Auction 97 Part 2 Rare and Important Items
Avodat HaKodesh, laws, practices, segulot and Tikkunim, by R. Chaim Yosef David Azulai – the Chida. Jerusalem: R. Yisrael Bak, 1841. Two title pages, the first one with a woodcut border.
The first book printed in Jerusalem. The book begins with a foreword by the printer (leaves [2b]-[4]). This foreword is an important source documenting the history of Eretz Israel, the Galilee and Damascene Jewry. R. Yisrael Bak relates his experiences before reaching Jerusalem: his immigration to Eretz Israel and establishment of the printing press in the Galilee; the earthquake of 1837 which claimed the lives of thousands of Jews; the riots in Galilean towns in 1834-1838 by marauders who renewed their attacks on the earthquake survivors, plundering and destroying their remaining possessions. R. Yisrael relates his involvement in the 1840 Damascus affair, reporting that he urged Moses Montefiore to get involved by sending him letters to London from Alexandria, where he was residing at that time. He acclaims the Sephardi Torah scholars and investors who assisted him in reestablishing his printing press in Jerusalem.
At the end of his introduction, R. Yisrael Bak writes: "…In order to benefit the public, I resolved to first print the precious book called Avodat HaKodesh by the Chida… so that each person can find what he is looking for, and every Jew who carries it can study from it…".
The renowned printer R. Yisrael Bak (1797-1874), a disciple of the Chassidic masters Rebbe Levi Yitzchak of Berditchev and Rebbe Yisrael of Ruzhin. Born in Berditchev, he was involved in the printing profession already in his youth, and in 1815, he established the (second) printing press in Berditchev, where he printed some 26 books before immigrating to Eretz Israel. Reputedly, he designed the Slavita typeface. Following his immigration to Eretz Israel, ca. 1831, he settled in Safed, where he established a printing press which operated for a short while, until the great 1837 earthquake which completely destroyed the town. In 1840 he established a printing press in Jerusalem – the first printing press in Jerusalem to print Hebrew books and the only press in the city until the 1860s.
For more information about R. Yisrael Bak and his printing press in Safed and Jerusalem, see: Shoshana Halevy, Sifrei Yerushalayim HaRishonim, Jerusalem 1976, pp. 15-27; Meir Benayahu, R. Yisrael Bak's Printing Press in Safed and the Beginning of Printing in Jerusalem, Areshet, IV, Jerusalem 1966, pp. 271-295 (Hebrew).
Signatures on title pages: "Eliyahu Aharon Shweka", "Aharon Shweka".
[4], 111 leaves. 15.5 cm. Most leaves in good condition. Stains. Light wear. Minute marginal open tears to first title page and several other leaves. Bottom margin of second title page closely trimmed. New leather binding.
The first Hebrew book printed in Jerusalem. Sh. Halevy, no. 1.
Avodat HaKodesh, laws, practices, segulot and Tikkunim, by R. Chaim Yosef David Azulai – the Chida. Jerusalem: R. Yisrael Bak, 1841. Two title pages, the first one with a woodcut border.
The first book printed in Jerusalem.
The present item contains a variant in the printing of the second title page, with the author's full name: "R. Chaim Yosef David Azulai". In most copies, the author is referred to by the acronym of his name: "Chida". In addition, the present variant refers to the author as "renowned", a word omitted in the other copies.
The book begins with a foreword by the printer (leaves [2b]-[4]). This foreword is an important source documenting the history of Eretz Israel, the Galilee and Damascene Jewry. R. Yisrael Bak relates his experiences before reaching Jerusalem: his immigration to Eretz Israel and establishment of the printing press in the Galilee; the earthquake of 1837 which claimed the lives of thousands of Jews; the riots in Galilean towns in 1834-1838 by marauders who renewed their attacks on the earthquake survivors, plundering and destroying their remaining possessions. R. Yisrael relates his involvement in the 1840 Damascus affair, reporting that he urged Moses Montefiore to get involved, by sending him letters to London from Alexandria, where he was residing at that time. He acclaims the Sephardi Torah scholars and investors who assisted him in reestablishing his printing press in Jerusalem.
At the end of his introduction, R. Yisrael Bak writes: "…In order to benefit the public, I resolved to first print the precious book called Avodat HaKodesh by the Chida… so that each person can find what he is looking for, and every Jew who carries it can study from it…".
The renowned printer R. Yisrael Bak (1797-1874), a disciple of the Chassidic masters Rebbe Levi Yitzchak of Berditchev and Rebbe Yisrael of Ruzhin. Born in Berditchev, he was involved in the printing profession already in his youth, and in 1815, he established the (second) printing press in Berditchev, where he printed some 26 books before immigrating to Eretz Israel. Reputedly, he designed the Slavita typeface. Following his immigration to Eretz Israel, ca. 1831, he settled in Safed, where he established a printing press which operated for a short while, until the great 1837 earthquake which completely destroyed the town. In 1840 he established a printing press in Jerusalem – the first printing press in Jerusalem to print Hebrew books and the only press in the city until the 1860s.
For more information about R. Yisrael Bak and his printing press in Safed and Jerusalem, see: Shoshana Halevy, Sifrei Yerushalayim HaRishonim, Jerusalem 1976, pp. 15-27; Meir Benayahu, R. Yisrael Bak's Printing Press in Safed and the Beginning of Printing in Jerusalem, Areshet, IV, Jerusalem 1966, pp. 271-295 (Hebrew).
Inscriptions on second title page and p. 73a from 1886, signed "Shlomo son of Zechariah", "Shlomo son of Zechariah Elmaliach".
[4], 111 leaves. Approx. 15 cm. Fair-good condition, last leaves in fair condition. Many stains, including dampstains and dark stains. Wear. Tears, including tears to title pages, slightly affecting text, and an open tear across margin of one leaf, slightly affecting text. Worming to last leaves, affecting text. New binding.
The first Hebrew book printed in Jerusalem. Sh. Halevy, no. 1.
Variant.
Provenance: Formerly of the collection of Dr. Israel Mehlman (with his handwritten inscriptions on front endpaper).
Printed poster, Mudaat Zot – a call for righteous women in Eretz Israel and abroad to donate money regularly to the Kiryat Chanah fund, which would go on to transfer the money to various funds in Jerusalem. Jerusalem: [R. Yisrael Bak, 1841].
The present item is the first poster printed in Jerusalem, and the second printed item in Jerusalem, printed the same year as Avodat HaKodesh, the first book to be printed in Jerusalem.
The poster appeals for women to donate regular sums of money to the fund while performing the mitzvot of Challah, Nidah and Hadlakat HaNer (candle lighting; the three words form the acronym of the fund's name, Chanah). Half of the money in the fund would be transferred to the Tiferet Yisrael yeshiva in Jerusalem to assist the yeshiva's Torah scholars, and the other half would be divided between four different Jerusalem funds: the fund for the poor, the fund for the sick to be directed by the gabbai of Bikur Cholim, a special fund to assist in marrying off orphans, and the Ahavat Chesed fund to provide interest-free collateral-based loans for the needy.
[1] leaf. 21.5X32.5 cm. Fair condition. Stains. Many open tears, affecting text, repaired with paper filling. Repaired by mounting on paper. Original text fragments from another copy mounted on damaged parts of text.
This poster was first discovered by the bibliographer Aryeh Tauber, inside the binding of a book. See: Aryeh Tauber, Teudot MiYamim SheAvru, in: Mizrach UMaarav, III, Jerusalem 1929, pp. 67-71 (enclosed).
The second title printed in Jerusalem. Sh. Halevy, no. 2.
Provenance: Kestenbaum & Company, New York, March 2003, no. 119.
Sefer HaTakanot VeHaskamot, public regulations and halachic customs established by Jerusalem rabbis over the generations, by R. Chaim Avraham Gagin. Jerusalem: R. Yisrael Bak, 1842.
Two title pages. The first title page is decorated with a woodcut (previously used for Avodat HaKodesh – see lots 59 and 60 in the present catalogue). The second title page is on leaf [5], after R. Gagin's preface.
The second Hebrew book printed in Jerusalem. Printed in the press established by R. Yisrael Bak of Berditchev and Safed, disciple of R. Levi Yitzchak of Berditchev and R. Yisrael of Ruzhin.
This book is comprised of two parts: the first contains R. Gagin's preface and a long responsum (dated 1824) by R. Shlomo Moshe Suzin regarding the authority of the Beit Din to issue public regulations. The second part includes a compilation of the regulations and customs of Eretz Israel following the order of the four sections of Shulchan Aruch. At the end of the book, approbations dated 1841 and 1842, by rabbis and community officials, according R. Yisrael Bak the exclusive rights to printing in Eretz Israel. The approbations describe how R. Yisrael established a new printing press in Jerusalem after his press in Safed was destroyed and looted. [There are some copies without the final leaf containing the approbation from 1842. See Bibliography of the Hebrew Book listing 123175, and Sh. Halevy, HaSefarim HaIvriyim Shenidpesu BiYerushalayim, no. 3].
The bibliographer A. Tauber, in his article "History of Printing in Eretz Israel" (Mechkarim Bibliographim, pp. 10-11; Kovetz Yerushalayim – Lachakirat Eretz Yisrael, Jerusalem 1928, pp. 179-192), posits that the main purpose of this book was to reinforce several controversial public regulations (especially regulations regarding estate and ownership titles). In order to print this book, R. Gagin and the Sephardic community officials encouraged the establishment of R. Yisrael Bak's printing press, intending this book to be the first published there.
R. Gagin, who was persecuted by his opponents, initiated the printing of this book in order to answer their contentions. In order that this should not be obvious, R. Gagin instructed R. Yaakov Capiloto and R. Avraham Ashkenazi, two Jerusalem scholars, to research the customs and ordinances of Eretz Israel, arrange them in the order of the four sections of Shulchan Aruch, and combine them with the rebuttals to those questioning the controversial ordinances.
This book was presumably printed in stages, according to the progress of the abovementioned editors. According to Tauber, the first part of Sefer HaTakanot was already printed in 1841 (before the printing of Avodat HaKodesh, which is recognized as the first Hebrew book printed in Jerusalem). The printing was only concluded after R. Capiloto and R. Ashkenazi finished compiling and editing the second part of the book.
Handwritten gloss to one of the last leaves. Signature on verso of last leaf (somewhat deleted): "Yitzchak Dahan son of Avraham".
[16], 13-72, [4] leaves. Leaves 15-16 bound out of sequence. Misfoliation. 15 cm. Most leaves in good condition. Stains. Small marginal open tears to title page and several other leaves, repaired with paper filling. New binding.
The second Hebrew book printed in Jerusalem. Sh. Halevy, no. 3 (this is in fact the second book printed in Jerusalem, since listing no. 2 by Sh. Halevy is actually a broadside and not a book, see previous lot).
Includes leaf with approbation from 1842, which is not included in all copies.
Siddur Tefillat Yisrael, Sephardic rite, with laws, piyyutim and supplications. Jerusalem: R. Yisrael Bak, 1842. The first siddur to be printed in Jerusalem.
The title page lauds the virtue and sanctity of the book, which was printed in Jerusalem in absolute holiness, and "all those involved in this holy production were Jewish".
Many approbations from Sephardi Torah scholars of Jerusalem, Safed, Tiberias and Hebron, and from Ashkenazi Torah scholars of Jerusalem (Rebbe Aharon Moshe of Brody, R. Yeshayah Bardaki son-in-law of R. Yisrael of Shklow, and R. Moshe Rivlin "Doresh LeTzion" – the Maggid of Shklow). The "approbation" by the Jerusalem rabbis printed on the verso of the title page is actually an authorization from Tevet 1841 granting R. Yisrael Bak the exclusive rights to print books in Jerusalem. Additional approbation from the rabbis of Jerusalem (dated Iyar 1842) on leaf 3.
In his introduction, the printer recounts the ordeals he underwent in Safed: "After all the travails that befell me – pestilence, sword and hunger… a great earthquake… I was compelled to ascend to the mountain, and I have established my dwelling here… Jerusalem". He thanks Yosef Amzalag "who assisted me in printing the siddur".
The renowned printer R. Yisrael Bak (1797-1874), a disciple of the Chassidic masters Rebbe Levi Yitzchak of Berditchev and Rebbe Yisrael of Ruzhin. Born in Berditchev, he was involved in the printing profession already in his youth, and in 1815, he established the (second) printing press in Berditchev, where he printed some 26 books before immigrating to Eretz Israel. Reputedly, he designed the Slavita typeface. Following his immigration to Eretz Israel, ca. 1831, he settled in Safed, where he established a printing press which operated for a short while, until the great 1837 earthquake which completely destroyed the town. In 1840 he established a printing press in Jerusalem – the first printing press in Jerusalem to print Hebrew books and the only press in the city until the 1860s.
For more information about R. Yisrael Bak and his printing press in Safed and Jerusalem, see: Shoshana Halevy, Sifrei Yerushalayim HaRishonim, Jerusalem 1976, pp. 15-27; Meir Benayahu, R. Yisrael Bak's Printing Press in Safed and the Beginning of Printing in Jerusalem, Areshet, IV, Jerusalem 1966, pp. 271-295 (Hebrew).
Signature on title page: "Yaakov de Pinto" (a Torah scholar and a leading member of the Jewish community of The Hague in the 19th century).
152 leaves. Leaves 22-23 bound out of sequence. 14 cm. Good-fair condition. Stains. Light wear and signs of use. Small open tear to one leaf, affecting text, and other light tears and damage, slightly affecting text. Inner margins of title page and several other leaves repaired with paper filling. Close trimming, affecting text of some leaves. New binding.
The third Hebrew book printed in Jerusalem, and first siddur printed in Jerusalem. Sh. Halevy, no. 4 (apart from the two books which preceded it, Halevy lists another publication: a broadside for righteous women in Eretz Israel and abroad, ibid. no. 2; see lot 61 in the present catalogue).
![Passover Haggadah, with Kabbalat Shabbat, Maariv and Sefirat HaOmer service. Jerusalem: R. Yisrael Bak, [1842].This is the fi](https://files.kedem-auctions.com/files/Sale97/64.jpg "Passover Haggadah – Jerusalem, 1842 – First Haggadah Printed in Jerusa")
Passover Haggadah, with Kabbalat Shabbat, Maariv and Sefirat HaOmer service. Jerusalem: R. Yisrael Bak, [1842].
This is the first Haggadah printed in Jerusalem, and one of the first Hebrew titles printed in Jerusalem, in the press founded by R. Yisrael Bak. In his foreword at the beginning of the Haggadah, the printer writes about the founding of the press in Jerusalem: "G-d inspired me with wisdom and understanding to do the work of printing as you see, and to grant our fellow Jews the merit of studying and teaching from holy books printed in holiness here in Jerusalem…".
The renowned printer R. Yisrael Bak (1797-1874), a disciple of the Chassidic masters Rebbe Levi Yitzchak of Berditchev and Rebbe Yisrael of Ruzhin. Born in Berditchev, he was involved in the printing profession already in his youth, and in 1815, he established the (second) printing press in Berditchev, where he printed some 26 books before immigrating to Eretz Israel. Reputedly, he designed the Slavita typeface. Following his immigration to Eretz Israel, ca. 1831, he settled in Safed, where he established a printing press which operated for a short while, until the great 1837 earthquake which completely destroyed the town. In 1840 he established a printing press in Jerusalem – the first printing press in Jerusalem to print Hebrew books and the only press in the city until the 1860s.
For more information about R. Yisrael Bak and his printing press in Safed and Jerusalem, see: Shoshana Halevy, Sifrei Yerushalayim HaRishonim, Jerusalem 1976, pp. 15-27; Meir Benayahu, R. Yisrael Bak's Printing Press in Safed and the Beginning of Printing in Jerusalem, Areshet, IV, Jerusalem 1966, pp. 271-295 (Hebrew).
[30] leaves. 15 cm. Fair condition. Stains, including dark stains, and signs of mold. Worming, tears and open tears, affecting text. Tear with printing defect, affecting text. Paper repairs to most leaves. Many inscriptions on title page. New leather binding.
The fourth Hebrew book printed in Jerusalem. Sh. Halevy 5; Yaari 618; Otzar HaHaggadot 849.
Printed poster for a sukkah, with Ushpizin service, prayers for entering and leaving the sukkah, blessings over the sukkah and the four species, and many illustrations. Jerusalem: Yisrael Bak, [ca. 1850s].
Printed poster to display in a sukkah. At the top of the poster is printed a prayer for entering the sukkah, with the Ushpizin service below it. At the center of the poster is an illustration of a sukkah, and below it the festival Kiddush, as well as blessings over the sukkah and the four species. The poster is decorated with several illustrations. At the top of the poster appear illustrations of the two tablets and the twelve tribes, the Western Wall and the site of the Temple, and houses in Jerusalem. At the bottom appear illustrations of the tomb of Rachel and the Cave of Machpelah. In the center, a Lamnatzeach menorah and an illustration of the Temple table of showbread appear on opposite sides, with two trees next to each of them, alongside the frame around the poster.
39X32 cm. Fair condition. Stains, including large stains. Folding marks. Tears, including open tears to folding marks and margins of leaf, affecting illustrations and text. The entire leaf is mounted on paper for reinforcement.
Exceptionally rare poster, to the best of our knowledge and research, it is unknown. Not documented by Sh. Halevy (who documented a different Ushpizin poster printed by Yisrael Bak in 1847, no. 37), nor in the Bibliography of the Hebrew Book, and does not appear in the NLI catalogue.
Mizrach plaque, with order of Chanukah candle lighting, Megillat Antiochus and illustrations of holy sites. Jerusalem: HaLevanon newspaper press, 1863.
Poster printed in large format. At the center of the poster is an illustration of the Temple menorah and jug of oil, with decorated columns headed by olive saplings. Next to the menorah appears the caption "Chanukah miracle". At the top of the poster, under the word Mizrach, appear blessings for Chanukah candle lighting, with Megillat Antiochus appearing on both sides of the poster (based on "an ancient text found in an old manuscript in the British Library…"). In addition, there are four illustrations of the site of the Temple, the Cave of Machpelah, the tomb of Rachel and the grave of the prophet Zechariah son of Jehoiada. At the bottom of the poster appear the place and year of printing and names of the printers, as well as the name of the publisher, R. "Simchah son of R. A. of Kollel Chabad, from Jerusalem".
57.5X45 cm. Good-fair condition. Stains (many stains on verso of leaf, some dark). Folding marks. Marginal tears, and minute open tears to folds, slightly affecting illustrations and folds.
Exceptionally Rare wall plaque, not documented by Sh. Halevy. Documented in the Bibliography of the Hebrew Book based on a photocopy from a private collection (the present copy). Not in the NLI catalogue.
A facsimile of the poster, from the Israel Museum collection, appears in: Arts and Crafts in Eretz Israel in the 19th Century, Jerusalem: Israel Museum, 1979 (Hebrew), illustration no. 155.
Booklet in lithographic print, "Calendar of attributes of all the days of the year", including times of dawn and sunrise on Jerusalem's horizon, according to the calculations of R. Yehosef Schwarz – "on lithographic stone", by Azriel Aharon Yaffe of Courland. Jerusalem: Michel HaKohen and Yoel Moshe [Salomon], [1862]. Fine lithographic print of handwriting. Some words on title page, as well as title frame, printed in gilt ink.
One of the first lithographic prints in Jerusalem (the famous Shoshanta with illustrations of sites in Eretz Israel in lithographic print was printed that year by Salomon's new press; in 1847 Mishpat LeElokei Yaakov was lithographically printed from manuscript, Sh. Halevy no. 43).
The times detailed in the booklet refer to the "horizon of Jerusalem" and are based on the calculations of R. Yehosef Schwarz, author of Divrei Yosef and Tevuot HaAretz. The entire booklet was written in the handwriting of R. Yehosef Schwarz's son-in-law R. Azriel Aharon Yaffe and printed lithographically.
In the introduction on the verso of the title page, the copyist R. Azriel mentions his father-in-law R. Yehosef Schwarz's statement, in his introduction to Divrei Yosef, that his calculations were based on over 4000 measurements of the moment of sunrise, to assure that he would not err. The last three pages contain "principles" for calculating halachic times, as well as a short discussion of calculations for other cities in Eretz Israel (such as Hebron, Safed, Tiberias and others) and various cities across Europe and the United States.
R. Yehosef (Joseph) Schwarz (1804-1865) was an outstanding Torah scholar and kabbalist, one of the first researchers in the field of Land of Israel studies. Learning under R. Abraham Bing at the Würzburg yeshiva, he concurrently studied geography and languages at the local university. While still in Germany, he became involved in Land of Israel studies, and in 1829 he published a Hebrew-German map of Eretz Israel which came to be regarded as a reference by historians and geographers at the time. Immigrated to Jerusalem in 1837. Upon arriving in Jerusalem, he was welcomed by two colleagues from Germany, the founders of the renowned German-Dutch Kollel Hod (an acronym for "Holland-Deutschland"), R. Moses Sachs and R. Eliezer Bergman.
R. Schwarz persisted in Torah scholarship for the remainder of his life, including Kabbalah which he studied at the Beit El kabbalistic yeshiva. There he resumed his research on the history and geography of the Land of Israel, exploring the length and breadth of the country and closely studying a great number of its sites, recording place names according to local traditions and biblical and Talmudic sources. His identifications of various ancient sites are recognized to this day, and his literary works are regarded as starting points for a host of discussions regarding the history of the Land of Israel, from both halachic and academic standpoints. His series of books titled Tevuot HaAretz (named after the main work in the series) were published in Hebrew in Jerusalem.
11 pages. 21.5 cm. Bluish paper. Good-fair condition. Stains. Wear. Small marginal tears to title page and other leaves. Folding marks. Close trimming, affecting text in several places. Front paper wrapper only, partially detached, without binding.
Sh. Halevy, no. 61 (Sh. Halevy did not see this book and calls it "especially rare"; her listing is based on: N. Ben-Menachem, BeShaarei Sefer, Jerusalem 1967, p. 151).
Exceptionally Rare.
The present booklet is one of the first items printed in the lithography press established by Yoel Moshe Salomon and Michel HaKohen in Jerusalem in 1862. Until then R. Yisrael Bak was the only printer in Jerusalem, and the establishment of the new press effectively ended his monopoly over Hebrew printing in Eretz Israel. Bak then sued the partners in Beit Din, arguing that they were infringing on his recognized rights; they, however, argued that since theirs was a lithographic press, they were not encroaching on Bak's business (see: Sh. Halevy, Sifrei Yerushalayim HaRishonim, preface, pp. 25-27).
![Bat Ayin on the Torah, by Rebbe Avraham Dov of Ovruch. Jerusalem: R. Yisrael Bak, [1847]. First edition.This book is a classi](https://files.kedem-auctions.com/files/Sale97/68.jpg "Bat Ayin (Ovruch) – First Edition – Jerusalem, 1847 – Includes Leaf wi")
Bat Ayin on the Torah, by Rebbe Avraham Dov of Ovruch. Jerusalem: R. Yisrael Bak, [1847]. First edition.
This book is a classic text of Chassidic thought and contains the holiness of Eretz Israel. It was written by the disciples of the author, but it was carefully edited by Rebbe Avraham Dov after Rebbe Mordechai of Chernobyl instructed him to print it. The first edition of the book was printed specifically in Eretz Israel and not in the diaspora, following the instructions of Rebbe Yisrael of Ruzhin, mentioned in the publisher's preface. The 1869 Zhitomir edition contains several additional lines in the author's introduction, where he writes that the holiness of Eretz Israel is included in his book: "I called this book Bat Ayin, since that title has the same numerical value as my name… and because I have included the holiness of Eretz Israel in my writings, and the land is referred to as being under the constant scrutiny of G-d's watchful eyes" (ayin in Hebrew).
In his approbation to the 1869 edition, Rebbe Aharon of Chernobyl blesses anyone who purchases the book with reward for all their toil.
The author, Rebbe Avraham Dov of Ovruch (1765-1841), was a renowned Chassidic master and disciple of R. Nachum of Chernobyl and his son R. Mordechai, as well as of R. Zusha of Anipoli and R. Levi Yitzchak of Berditchev. He served as Rabbi of Ovruch for 40 years and was known as "the holy rabbi of Ovruch". In 1833 he immigrated to Eretz Israel, and established his Beit Midrash in Safed, where he became the leader of the Chassidic communities. Miraculous stories are told of his deliverance from the tragic earthquake in 1837, which took place during the late afternoon Minchah prayers in the synagogues. The Rebbe warned his Chassidim not to leave the synagogue, and he himself lay on the floor of the Beit Midrash while the surrounding congregation held on to his belt. The entire building collapsed with the exception of the narrow area in which the Rebbe and his followers lay.
Sometime later, the Rebbe related that he recognized that the earthquake was not a natural event, since the stones were cast to the sides and did not fall directly to the ground in spite of their weight. He understood that great power had been granted to the forces of evil, and he therefore lay submissively on the ground in fulfillment of the verse "Hide a moment until the fury passes". After the earthquake, he restored the Safed community and did not allow the holy city to be left abandoned. He died of a plague in Safed in 1841, which ceased after his passing. Many miraculous stories are told of his lofty holiness and the wonders he performed for the Jewish people. His book Bat Ayin is considered a classic text of Chassidic thought.
Stamps of the "New Mishnah Society of Huși" (Romania).
[2], 125, [1] leaves. 20.5 cm. Good-fair condition. Stains, including large dampstains, and marginal inkstains to title page. Light wear. Small marginal tears to several leaves. Worming, affecting text (extensive worming to last leaf, partially repaired with paper filling). New binding.
Including final leaf with list of pre-subscribers from Eretz Israel, not present in some copies. This leaf serves as a unique historical documentation of the members of the Chassidic settlement in Jerusalem, Safed, Tiberias and Hebron in the mid-19th century. Among others, the list of residents of Safed includes the family members of the author, and the list of residents of Jerusalem includes "R. Yisrael Madpis" (R. Yisrael Bak, printer of the present book).
Shortly after this edition was printed in Jerusalem, another edition of the book was printed in Zhitomir, 1850. The Zhitomir printer was evidently unaware that the book had already been printed in Jerusalem. The Zhitomir edition was based on another manuscript, leading to variants between the editions (see: N. Ben-Menachem, Kiryat Sefer, XXXVII, 1962, pp. 401-402; BeShaarei Sefer, Jerusalem 1967, pp. 49-53).
Sh. Halevy, no. 38.