Manuscript, Tehillat Yitzchak, commentary on the book of Tehillim (Psalms), by R. Yitzchak Chayut Rabbi of Skole. Chernivtsi, 1838. Illustrated title page with calligraphic writing and a vegetal-patterned frame.
The title page bears the stamp (with the illustration of a lion), of Rebbe "Nachum Duber Friedman" of Sadigura, and another stamp of the Rebbe: "My purchase".
"Tehillat Yitzchak - a blessing left by the famous Torah scholar, R. Yitzchak Chayut Rabbi of Skole, author of Zera Yitzchak on the Mishnah, and several books which have not yet been printed". On the last page is a colophon of the first copier, a disciple of the author, R. "Yehoshua son of R. Ya'akov Katz", and another colophon from 1838 of the current copier, R. "Pesach son of R. Shalom of Chernivtsi", who describes his toil in recopying the manuscript from the old faded copy. He notes that he named the book Tehillat Yitzchak: "This book of commentary on Tehillim, is sweeter than honey and because no title existed in the old copy, I decided to name it Tehillat Yitzchak after the author and alluding to the book of Tehillim".
The author, Kabbalist R. Yitzchak Chayut, author of Zera Yitzchak (1660-1726, Otzar HaRabbanim 66301), Rabbi of Skole (Lviv region), disciple of R. Heshel of Krakow and leading opponent of Sabbatai Zevi. Son of R. Menachem Menish Chayut Rabbi of Vilna, who was the son of R. Yitzchak Chayut (the I) Rabbi of Prague, author of Apei Ravrivei. Many stories are told of the outstanding holiness of R. Yitzchak Chayut, author of Zera Yitzchak, of the awesome miracles which took place in his lifetime and posthumously. One well-known story tells of his arriving at the Heavenly Beit Din during his lifetime. Also famous is his promise of salvation to all who pray at his gravesite. In the introduction to Zera Yitzchak, his son tells of his father's revelation to him in a night-vision, encouraging him to overcome the obstacles to printing the book.
This work on Tehillim is one of the 13 remaining manuscripts mentioned in his son's introduction to Zera Yitzchak on the Six Sidrei Mishnah, printed in Frankfurt an der Oder in 1732. An inaccurate copy of the composition on Tehillim reached the treasury of one of the author's descendants, the Pystan Rebbe R. Chaim Yosef Brookstein, author of Tosfot Chaim. After his death in 1865, his son R. Pinchas Brookstein found the manuscript on Tehillim in a sack containing his father's writings and erroneously thought that his father composed the commentary and he printed it naming it Nishmat Chaim (Lviv, 1869) after his father. This mistake was discovered only 80 years later and R. Yisrael Natan Brookstein rectified the error by printing a new edition of the book (Tel Aviv, 1947) with the name of the real author, R. Yitzchak Chayut. Thereafter, the work was printed in other editions as well. These editions were printed with many errors and omissions, whereas this manuscript is arranged correctly and is accurate (see the article by R. Yosef Dov Landau of the Yad Avraham Institute, Kovetz Eshel Avraham, 1, NY, 2012, pp. 285-296). Recently, the book Tehillat Yitzchak was reprinted (NY, 2014 - published by the Zechor L'Avraham Institute, NY) in a new edition according to a manuscript (apparently, this manuscript), edited by R. Moshe Landau, son of the aforementioned R. Yosef Dov Landau.
[1], 54, [3] leaves. 21 cm. High-quality paper. Good condition. Minor stains and worming. Ancient elaborate leather binding, handsomely embossed [19th century].
Provenance:
1. Library of Rebbe Nachum Duber Friedman of Sadigura (died 1883). Grandson of R. Yisrael of Ruzhyn. Son of R. Shalom Yosef and son-in-law of R. Avraham Ya'akov of Sadigura. [He owned three types of stamps: books he inherited from his father were stamped "My forefathers' estate". Books he received from his Chassidim were stamped "Gift offering" and the books he purchased were stamped "Purchased with my money"].
2. Collection of F.T. Dent, London.
3. Yehuda Library, collection of manuscripts, no. 223 (Mossad HaRav Kook, no. 175).