Lot 162
WITHDRAWN Shevet Mussar – Lemberg, 1862 – Copy of Rebbe Aharon Rokeach of Belz
WITHDRAWN - Shevet Mussar, parts I-II, by R. Eliyahu HaKohen of Izmir, with Yiddish translation. [Lemberg (Lviv), 1862].
Copy of Rebbe Aharon Rokeach of Belz. His stamp (partially missing) appears on the title page: "Aharon Rokeach…". The front endpaper contains a stamp: "Aharon Rokeach son of the Rav [of] Belz".
His brother, R. Mordechai of Bilgoraj, testifies that Rebbe Aharon of Belz was instructed by their father, Rebbe Yehoshua of Belz, to learn from the book Shevet Mussar every day (Raban Shel Yisrael, Jerusalem, 2007, p. 10).
Another source relates that in his youth, before he was appointed Rebbe, R. Aharon would learn every Shabbat eve, aloud and with great enthusiasm, the end of Shevet Mussar, chapter 52, which recounts at length the episode of our forefather Avraham breaking Nimrod's idols, and his being thrown into the furnace (Siman Tov, Jerusalem, 2001, p. 214).
Rebbe Aharon Rokeach of Belz (1880-1957) was renowned as a holy man and miracle worker, earning the epithet "Aharon, G-d's holy one". A foremost Rebbe and leader of European Jewry before the Holocaust, he also rebuilt Torah and Chassidut after the war. He was the son of Rebbe Yissachar Dov of Belz (the Maharid) and grandson of Rebbe Yehoshua of Belz. From a young age, he was known for his great holiness and toil in Torah and Chassidic works, together with his outstanding asceticism. He earnt the reputation of an advocate of the Jewish people and a wonder-worker benefiting from Divine Inspiration, and thousands flocked his court to seek his blessings, advice and salvation.
Rebbe Aharon was crowned Rebbe of the Belz Chassidut in 1927 and became one of the foremost leaders of Eastern European Jewry. As such, he was especially targeted by the Nazis during the Holocaust. His followers smuggled him from ghetto to ghetto, until he miraculously managed to escape to Budapest, Hungary, where he remained for a short period, until the Nazis demanded his extradition. From there he made his way to Eretz Israel on a difficult journey that spanned Romania, Bulgaria, Greece, Turkey and Syria. His wife, children, grandchildren and entire extended family were killed by the Nazis, and he arrived in Eretz Israel accompanied only by his brother, R. Mordechai of Biłgoraj (who also lost his entire family, his only remnant being his son, R. Yissachar Dov, current Belzer Rebbe, born of his second marriage in Eretz Israel). Rebbe Aharon of Belz settled in Tel Aviv and worked together with his brother R. Mordechai of Biłgoraj, on re-establishing institutions of the Belz Chassidut in Eretz Israel and around the world - in Tel-Aviv, Jerusalem, Bnei Brak and other places.
[1], 96; 44, 49-88, 93-96, 93-104, 99 leaves. Lacking the title page of part II. 24.5 cm. Good-fair condition. Title page lacking lower part, with loss to the text and stamp, repaired with paper. Stains and wear. Early leather binding, with gilt ornaments, restored.
