Auction 92 Part 1 Rare and Important Items
Avodat Yisrael, Chassidic and kabbalistic essays on the Torah portions, Haftarot and festivals; two letters; Chassidic commentary on Tractate Avot and Talmudic novellae on Tractate Chullin; by R. Yisrael Hopstein, the Maggid of Kozhnitz. [Józefów: David Saadia Yeshaya Wax, 1842]. First edition.
Leaf 9, which contains references to non-Jews, was censored during printing, as discovered in Kedem Auction 53, item 33 (a copy where the omitted sentences were added in handwriting). The original text was never printed in any of the many subsequent editions of Avodat Yisrael. In most known copies of the first edition, leaf 9 was printed in a slightly different typography and on different paper than the rest of the book, without the aforementioned references. The present copy contains the original, uncensored leaf, with the original wording of the Maggid of Kozhnitz.
This copy also contains a rare leaf, not present in most copies, with three approbations by prominent Chassidic leaders: R. Mordechai David of Dombrowa, the Aryeh D'Vei Ila'i R. Aryeh Leib Lipschitz, and the Divrei Chaim of Sanz. In his famous approbation, the Divrei Chaim of Sanz attests: "In my opinion, there is no one in our generation capable of grasping his [the Maggid of Kozhnitz's] wisdom". These three approbations are not found in most copies of the first edition (they were presumably brought to the printer only after the printing of the book was completed), and were never printed again until the Bnei Brak 1965 edition.
The author, R. Yisrael Hopstein, known as the Maggid of Kozhnitz, (1733/1737-1814) was a holy kabbalist and founder of Chassidut in Poland. He was renowned as an outstanding, profound and innovative Torah scholar. He was a close disciple of the Maggid of Mezeritch, R. Elimelech of Lizhensk, and R. Levi Yitzchak of Berditchev. In 1765, he began serving as maggid in Kozhnitz. Thousands of Chassidim streamed to his door, and he became known as one of the leading rebbes in Poland. His renowned disciples include R. Yitzchak Meir Alter, the Chiddushei HaRim, who was raised in his home. The Maggid of Kozhnitz authored many books in all Torah fields, including halachah, novellae, homiletics and kabbalah, and was considered one of the leading kabbalists in his times. He was renowned for his tremendous knowledge of all kabbalistic works. Reputedly, already in his youth, before he began frequenting the court of the Maggid of Mezeritch, he had studied some eight hundred kabbalistic works. Some of his kabbalistic compositions are explanations of early kabbalistic books, as well as the books of the Maharal of Prague.
Avodat Yisrael was published 27 years after the passing of its author, and it is the first of his books to be published (a few of his essays were printed in his lifetime). Avodat Yisrael is considered a classic Chassidic work. Rebbe Yechezkel Halberstam of Shinova stated: "All the books of the disciples of the Baal Shem Tov are holy, while the book Avodat Yisrael is holy of holies". The Torat Chaim, rebbe of Kosov declared that one must study this book in great depth, just like one studies the Zohar. Reputedly, R. Yitzchak Eizik of Zidichov held the books of the Maggid of Kozhnitz in very high esteem, and when he received the book Avodat Yisrael, "he experienced tremendous joy", and exclaimed to the person who brought it to him that had he known he was coming to bring him the book, he would have come to meet him to welcome the book "due to his cherishing the holiness of the book".
Signature on the title page: "Yosef son of Freida ---".
[4], 90; 32 leaves. Lacking first title page (originally printed with two title pages). 21 cm. Partially printed on bluish paper. Good-fair condition. Stains, including several dark stains and wax stains. Marginal open tears to title page and several other leaves, not affecting text. Upper margin of title page trimmed. Minor worming. Stamps. New, elegant leather binding.
Ohev Yisrael, Chassidic homiletics on the Torah portions, by Rebbe Avraham Yehoshua Heshel of Apta. Zhitomir: R. Chanina Lipa and R. Yehoshua Heshel Shapira, grandsons of the rabbi of Slavita, 1863. First edition.
The book was brought to press by the author's grandson, Rebbe Meshulam Zusia of Zinkov (Zinkiv). In his foreword, he relates how his father, Rebbe Yitzchak Meir, son of the author, realized that many were copying the rebbe's teachings – each person according to his own understanding, and was concerned that this would lead to mistakes. He therefore chose one astute, outstanding Torah scholar and designated him to record the holy teachings, after which the writings were reviewed, and when necessary corrected, by the rebbe. Further in the foreword, he explains that the book was named Ohev Yisrael, based on the author's repeated assertion that the only character trait in which he could confidently take pride, even before the Heavenly court, was his outstanding love for his fellow Jew. Before his passing, he instructed his sons to write no other praise on his tombstone but Ohev Yisrael (Lover of Jews).
In his approbation (to the Lviv edition), R. Yosef Shaul Nathansohn writes: "...he loved every Jewish person with his heart and soul, and would show great affection particularly to Torah scholars. And our fathers related to us that while he was here [in Lviv], all the leading Torah scholars of the city would arise early to come and absorb his wondrous teachings...".
[1], 117 leaves. Leaves 71-74 bound out of sequence. 25 cm. Fair condition. Stains, including dampstains and dark stains (significant stains to final leaves). Large open tears to title page and several other leaves, affecting title page border and text; professionally restored with paper. Extensive worming, affecting text, repaired with paper. Several leaves possibly provided from a different copy. Stamps. New leather binding.
Yismach Moshe on the Torah – Chassidic and Kabbalistic homiletics, following the order of the weekly Torah portions, by R. Moshe Teitelbaum Rabbi of Ujhel (Sátoraljaújhely). Parts I-V, on the Books of Bereshit, Shemot, Vayikra, Bamidbar and Devarim. Lviv: various printers, 1848-1861. Complete set in five volumes. First edition of all five parts, with a separate title page for each part.
The Yismach Moshe series was prepared for print by the author's grandson and close disciple, Rebbe Yekutiel Yehuda Teitelbaum Rabbi of Sighet, author of Yitav Lev, and his glosses and additions, introduced with the words "so said the editor", are included in several places.
A brief foreword by the Yitav Lev was printed at the beginning of the Bereshit volume. Approbations by the Divrei Chaim and the Yitav Lev at the beginning of the Bamidbar volume.
The author, R. Moshe Teitelbaum, rabbi of Ujhel (1759-1841), was the progenitor of the Sighet and Satmar dynasties, as well as other prominent Chassidic dynasties. Renowned already in his youth as an outstanding Torah scholar, he had the merit of studying in the Beit Midrash of the Gaon of Vilna, and holding Torah discussions with him (see: HaGaon HaKadosh Baal Yismach Moshe, by R. Yosef Moshe Sofer, Brooklyn, 1984, pp. 25-26). He served as rabbi of Shinova (Sieniawa) and Ujhel. He embraced Chassidut in his later years, and became a disciple of the Chozeh of Lublin and the Ohev Yisrael of Apta. In 1808, he was appointed rabbi of Ujhel and began disseminating Chassidut in Hungary. He was renowned in his times as rebbe and wonder-worker and frequently gave out amulets. His books include: Responsa Heshiv Moshe on halachah, Yismach Moshe on the Torah and Tefillah LeMoshe on Tehillim.
On the title page of the Bamidbar volume, stamp of R. Asher Anshel Jungreis (the second) Rabbi of Csenger.
Other inscriptions and stamps in the Bamidbar and Vayikra volumes.
Set in five volumes: Bereshit: [1], 117 leaves. Extra copies of leaves 13-14. Shemot: 90 leaves. Vayikra: 42 leaves. Bamidbar: [1], 49 leaves. Devarim: 72, [1] leaves. 21.5-25 cm. Bereshit and Devarim vols. in overall good condition, Bamidbar in good-fair condition, Shemot and Vayikra vols. in fair condition. Stains, including dampstains (particularly to Vayikra vol.), and dark stains to several leaves. Worming, affecting text. Significant worming to some leaves of Shemot vol., with extensive damage to text, repaired with paper. Tears, including open tears, with slight damage to text, repaired with paper and tape (including repairs to some title pages). Abrasions affecting text to title page of Vayikra vol. Leaves trimmed close to text in several places (in Bamidbar vol. – margins of several leaves trimmed with minor damage to text). Stamps. New bindings (non-uniform).