Tziyun L'Nefesh Chaya, novellae on Tractate Pesachim, by R. Yechezkel HaLevi Segal Landau Rabbi of Prague. Zhovkva, [1825].
The title page bears stamps of Rebbe "Yehoshua son of R. Shlomo Leib" of Ostrów (Ostrów Mazowiecka). Ownership inscriptions and pen trials appear on the endpapers.
The book contains ten scholarly handwritten notes, most particularly lengthy. Some contain difficulties and objections to the words of the author. For instance: "He overlooked the Yerushalmi… and it is perplexing that the great author could overlook this" (p. 40a); "This is a mistake…" (p. 9a of the second pagination); "He overlooked the Yerushalmi in that place… and it is surprising that he didn't see it" (p. 12a of the second pagination); "What the author wants to say as simple… goes against the Talmud in Chulin 108…" (p. 22b of the second pagination).
Rebbe Yehoshua of Ostrów (d. 1873, Encyclopedia L'Chassidut, 2, pp. 52-53), was one of the great rebbes of Poland, the son of R. Shlomo Leib of Łęczna. He succeeded his father in leading a large community of thousands of Chassidim and was known for his greatness and holiness. R. Tzadok HaKohen of Lublin said of him that he "guards the Holy Covenant". He authored Toldot Adam (Józefów 1875) which earned the epithet "the small Noam Elimelech". His son-in-law was Rebbe Yitzchak Yaakov Rabinowicz of Biala, the first Rebbe of the Biala Chassidic dynasty.
The following was written regarding Rebbe Yehoshua of Ostrów's great library and its fate after his passing: "The holy Rebbe of Sosnowiec reputedly owned many books like a library, as is known from the books that the holy brothers of Ger bought after the passing of the holy Rebbe of Biala, and the Rebbe of Sosnowiec stated that he learnt from all of them, and in the majority of them, he studied the entire book" (Maamar Mordechai - Beracha Meshuleshet, Biłgoraj, 1932). Part of the library of Rebbe Yitzchak Yaakov of Biala was acquired by the Imrei Emet, Rebbe of Ger, and his brother R. Moshe Betzalel Alter (see: R. Moshe Hillel, Ohel Re'em, Jerusalem 2018, p. 35, note 84). A small part of the library was passed on to his son-in-law, Rebbe Yosef Tzvi Kalish of Skierniewice. The notes in this book were possibly handwritten by Rebbe Yehoshua of Ostrów or one of the inheritors of his library.
[1], 48; 37 leaves. 34 cm. Fair condition. Stains and wear. Worming, slightly affecting text in some places. Original binding, damaged and partially detached.

WITHDRAWN - Shevet Mussar, parts I-II, by R. Eliyahu HaKohen of Izmir, with Yiddish translation.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.

Collection of books, mostly Chassidic, which belonged to the Shmerler family, descendants of Rebbe Meir of Premishlan and the Noam Elimelech; with inscriptions, signatures and stamps.
1-2. Noam Elimelech, by R. Elimelech of Lizhensk. Warsaw, [19th century]. Bound with Sidduro shel Shabbat Parts 1-2, by R. Chaim Tirer of Chernivtsi. Warsaw, [19th century].
3-8. Pe'er Yitzchak, history of Rebbe Yitzchak Isaac of Zhydachiv, by R. Michael Braver. Lvov, [1928]. First edition.
Bound with:
· Shlosha Edrei Tzon, Chassidic tales of R. Shlomo of Crăciuneşti (Kretsnif), R. Berish of Oświęcim and R. Aryeh Leibush Rabbi of Vyzhnytsya (Vizhnitz), by their disciple R. Menachem Menli Sofer. Letters by R. Menachem Mendel of Rymanów and his disciple R. Yechezkel Panet author of Mareh Yechezkel are printed at the end of the book. Pyetrykaw, 1930.
· Zechut Yisrael - Eser Atarot, tales and Torah novellae of ten prominent Chassidic Rebbes, by R. Yisrael Berger, Rabbi of Bucharest. Pyetrykaw [c. 1920].
· Hillula D'Tsaddikaya, "List of the dates of the death of Torah scholars and tsaddikim…with laws and customs for those who visit the graves of tsaddikim, and the prayer composed by…R. Moshe Teitelbaum and with the essay…by R. Dov Ber…of Lubavitch…", by R. Reuven Margaliot. Lvov, 1929. First edition. Lacking last two leaves.
· Botzina D'Nehorah, Chassidic stories and teachings, by R. Baruch of Medzhybizh. Bardejov, 1925.
· Margenita D'Rabbi Meir, Chassidic compositions on the Torah, by R. Meir of Premishlan. Lvov, 1926. First edition.
9-11. Zechut Yisrael - Eser Kedushot, tales and Torah novellae of ten prominent Chassidic Rebbes, [Pyetrykaw? c. 1910]. Lacking title page and one middle leaf.
Bound with:
· Zechut Yisrael - Eser Orot, tales and Torah novellae of ten prominent Chassidic Rebbes. Pyetrykaw, 1907. First edition. Lacking last leaf.
· Zechut Yisrael - Eser Tsachtsachot, tales and Torah novellae of ten prominent Chassidic Rebbes, by R. Yisrael Berger, Rabbi of Bucharest. Pyetrykaw 1909. First edition.
12. Chumash Bereshit, with Targum, Rashi and Or HaChaim commentaries, with Shabbat prayers. [Vienna-New York], 1923.
Dedication on front flyleaf by R. Chaim Zvi Eisenbach to his brother-in-law R. Eliyahu Shmuel Shmerler, in honor of his bar-mitzvah.
13-16. Chok L'Yisrael, Shemot-Devarim. Pyetrykaw, 1922. Four volumes.
On first title pages: 1812. Lacking 17 leaves in the middle of Chumash Bamidbar (and the first title page).
The title pages, endpapers and other leaves of all the volumes bear signatures and stamps of members of the Shmerler family: "Efraim Mordechai Shmerler"; "Yaakov Yisrael Shmerler son of R. Moshe Meir of Safed, grandson of R. Meir of Premishlan and Mykolaiv, grandson of the author of Noam Elimelech"; "Eliyahu Shmuel Shmerler".
At the end of Chok L'Yisrael, volumes Vayikra and Bamidbar, are lists of the births of the children of R. Yaakov Yisrael Shmerler in his handwriting.
R. Yaakov Yisrael Shmerler (1882-1950) and R. Efraim Mordechai Shmerler were grandsons of R. Chaim Avraham of Mykolaiv, son-in-law and successor of R. Meir of Premishlan. R. Yaakov Yisrael was a prominent Sanz Chassid in Jerusalem.
His son, R. Eliyahu Shmuel Shmerler is head of the Sanz-Klausenberg Yeshiva in Netanya, close disciple and assistant of R. Yekutiel Yehuda Halberstam of Klausenberg. Author of the Divrei Eliyahu series on Talmudic tractates.
16 books in 8 volumes. Size and condition vary.

Zohar on the Torah by the holy Tanna R. Shimon Bar Yochai, part II - Shemot. Kopust (Kopys), [1810].
Copy of the holy Maggid of Koznitz (Kozienice), with his handwritten signature on the last leaf of the book (beneath the colophon), consisting of his first name: "Yisrael".
The front endpaper contains the signature "Yaakov Dovid son of R. Yisrael Yitzchak" - the handwritten signature of Rebbe Yaakov David of Radoshitz (Radoszyce), son of R. Yisrael Yitzchak of Radoshitz and grandson of R. Yissachar Ber of Radoshitz. The Rebbes of the Radoshitz dynasty were reputebly closely connected to the Maggid of Koznitz and to his grandson the Seraf of Mogielnica.
The holy Maggid of Koznitz - R. Yisrael Hopstein (1737-1815, Encyclopedia of Chassidut II, pp. 542-548), was a foremost Rebbe and disseminator of Chassidism in Poland. Born in Opatów, he was allegedly named Yisrael at the behest of the Baal Shem Tov, who said that "the whole celestial entourage rejoiced in his joy". He was known from a young age as an outstanding Torah scholar. After his marriage, he became close to R. Shmelke of Nikolsburg (who served at the time as rabbi of Rychwał), who encouraged him to travel to the Maggid of Mezeritch (Mezhirichi). The latter relied on him to edit on his behalf kabbalistic books and siddurim (R. Yisrael Hopstein supposedly studied eight hundred kabbalistic books before approaching the Maggid of Mezeritch). After the Maggid's passing, he became a follower of R. Elimelech of Lizhensk (Leżajsk) and was considered one of his foremost disciples, to the extent he was said to have inherited from R. Elimelech his "power of heart". In 1765, he began serving a maggid of Koznitz, central Poland, and in 1786, thousands of chassidim began thronging his court, until he became recognized as one of the most prominent Rebbes of Poland. His disciples include renowned Rebbes: his grandson R. Chaim Meir Yechiel the "Seraf of Mogielnica"; R. Yaakov Tzvi Yalish (Yolles) of Dynów author of Melo HaRo'im; R. Yeshaya Muszkat of Praga; R. Itamar Wohlgelernter author of Mishmeret Itamar; R. Yechezkel of Kuzmir (Kazimierz Dolny); R. Yissachar Dov Ber of Radoshitz and R. Yitzchak Meir Alter the Chiddushei HaRim, who was raised in his home.
140, 145-180 leaves (lacking leaves 141-144). 21 cm. Good condition. Some light-blueish leaves. Stains. Wear and tears to several leaves. Original leather binding, with tears and damage, open tears to spine.
Written according to the report of R. Yitzchak Yeshaya Weiss (enclosed).