Auction 99 Part 2 Rare and Important Items
Nov 5, 2024
Displaying 1 - 3 of 3
![Meor Einayim, Chassidic discourses on the Torah, by Rebbe Menachem Nachum [Twersky] of Chernobyl. Slavita (Slavuta): [R.](https://files.kedem-auctions.com/files/Sale99/190.jpg "Meor Einayim (Chernobyl) – First Edition – Slavita, 1798")
Auction 99 Part 2 Rare and Important Items
Nov 5, 2024
Opening: $5,000
Estimate: $15,000 - $25,000
Sold for: $32,500
Including buyer's premium
Meor Einayim, Chassidic discourses on the Torah, by Rebbe Menachem Nachum [Twersky] of Chernobyl. Slavita (Slavuta): [R. Moshe Shapira, 1798]. First edition.
Meor Einayim is a fundamental work of the Chassidic movement, and one of the first Chassidic works to cite the teachings of the Baal Shem Tov and the Maggid of Mezeritch. The author, the maggid R. Menachem Nachum Twersky of Chernobyl (1730-1798, Encyclopedia LaChassidut, III, pp. 168-175), was a founding father of Chassidism and the progenitor of the Chernobyl dynasty. He studied directly under the Baal Shem Tov and was a close disciple of the Maggid of Mezeritch. He served as maggid in Norynsk, Pohrebyshche and Chernobyl. He acceded to his disciples' entreaties to print his teachings and delegated the task to his disciple R. Eliyahu son of R. Ze'ev Wolf Katz, instructing him to publish his writings in the "fine and magnificent printing press established in Slavita…" (the printing press of R. Moshe Shapira, then in its infancy).
The book was reputedly originally eighteen times longer, but when arranging it for printing, R. Nachum of Chernobyl commanded his disciples to burn many leaves, leaving only the teachings which were divinely inspired. His writings were divided by his disciples into two parts: one part on the Torah, including selections, published under the title Meor Einayim (the present book), and a second part pertaining to Talmudic aggadot, named Yismach Lev. The two parts were printed in Slavita the same year. In later editions, the two parts were combined and printed together under the title Meor Einayim. R. Nachum of Chernobyl passed away during the course of the book's preparation for print.
Chassidic leaders ascribed great importance and holiness to the book, studying it every day and preserving it for protection. The Chozeh of Lublin and R. Yitzchak of Skver (grandson of the author) reputedly said that the book has the power to light up a person's soul, similarly to the Zohar, and R. Yitzchak Eizik of Komarno asserted: "Meor Einayim should never budge from your eyes, and all its teachings are lofty and holy".
[2], 160 leaves. 18.5 cm. Fair condition. Many stains (especially to first leaves), including dark stains, dampstains and traces of former dampness. Wear. Worming, tears and open tears, affecting text in many places, repaired with paper filling (some with handwritten and photocopy text replacements). Close trimming, affecting catchwords and titles of leaves in several places. New leather binding. New leather binding.
Does not include Yismach Lev, which was printed with it the same year.
Category
Chassidic Books
Catalogue
Auction 99 Part 2 Rare and Important Items
Nov 5, 2024
Opening: $1,000
Estimate: $1,500 - $2,000
Sold for: $6,875
Including buyer's premium
Menachem Tzion, Chassidic discourses on the Torah portions by Rebbe Menachem Mendel of Rimanov. Czernowitz (Chernivtsi): printer not indicated, [1851]. First edition.
Fine copy.
The book was written by Rebbe Mendel's close disciple, Rebbe Yechezkel Panet, Chief Rabbi of Transylvania and author of Mareh Yechezkel.
This book is known as a Segulah for livelihood. R. Yitzchak Horowitz of Szczucin reportedly said that "most of Menachem Tzion by the Rebbe of Rimanov deals with the Torah section of the manna, because the holy Rebbe of Rimanov prayed often for the Jewish people's sustenance" (HaChochmah MeAyin, Bnei Brak 1996, p. 87). To this day, people all over the world visit the Rebbe of Rimanov's gravesite to pray for sustenance.
[2], 60 leaves. Approx. 20 cm. Good condition. Stains. Inner margins of several leaves reinforced with paper. New binding.
Category
Chassidic Books
Catalogue
Auction 99 Part 2 Rare and Important Items
Nov 5, 2024
Opening: $1,000
Estimate: $2,000 - $4,000
Sold for: $2,000
Including buyer's premium
Divrei Chaim, two parts, on laws of Gitin (divorce documents) and Mikvaot (ritual baths), by Rebbe Chaim Halberstam, Rabbi of Sanz. Zhovkva: Shmuel Pinchas Stiller, 1864. First edition. This is the first work of the first Sanz rebbe to be published, during his lifetime and anonymously. Two parts in one volume. Divisional title page for Part II.
Copy of R. Avraham Yitzchak Weinberger, Rabbi of Kleinwardein. On front and back endpapers, many inscriptions signed by disciples attesting that this book belonged to their teacher R. Avraham Yitzchak Weinberger, Rabbi of Kleinwardein (the disciples who sign the ownership inscriptions include: "Yaakov Steiner", "Yisrael Richter", "Selig… Potok…", "Menachem Mendel Schwartz").
R. Avraham Yitzchak Weinberger, Rabbi of Kleinwardein (1805-1885) was the son-in-law of R. Tzvi Hirsch Heller, Rabbi of Óbuda and author of Tiv Gitin, and stepson-in-law of the Chatam Sofer (after his father-in-law R. Tzvi Hirsch Heller passed away in 1835, his widow married the Chatam Sofer in his third marriage; her daughter and son-in-law relocated with her to Pressburg and lived for several years in the home of the Chatam Sofer, where R. Avraham Yitzchak was guided by the Chatam Sofer in Torah and fear of G-d). He went on to serve as rabbi of Freishtadtl (Hlohovec), and after several years, of Kleinwardein (Kisvárda). R. Avraham Yitzchak was a leading rabbi and yeshiva dean in those days in Hungary. His foremost disciples include R. Chaim Tzvi Mannheimer Rabbi of Ungvár (Uzhhorod) and Rebbe Meshulam Feish Lowy (the first) Rabbi of Tosh (1821-1873). He authored Pnei Yitzchak (Munkacs 1892) and Milel LeAvraham (Munkacs 1892). His son-in-law was R. Avraham Broda Rabbi of Berezne (1825-1882; author of Pri HeChag, disciple of the Chatam Sofer and the Ktav Sofer).
This was the first of the books of the Divrei Chaim to be published (his responsa Divrei Chaim was published 11 years later in 1875). In the introduction, the author says "I did not write my name for a specific reason", but from the second edition (Munkacs, 1892) onwards, the author's name was printed on the title page. In the introduction to the second edition of the book, the author's son Rebbe Baruch of Gorlitz recounts that his father said on his deathbed: "I praise and thank G-d that I toiled and succeeded, and my work on Gitin and Mikvaot corresponds to the true halachah. In my opinion, whoever rules on halachic questions based on my book will rule in accordance with Torah law and halachah". When the present book was published, the author was reputedly overjoyed, and said excitedly that when the messiah comes, he would greet him along with all the other authors with this book (see Zochrenu LeChaim, Munkacs 1935, p. 331).
Two parts in one volume. [3], 34, [1], 33-44; 27 leaves; [1], 23, [1] leaves (leaves 13-14 and 23-24 of first sequence bound out of order). 35 cm. Good-fair condition. Stains and wear. Worming, mainly to binding. Original binding, worn and torn.
Category
Chassidic Books
Catalogue