” (and in Latin characters on the reverse side of the title page: “Mandel Mándor” of Ujhel). It should be noted that despite this, at the end of the introduction at the beginning of the book by Rebbe Moshe David Teitelbaum, Av Beit Din of Magyarlápos (publisher of the first edition of Yismach Moshe on Neviim, Ketuvim and Megillot, Sighet, 1906-1908), it says: “I gave power, permission and the right to print to my friend R. Yitzchak HaLevi Klein of Ujhel… in 5690 [1930]”.

R. Yitzchak HaLevi Klein of Ujhel (born 1904), close disciple of R. Yehudah Grünwald, Av Beit Din of Satmar, published his books, Responsa Zichron Yehudah (Budapest, 1923) and Shevet MiYehudah. R. Naftali Tzvi Mandel of Ujhel (perished in the Holocaust in 1944) worked extensively to print and distribute the books of his teacher, the Arugat HaBosem.

Ownership inscription on the title page of the first copy: “This book belongs to R. David Aryeh Jakobowicz who lives in Munkacs”; his stamps (in Latin characters) are on the endpaper. Stamps of R. “Tuviah Jakobowicz” on the margins of some leaves.

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.

Two copies: [1]-4, [1]-191 pages. Approx. 27 cm. Good condition. Stains. Tears and minor damage. New bindings.