Auction 96 Early Printed Books, Chassidut and Kabbalah, Books Printed in Jerusalem, Letters and Manuscripts
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"Teachings of our master… teaching the people of G-d the path to follow", bound manuscript (Chabad "Bichel"). [1815]. Hand-Illustrated title page.
Early copying of some 30 letters, discourses and Chasidic homilies by Rebbe Shneur Zalman of Liadi – the Alter Rebbe. This copying was made approximately two years after the Alter Rebbe passed away (on 24th Tevet, 1812). When compared with printed versions of the writings of the Baal HaTanya, the essays in the present manuscript contain many additions, omissions and textual variants.
At the beginning of the manuscript, Mahadura Kama of Igeret HaTeshuvah, a part of the Tanya (this version was unknown to the editors of the Mahadura Kama of the Tanya, Brooklyn, 1982), followed by two letters written by the Baal HaTanya after his release from prison in St. Petersburg (letters 2 and 4 of Igeret HaKodesh in the Tanya; letters 73 and 37 of his Igrot Kodesh). At the end of one of these letters appears a copying of the Alter Rebbe's signature, reading: "Shneur Zalman son of R. Baruch".
The present manuscript contains 25 homilies delivered by the Alter Rebbe during the 1790s-1800s, both in Liadi and in Liozna. Towards the end of the Bichel (p. 61b) is a copying of two additional letters written by the Alter Rebbe in 1803 (letters 30 and 1 of Igeret HaKodesh in the Tanya, letters 84 and 82 of his Igrot Kodesh).
On p. 61a, copying of a discourse by the Maggid of Mezeritch (Maggid Devarav LeYaakov, 2005 edition, no. 83, p. 30). To the best of our knowledge and research, the discourse "Lehavin Inyan Nefesh VeRuach", appearing in the present manuscript in leaves 59a-61b, has never been printed.
Some forty blank leaves of a later period are bound at the end of the manuscript, after leaf 64. On the first page is a copying in a different hand of a discourse by the Mitteler Rebbe (Maamarei Admor HaEmtza'i of Lubavitch, IX, p. 1589). The last two pages contain an index of the discourses and letters copied in the manuscript.
Ownership inscriptions and birth records from ca. 1820s-1830s inscribed on last page. Stamp of the "Bikur Cholim Hospital" in Jerusalem.
[1], 2-64 leaves (two columns per page on about half of leaves) + [40] blank leaves (on first page, copying of the discourse by the Mitteler Rebbe; and on last leaves, index and ownership inscriptions). Leaf 55 torn and mostly lacking. 18.5 cm. Good condition. Stains, including dark stains. Creases and light wear. Large marginal open tears to title page, repaired with paper, affecting illustrated frame. Tears from ink erosion, affecting frame of title page and text in some places. Worming, affecting text. Stamps. New binding, slightly worn.
Provenance: The Gross Family Collection, Tel Aviv, EE.011.007.
Shanah Tovah letter from Rebbe Yosef Yitzchak Schneerson, the Rebbe Rayatz of Lubavitch. Warsaw, 19th Elul, 1935.
Typewritten on the Rebbe Rayatz's official stationery, with his signature: "Yosef Yitzchak".
Sent to the dean of the Torat Emet yeshiva in Jerusalem, R. Moshe Aryeh Leib Shapiro: "Approaching the new year… I bless him and all his household… with a Ketivah VaChatimah Tovah for a good and sweet year, physically and spiritually".
R. Moshe Aryeh Leib Shapiro (1889-1972), dean of the Torat Emet yeshiva, rabbi and posek in the Beit Yisrael neighborhood in Jerusalem. He accompanied the Rebbe Rayatz on his visit to Jerusalem in 1929. Author of Nimukei Malbim and Tabeot Zahav on Ketzot HaChoshen.
[1] leaf, official stationery. 24.5 cm. Good condition. Folding marks, creases and light wear.
Shanah Tovah letter from Rebbe Yosef Yitzchak Schneerson, the Rebbe Rayatz of Lubavitch. Otwock, 23rd Elul, 1936.
Typewritten on the Rebbe Rayatz's official stationery, with his signature: "Yosef Yitzchak".
Sent to his relative R. Azriel Zelig Slonim: "Approaching the new year… I bless him and his household… with a Ketivah VaChatimah Tovah for a good and sweet year, physically and spiritually".
R. Azriel Zelig Slonim (1897-1972), a leading Chabad activist, member of Agudas Chasidei Chabad and director of Kollel Chabad. A founder of Lubavitch Women's Organization and the Beit Chanah institution, and a founder of Shikun Chabad in Jerusalem.
[1] leaf, official stationery. 24.5 cm. Good condition. Filing holes. Folding marks. Creases and light wear to margins. Marginal dampstain. Inscription on verso.
Letter from Rebbe Yosef Yitzchak Schneerson, the Rebbe Rayatz of Lubavitch. Brooklyn, New York, 5th Cheshvan, 1943.
Typewritten on the Rebbe Rayatz's official stationery, with his signature: "Yosef Yitzchak".
Sent to his relative R. Azriel Zelig Slonim: "I received his note on mentioning his name and the names of his household at its time, and I blessed him with a good and sweet year and for G-d to fulfill all the wishes of his heart for good and blessing, physically and spiritually – his relative and friend who seeks his welfare and blesses him".
R. Azriel Zelig Slonim (1897-1972), a leading Chabad activist, member of Agudas Chasidei Chabad and director of Kollel Chabad. A founder of Lubavitch Women's Organization and the Beit Chanah institution, and a founder of Shikun Chabad in Jerusalem.
[1] leaf, official stationery. 21.5 cm. Thin paper. Good condition. Filing holes. Folding marks. Creases and wear.
"Public-private" letter from Rebbe Menachem Mendel Schneerson, the Lubavitcher Rebbe. Brooklyn, New York, 11th Nisan, 1959.
Typewritten on the Rebbe's official stationery, with his handwritten signature – "M.Schneersohn", with words added in his handwriting.
A "public-private" letter (an identical letter sent to several individuals), sent to R. Dov Ber Tkach. In the letter, the Rebbe offers a blessing for the upcoming Pesach festival: "Approaching the Festival of Matzot, the time of our freedom, I hereby offer my blessing for a kosher and joyous festival and for true freedom, freedom from physical worries and spiritual worries – from everything that obstructs service of G-d with happiness and joy; and to draw from this freedom and happiness the entire year…". At the end of the letter the Rebbe adds in his handwriting: "Respectfully and [with a festival blessing]".
On the margins of the letter the Rebbe writes that he received his book, Part IX of Kuntres HaShemot HeChadash, and adds in his handwriting: "Congratulations".
The recipient of the letter, R. Dov Ber Tkach (1889-1975), an important Chabad rabbi in Eretz Israel, founded and directed the Bnei Temimim Torah school and Achei Temimim yeshiva in Tel Aviv. Born in Ludmir (Volodymyr), he was one of the first students of the Ludmir yeshiva under the Karlin Chassid R. Chaim Mendel Kostromtzki, and later studied under R. Yoel Shurin in Zviahel, who declared him worthy of being a great posek. After his engagement to the daughter of R. Avraham Eliyahu Seltz of Lokachi he joined the Chabad movement and studied in the Tomchei Temimim yeshiva in Lubavitch. He was later appointed rabbi and mashpia in a Chabad community in Ludmir, where he would deliver Chassidic lectures in the Lubavitch shtiebel. He also raised funds for the Tomchei Temimim yeshiva in Warsaw. In the summer of 1932 he participated in the arrangements for the visit of the Rebbe Rayatz in Ludmir. In 1935 he immigrated to Eretz Israel and served as Rabbi of the Kontrovitz and Ahavat Tzion synagogues in Tel Aviv. In 1947 he traveled to the United States on behalf of the Rebbe Rayatz to raise funds for Chabad institutions in Tel Aviv. He is known for authoring Kuntres HaShemot HeChadash (twelve parts) – an important index of names for scribes of marriage and divorce documents. In addition, he authored Tarach Amudei Or on the 613 mitzvot (eight parts), Seder Yemot Olam on history, and more.
[1] leaf. Rebbe's official stationery. 21.5 cm. Good-fair condition. Folding marks and creases. Many stains and wear. Inscription on verso (in pencil).
"Public-private" letter from Rebbe Menachem Mendel Schneerson, the Lubavitcher Rebbe. Brooklyn, New York, 11th Nisan, 1972.
Typewritten on the Rebbe's official stationery, with his handwritten signature – "M.Schneersohn", with words added in his handwriting.
A "public-private" letter (an identical letter sent to several individuals), sent to R. Naftali Gluskin and members of the class for study of Chassidut opened by him in Ramat Sharon. In his letter, the Rebbe offers a blessing for the upcoming Pesach festival: "Approaching the Festival of Matzot, the time of our freedom… I hereby offer my blessing for a kosher and joyous festival and for true freedom, freedom from physical worries and spiritual worries – from everything that obstructs service of G-d with happiness and joy; and to draw from this freedom and happiness the entire year…". At the end of the letter the Rebbe adds in his handwriting: "Respectfully and [with a festival blessing]".
On the margins of the letter the Rebbe offers his thanks for the blessing he received for his birthday on 11th Nisan: "Congratulations for the blessings. And what you said is already stated in the Torah: 'And I (G-d, the source of blessings) will bless those who bless you, ' with the blessing of G-d, Whose addition is greater than the principal".
R. Naftali Gluskin (d. 1947), a student of the Tomchei Temimim Lubavitch yeshiva in Kremenchuk (1918-1919) and a disciple of the Rabbinical Seminary in the Chassidic town Nevel (1925-1927). Married Rebbetzin Tamar Ita, daughter of R. Shimon Moshe Diskin Rabbi of Lyakhavichy, a close friend of Rebbetzin Chanah, mother of the Lubavitcher Rebbe. In 1944-1945, when Chanah was widowed of her husband R. Levi Yitzchak in Almaty, Tamar Ita devotedly stood by her side, despite the risk involved. The Rebbetzin wrote to her in one of her letters: "I well remember how you related to me… at the time nobody dared to stand within my four cubits". R. Naftali and his wife Tamar Ita left Russia in 1946. At first they stayed in the Wegscheid DP camp in Austria, and they later moved to France, where they founded educational institutions for Chabad girls. In 1949 they immigrated to Israel and settled in Ramat HaSharon, later moving to Bnei Brak where he worked as a shochet. R. Naftali disseminated Chassidut and his wife Tamar Ita continued to work as an educator, and she was a founder of the Beit Rivkah foundation in Kfar Chabad.
[1] leaf, official stationery of the Rebbe. 28 cm. Good condition. Folding marks and creases. Stains and light wear.
Letter from Rebbe Menachem Mendel Schneerson, the Lubavitcher Rebbe. Brooklyn, New York, 13th Nisan 1981.
Typewritten on the Rebbe's official stationery, with his signature – "M. Schneersohn".
A "public-private" letter (an identical letter sent to several individuals), for the upcoming festival of Pesach. The Rebbe offers his blessing for a kosher and happy holiday and for true freedom, both physical and spiritual.
In the margins of the letter, the Rebbe thanks his correspondent for a blessing he had sent him for his birthday (11th Nisan), and responds with another blessing.
[1] leaf, official stationery. Approx. 22 cm. Good condition. Folding marks.
"Public-private" letter from Rebbe Menachem Mendel Schneerson, the Lubavitcher Rebbe. Brooklyn, New York, Rosh Chodesh Sivan, 1964.
Typewritten on the Rebbe's official stationery, with his handwritten signature – "M. Schneersohn", with additions and corrections in his handwriting.
A "public-private" letter (an identical letter sent to several individuals), sent to R. Dov Ber Tkach. In the letter, the Rebbe explains the meaning of Shavuot, the festival of the giving of the Torah. The primary idea of Shavuot is "annulling the division and separation between the upper and lower regions… a total unification". He explains that every Jew's role is to work to unite the upper and lower regions in all of his personal matters – "both spiritual and physical, private and public". In so doing, the prophecy is fulfilled that G-d's glory will be revealed.
The Rebbe concludes his letter with a blessing for the upcoming Shavuot festival: "With a blessing – in the words of the rabbi, namely my father-in-law the Rebbe Rayatz – to receive the Torah joyfully and internally".
On the margins of the letter are references and sources for topics and ideas cited in the letter.
The recipient of the letter, R. Dov Ber Tkach (1889-1975), an important Chabad rabbi in Eretz Israel, founded and directed the Bnei Temimim Torah school and Achei Temimim yeshiva in Tel Aviv. Born in Ludmir (Volodymyr), he was one of the first students of the Ludmir yeshiva under the Karlin Chassid R. Chaim Mendel Kostromtzki, and later studied under R. Yoel Shurin in Zviahel, who declared him worthy of being a great posek. After his engagement to the daughter of R. Avraham Eliyahu Seltz of Lokachi he joined the Chabad movement and studied in the Tomchei Temimim yeshiva in Lubavitch. He was later appointed rabbi and mashpia in a Chabad community in Ludmir, where he would deliver Chassidic lectures in the Lubavitch shtiebel. He also raised funds for the Tomchei Temimim yeshiva in Warsaw. In the summer of 1932 he participated in the arrangements for the visit of the Rebbe Rayatz in Ludmir. In 1935 he immigrated to Eretz Israel and served as Rabbi of the Kontrovitz and Ahavat Tzion synagogues in Tel Aviv. In 1947 he traveled to the United States on behalf of the Rebbe Rayatz to raise funds for Chabad institutions in Tel Aviv. He is known for authoring Kuntres HaShemot HeChadash (twelve parts) – an important index of names for scribes of marriage and divorce documents. In addition, he authored Tarach Amudei Or on the 613 mitzvot (eight parts), Seder Yemot Olam on history, and more.
[1] leaf. Approx. 28 cm. Thin paper. Fair condition. Folding marks and creases. Stains and wear. Minor marginal open tears (not affecting text).
Lot 290 "Public-Private" Letter from the Lubavitcher Rebbe – Blessings for Shavuot – 5th Sivan, 1967
Letter of Rebbe Menachem Mendel Schneerson, the Lubavitcher Rebbe. Brooklyn, New York, 5th Sivan 1967.
Typewritten on the Rebbe's official stationery, with his signature – "M. Schneersohn", and with several words added in his handwriting.
A "public-private" letter (an identical letter sent to several individuals), for the upcoming festival of Shavuot. The Rebbe offers his blessing to receive the Torah joyfully and internally.
On the margins of the letter are references and sources for topics and ideas cited in the letter, followed by a short congratulatory message handwritten by the Rebbe.
[1] leaf, official stationery. 35.5 cm. Good condition. Folding marks. Stains. Inscriptions on verso.
Letter from Rebbe Menachem Mendel Schneerson, the Lubavitcher Rebbe. Brooklyn, New York, 5th Sivan, 1963.
Typewritten on the Rebbe's official stationery, with his signature – "M.Schneersohn".
Sent to R. Nisan Natan in Jerusalem. In his letter the Rebbe blesses him: "…Approaching the festival of Shavuot, the time of giving of our Torah… I hereby offer my blessing in the words of the rabbi, namely my father-in-law the Rebbe [Rayatz] – to receive the Torah joyfully and internally".
Aerogram. 30.5 cm. Good condition. Light creases.
Letter from Rebbe Menachem Mendel Schneerson, the Lubavitcher Rebbe. Brooklyn, New York, 12th Adar, 1958.
Typewritten on the Rebbe's official stationery, with his signature – "M.Schneersohn".
A letter of blessing for the holiday of Purim: "…The days of the month of Adar, in which our holy Torah, the Torah of life, commands us to increase our joy, and especially at the middle point, the days of Purim, when one is obligated to become intoxicated to the point of not distinguishing… And it is certain that on high all that is necessary is being done, and the visible and revealed good is drawn out… in order that there be increase in joy to the point of not distinguishing, increase in good, increase in kindness, etc.… With a blessing for a joyous Purim and good tidings".
In the margins of the letter the Rebbe adds counsel, encouragement and guidance on service of G-d and character improvement, diversion from all hindrances and impediments, and fulfilling the Torah and mitzvot joyfully: "…He should divert himself from thoughts about himself, introspection and the like, by immersing his thoughts in Torah and prayer… As to his question about his mood swings… the cause is a plot of the evil inclination to weaken him in fulfilling the Torah and mitzvot, which must be done joyfully. And the most effective strategy against the evil inclination in such a case is, as previously stated, specifically diverting the mind, not using intellectual arguments and the like".
Printed in Likutei Sichot XXXIX (p. 326).
Aerogram. 30.5 cm. Good condition. Filing holes.
Shanah Tovah letter from Rebbe Menachem Mendel Schneerson, the Lubavitcher Rebbe. Brooklyn, New York, Elul 1959.
Typewritten on the Rebbe's official stationery, with his signature: "M.Schneersohn"; with words added in his handwriting.
Sent to R. Nachman Pinchas Yarblum in Jerusalem (a student in the Torat Emet yeshiva in Jerusalem and director of the Torah Or school of the Lubavitch Youth Organization in Ein Kerem): "Approaching the new year… I hereby offer my blessing to you and yours, a blessing of Ketivah VaChatimah Tovah for a good and sweet new year, physically and spiritually". At the beginning of the letter the Rebbe added by hand: "His letter has been received".
[1] leaf. 21.5 cm. Good condition. Folding marks.