Auction 72 - Rare and Important Items
Avodat Yisrael (Kozhnitz) – First Edition – With the Original, Uncensored Leaf 9 – Copy of the Rebbe of Radzymin
Opening: $2,000
Estimate: $3,000 - $5,000
Sold for: $6,875
Including buyer's premium
Avodat Yisrael, homilies on the Torah and on Pirkei Avot, by the Maggid R. Yisrael of Kozhnitz. Józefów, 1842. First edition.
Leaf 9, which contains references to non-Jews, was censored during printing, as disclosed in Kedem Auction 53 (item 33). In hitherto known copies, leaf 9 is different than the rest of the leaves in its typography and type of paper, and is lacking the above-mentioned references (in the copy of Auction 53, the missing sentences were added by hand). This copy contains the uncensored leaf, with the original wording of the Maggid of Kozhnitz. The original leaf was hitherto unknown.
Stamp on first title page: "Menachem Mendel Guterman of Radzymin" – Rebbe Aharon Menachem Mendel Guterman of Radzymin (1860-1934, Encyclopedia L'Chassidut, I, pp. 193-195), only son of Rebbe Shlomo David Yehoshua of Radzymin. One of the leading Rebbes in Poland, disciple of the Avnei Nezer of Sochatchov and of the Magen Avot of Kapust. In 1912, he established a yeshiva in Radzymin in which he delivered his astute discourses. He left behind some one hundred manuscripts, however, only a few were printed.
The author, R. Yisrael Hopstein, known as the Maggid of Kozhnitz (Kozienice; 1737-1814, Encyclopedia L'Chassidut, II, pp. 542-548), was a leading rebbe who disseminated Chassidut throughout Poland. His famous book Avodat Yisrael was not printed in his lifetime, however it is known to be his primary work and a foremost Chassidic book, printed in many editions. Chassidic leaders praised the holiness of the book and its author. For example, the author of Aryeh D'Vei Ilai writes in his approbation: "His words which burn like fire… will excite the heart of the reader like torches…". The author of Divrei Yechezkel of Shinova said: "All the books of the disciples of the Baal Shem Tov are holy, yet the holy book Avodat Yisrael is Holy of Holies".
[4], 90; 32 leaves. Two title pages. 20.5 cm. Bluish paper. Overall good condition. Stains. Worming, slightly affecting text in several places. Stamps. New leather binding.
Does not include leaf [5] with three approbations, which was added to only some copies, because these approbations were brought to the printer only after he had already completed printing the book.
Stefansky Chassidut, no. 452; Stefansky Classics, no. 389.
Leaf 9, which contains references to non-Jews, was censored during printing, as disclosed in Kedem Auction 53 (item 33). In hitherto known copies, leaf 9 is different than the rest of the leaves in its typography and type of paper, and is lacking the above-mentioned references (in the copy of Auction 53, the missing sentences were added by hand). This copy contains the uncensored leaf, with the original wording of the Maggid of Kozhnitz. The original leaf was hitherto unknown.
Stamp on first title page: "Menachem Mendel Guterman of Radzymin" – Rebbe Aharon Menachem Mendel Guterman of Radzymin (1860-1934, Encyclopedia L'Chassidut, I, pp. 193-195), only son of Rebbe Shlomo David Yehoshua of Radzymin. One of the leading Rebbes in Poland, disciple of the Avnei Nezer of Sochatchov and of the Magen Avot of Kapust. In 1912, he established a yeshiva in Radzymin in which he delivered his astute discourses. He left behind some one hundred manuscripts, however, only a few were printed.
The author, R. Yisrael Hopstein, known as the Maggid of Kozhnitz (Kozienice; 1737-1814, Encyclopedia L'Chassidut, II, pp. 542-548), was a leading rebbe who disseminated Chassidut throughout Poland. His famous book Avodat Yisrael was not printed in his lifetime, however it is known to be his primary work and a foremost Chassidic book, printed in many editions. Chassidic leaders praised the holiness of the book and its author. For example, the author of Aryeh D'Vei Ilai writes in his approbation: "His words which burn like fire… will excite the heart of the reader like torches…". The author of Divrei Yechezkel of Shinova said: "All the books of the disciples of the Baal Shem Tov are holy, yet the holy book Avodat Yisrael is Holy of Holies".
[4], 90; 32 leaves. Two title pages. 20.5 cm. Bluish paper. Overall good condition. Stains. Worming, slightly affecting text in several places. Stamps. New leather binding.
Does not include leaf [5] with three approbations, which was added to only some copies, because these approbations were brought to the printer only after he had already completed printing the book.
Stefansky Chassidut, no. 452; Stefansky Classics, no. 389.
Chassidic Books
Chassidic Books