Meor Einayim, Chassidic essays on the Torah and commentary on aggadot and midrash (arranged according to the order of the Talmudic tractates), by Rebbe Menachem Nachum (Twersky) of Chernobyl. Hrubieshov (Hrubieszów), [1818]. Approbation by R. Yosef Katzenelbogen, rabbi of Hrubieshov and Ustyluh, on the last page.
This copy bears signatures of Rebbe Yosef Ungar of Dombrova and Rebbe Elimelech Shapira of Grodzisk. Stamps of R. Elimelech Shapira and his sons.
Ownership inscription on the right side of the title page, handwritten and signed by Rebbe Yosef of Dombrova, husband of the granddaughter of the Maggid of Kozhnitz: " Monday of BeHaalotcha, 16th Sivan 1830, I have purchased this book… Yosef son of R. Mordechai David of Dombrova, son-in-law of the M[aggid] of Kozhnitz…".
Two signatures of the Rebbe of Grodzisk on the left side of the title page: " Elimelech, Rabbi of Grodzisk"; " Elimelech Shapira…". Many stamps of the Rebbe inside the book: " Elimelech Shapira Rabbi of Grodzisk". Blurred stamps of his sons, R. Kalonymus Kalman (author of Chovat HaTalmidim) and R. Yeshaya Shapira, on verso of the title page. Early ownership inscription on the leaf preceding the title page: "This book belongs to my master… the great luminary", and inscriptions in Latin characters.
R. Yosef Ungar, rabbi of Kozhnitz and rebbe in Dombrova (1800-1866), prominent G-dly Torah scholar and kabbalist, was the son of Rebbe Mordechai David of Dombrova (1770-1843, leading disciple of the Chozeh of Lublin), and son-in-law of Rebbe Moshe Elyakim Beria of Kozhnitz. In his youth, he was a close disciple of both the Chozeh of Lublin and the Maggid of Kozhnitz; the latter chose him to marry his granddaughter. In 1814, his father-in-law was appointed rebbe in Kozhnitz (succeeding his father, the Maggid of Kozhnitz, who passed away in Tishrei 1814), and R. Yosef was then appointed as rabbi of Kozhnitz, a position he held until 1846. (At that time, in 1815, his father R. Mordechai David was appointed rebbe in Dombrova, after the passing of the Chozeh of Lublin on 9th Av 1815). After his father's passing, he succeeded him as rebbe in Dombrova.
R. Elimelech Shapira of Grodzisk (1824-1892), son of Rebbe Chaim Meir Yechiel – the "Saraf of Mogelnitza", and grandson of the Maggid of Kozhnitz and R. Elimelech of Lizhensk. A prominent rebbe and tzaddik in Poland, he profoundly influenced the entire country. His teacher, R. Yisrael of Ruzhin, commanded him to serve as rebbe and receive kvitlach (he later sent a lengthy letter to the Divrei Chaim of Sanz regarding the venerable holiness of R. Yisrael of Ruzhin and his righteous sons). Many Polish rebbes were his disciples, the most renowned of them being R. Yechiel Meir HaLevi, Rebbe of Ostrovtse (Ostrowiec Świętokrzyski). He authored Imrei Elimelech and Divrei Elimelech.
In his senior years, when already a grandfather of many (many of his grandsons served as rebbes, including R. Yisrael of Grodzisk and R. Yisrael Perlow, the "Yenuka" of Karlin), he married his second wife, the daughter of the Rebbe of Khentshin (Chęciny). She bore him two sons – R. Kalonymus Kalman (Rebbe of Piaseczno, author of Chovat HaTalmidim, 1889-1943, perished in the Holocaust) and R. Yeshayahu Shapira (HaAdmor HaChalutz, 1891-1945). After his passing, his wife, Rebbetzin Chana Bracha, served as rebbe, receiving kvitlach and even donning tzitzit (Encyclopedia L'Chassidut, I, p. 627). She lived a long life and died in Cheshvan 1939.
126 leaves. 22.5 cm. Good-fair condition. Stains and wear. Dampstains, primarily to last leaves. Worming to many leaves (the leaves were professionally restored with paper). Stamps. New leather binding.
Stefansky Chassidut, no. 311.