Bereshit, Shemot and Bamidbar, with the Rashi commentary, Baal HaTurim and the Panim Yafot commentary by R. Pinchas HaLevi Horowitz Rabbi of Frankfurt am Main. [Ostroh, 1825-1826]. First edition. Only three (incomplete) volumes out of five.
Approbations of R. Akiva Eger, the Chatam Sofer, R. Yaakov of Lissa and the Baruch Taam in the Shemot volume. The title page of this volume reads: "Panim Yafot… Part III of the book Haflaa". The first parts of Haflaa are: Ketuba on Tractate Ketubot (Offenbach 1787) and HaMikneh on Tractate Kiddushin (Offenbach 1801).
In his approbation, R. Akiva Eger describes the importance and great merit that lie in acquiring this book.
R. Pinchas HaLevi Ish Horowitz (1731-1805), author of Haflaa, served in his youth as rabbi of Witkowo and Lachovice. On 26th Tevet 1772, he was appointed rabbi and dean of Frankfurt am Main, which at that time was the largest Torah center in Germany. He held this position for over thirty-three years, until his passing. He edified many disciples in his yeshiva, the most prominent of them being his close disciple the Chatam Sofer. He led the battles agains Haskalah and the reform movement. R. Pinchas and his Torah novellae were held in high regard by all the leaders of his generation, whether Chassidic or opponents of Chassidut.
At the end of 1771, shortly before he arrived in Frankfurt, R. Pinchas spent several weeks together with his brother R. Shmelke Rabbi of Nikolsburg, by the Maggid of Mezeritch, where they absorbed the secrets of Torah and worship of G-d from the Maggid and his leading disciples. In his book Panim Yafot, the Haflaa brings several principles from the teachings of the Maggid of Mezeritch (see: Erchei HaHaflaa, Jerusalem 2006, I, pp. 40-41), although he only mentions him explicitly in one place, in Parashat Beshalach (p. 57b), in the commentary to "VaYavo'u Marata".
Three volumes only. Lacking leaves. Bereshit: 156, 2-7 leaves. Lacking [4] first leaves. Shemot: [2], 100, 100-105, 105-112, 121-168, 149-152 leaves. Lacking first title page and 42 final leaves (153-160, 166-171, [1]; 10, [3]; 21-32, [2]). Lacking leaves replaced in photocopy. Bamidbar: [1], 146; 3, [2] leaves. Lacking first title page. Approx. 20 cm. Greenish paper. Condition varies. Bereshit and Bamidbar volumes in overall good-fair condition. Shemot volume in fair condition. Stains and wear. Repaired tears to first leaves and last leaf of Bereshit volume, and to title page and several other leaves of Bamidbar volume. Minor worming in Bamidbar volume. Shemot volume with many stains, including dampstains and signs of mildew, repaired tears and worming to first leaves, and small open tears affecting text in several places. Stamps. New bindings.

Pri Kodesh Hilulim, introduction and commentary to the book Pri Etz Chaim on prayer kavanot, by Rebbe Tzvi Hirsh of Zidichov – "Sar Beit HaZohar". Lviv, [1833]. The title pages states that it was printed in "1802" by "Jides [Yehudit] Rosanes".
False imprint. The name of the printer and the two dates (Hebrew and civil) on the title page, are incorrect. The actual year of printing is hinted to in the closing note of the publisher at the end of the book, where two chronograms each indicate the year 5593 (=1833). This type of falsification was common in Chassidic books printed in Galicia at that time, due to censorship restrictions and the persecution of Chassidim by the Haskalah movement (A. Yaari lists 16 books with similar false imprints; see A. Yaari, The Printing Press of Rebbetzin Yehudit Rosanes in Lviv, Kiryat Sefer, XVII, 1940, p. 108, no. 47).
Rebbe Tzvi Hirsh Eichenstein, the Ateret Tzvi of Zidichov (1763-1831, Encyclopedia L'Chassidut, III, pp. 596-599), was known by the name "Sar Beit HaZohar" due to his exceptional knowledge of kabbalah. From a young age, he was renowned as an outstanding genius whose knowledge encompassed all facets of the Torah. A close disciple of the Chozeh of Lublin, he also travelled to other Chassidic masters, such as R. Moshe Leib of Sassov, R. Yisrael the Maggid of Kozhnitz, R. Menachem Mendel of Rimanov and R. Avraham Yehoshua Heshel of Apta. After the passing of his teacher, the Chozeh of Lublin, in 1815, Zidichov thrived under the leadership of R. Tzvi Hirsh, becoming one of the largest and most prominent Chassidic centers in Galicia. He was highly venerated, this being expressed in the exceptional praise he received from tzaddikim of his generation. The Malbim, although not a Chassid, studied kabbalah under him.
Other famed compositions of R. Tzvi Hirsh of Zidichov are: Ateret Tzvi on the Zohar, in which a glimpse of his profound kabbalistic knowledge is revealed; Sur MeRa V'Aseh Tov, also known as "Hakdamah VeDerech L'Etz HaChaim", which serves as an introduction to the book Etz Chaim by R. Chaim Vital, and contains additions by R. Tzvi Elimelech of Dinov, author of Bnei Yissaschar; and Beit Yisrael – Chassidic homiletics on the Torah portions.
[1], 21; 15, [1] leaves. 22 cm. Good condition. Stains. Worming, slightly affecting text, repaired with paper. Marginal tears to some leaves, repaired. New binding.

Ner Yisrael, by R. Yisrael Hopstein – the Maggid of Kozhnitz, "wonderful commentary, Torah novellae and lofty secrets", on the book Likutei R. Hai Gaon – "profound and awesome secrets on the 42-letter name". "Vilna" [Lviv? ca. 1842-1852]. First edition of the Ner Yisrael commentary.
This book contains two compositions published earlier in Warsaw (1798) with the encouragement of the Maggid of Kozhnitz (see previous item): Likutei R. Hai Gaon, by R. Moshe of Burgos (leading Spanish kabbalist in the 12th century) and Shaar HaShamayim, attributed to R. Yosef Gikatilla (in fact it is part II of the book Sefer HaIyun by Rav Chamai Gaon). This edition includes a profound commentary entitled Ner Yisrael, by the Maggid of Kozhnitz, as well as the 58 kabbalistic principles by the same author, printed here for the first time.
In his works, the Maggid of Kozhnitz focuses on explaining the kabbalah of the Geonim and of R. Yisrael Sarug. His profound teachings, which incorporate writings of the Arizal and key tenets of Chassidut, were written concisely and with allusions, and are difficult to grasp.
The Divrei Chaim of Sanz wrote in his approbation to Avodat Yisrael by the Maggid of Kozhnitz: "In my opinion, there is no one in our generation capable of grasping his wisdom". Rebbe Elimelech of Grodzisk writes regarding the works of the Maggid of Kozhnitz: "All his holy teachings are impenetrable, and not any brain is capable of understanding even a minute part of his holy teachings, alluded to with profound, exceptionally lofty secrets". The kabbalist, R. Amram Offman wrote a series of books to explain these works; in his preface to his commentary Petilat HaNer (commentary to Ner Yisrael), he writes that this book is a "segulah for protection, as it is well-known that the 42-letter name serves as a protection".
At the end of the book, a transcript of a manuscript of the Baal Shem Tov was added, containing the order for inaugurating a new cemetery ("if one needs to expand the cemetery"), as well as "selections by R. Pinchas of Korets", comprising 130 sections. Regarding these selections, the "Heichal HaBerachah" of Komarno wrote in his book Netiv Mitzvotecha: "What is printed at the end of Ner Yisrael, selections… a false teaching was printed there in his name [section 23], and this was not uttered by his holy mouth [of R. Pinchas]… some jester printed that nonsense" (see enclosed material).
The verso of the title page contains several novellae by the Yehudi HaKadosh of Peshischa, pertaining to the chapter of HaMafkid.
On the title page, signatures of R. Yaakov, rabbi of Turka, son-in-law of the Bnei Yissaschar: "Yaakov son of R. P.A. [Pinchas Aryeh – alive at the time of the inscription]". At a later point, the acronym "zal" (blessing for the deceased) was added near the signatures (R. Yaakov's father, R. Pinchas Aryeh, passed away in 1853).
Another inscription on the title page, attesting that the book was purchased from the estate of R. Yaakov: "Yosef Moshe Sofer, I purchased it from the estate of the rabbi of Turka…".
R. Yaakov, rabbi of Berezov (Brzozów) and Turka (1810-1855) was the youngest son-in-law of R. Tzvi Elimelech Shapiro Rabbi of Dinov, author of Bnei Yissaschar. Reputedly, when he was a young child, his father R. Pinchas Aryeh presented a kvittel to his teacher, the Chozeh of Lublin, with the names of his two sons. "When he read on the note the name of his son R. Yaakov, the Chozeh exclaimed: 'Ah, he shines!' and then sighed. When he was asked why he sighed, he replied that he does not foresee longevity" (see Ohel HaRebbi, Or HaNiflaot section, 70, where this story is retold in detail). R. Yaakov passed away at the age of 45, several years following the passing of his father.
[2], 24 leaves. Approx. 24 cm. Good condition. Stains and wear. Minor marginal tears to title page, not affecting text. Inscriptions. Stamps. New leather binding.
On the title page, the place of printing is stated as Vilna, without noting the year of printing. The Bibliography of the Hebrew Book considers the imprint to be false, and surmises that the book was printed in Lviv, ca. 1840 (other places list 1820 and 1822 as the year of printing). We assume that the book was printed in 1842-1852, since on the title page, the author is noted as the author of Avodat Yisrael, which was first printed in Nisan 1842 (and was only named at the time of the printing, as related at length in the publisher's foreword there). Likewise, at the beginning of the novellae of the Yehudi HaKadosh of Peshischa, printed on the verso of the title page, the latter's son – R. Nechemia of Bichov is mentioned as living, and R. Nechemia passed away in Tishrei 1852.
Stefansky Chassidut, no. 394.