Auction 74 - Judaica - Books, Manuscripts, Rabbinical Letters, Ceremonial Art
Orach LaChaim – Berdychiv, 1817 – First Edition – Copy Owned by Rabbis of the Or Shraga Family of Yazd – Glosses
Opening: $800
Sold for: $1,125
Including buyer's premium
Orach LaChaim, kabbalistic and Chassidic homiletics on the Torah, in five parts, by Rebbe Avraham Chaim of Zlotchov. [Berdychiv: R. Yisrael Bak, 1817]. First edition.
Interesting approbations by Chassidic leaders: R. Levi Yitzchak of Berdichev (who writes: "This book was written by a titan among giants, and was written in purity and holiness"); R. Yisrael of Kozhnitz; R. Yaakov Yitzchak, the Chozeh of Lublin (who writes: "Although I do not usually conduct myself in greatness, because a person knows himself and I am neither a rabbi or a Maggid, however… out of my love of G-d, I greatly love every Jew and most certainly tzaddikim, therefore I am writing an approbation…"); R. Avraham Yehoshua Heshel of Apta; R. Chaim of Botoșani (author of Sidduro shel Shabbat).
The author, R. Avraham Chaim of Zlotchov (ca. 1726-1816; Encyclopedia L'Chassidut, I, pp. 80-81), was one of the greatest Torah scholars and Chassidim in his generation. He was the son of R. Gedalia Rabbi of Zhovkva, and the son-in-law of R. Pinchas Horowitz, the Haflaah. Through his second marriage he came to be the son-in-law of R. Yissachar Dov of Zlotchov, the author of Bat Eini. He was a disciple of the Maggid of Mezeritch, of R. Yechiel Michel of Zlotchov, of the Haflaah and of his brother R. Shmuel Shmelke of Nikolsburg.
This book opens with a long foreword by R. Efraim Zalman Margolies of Brody, which ends with praise for the author: "…He was great in Torah and Chassidut, spent much of the day in prayer, involved himself extensively in charity and good deeds and brought many to repentance. He was proficient in the hidden facets of the Torah". R. Avraham Chaim once sent a letter to the Ohev Yisrael of Apta requesting that the Ohev Yisrael pray for his recovery, to which the Ohev Yisrael replied that he was surprised by the request, since a person such as R. Avraham Chaim can certainly pray for himself and be sure that his prayers will be answered (Igrot HaOhev Yisrael, Igeret 23b). The author himself prepared the book Orach Chaim for print, between 1804 and 1814, and received approbations from many leading Chassidic masters. However, he did not merit seeing his book in print; it was finally printed in 1817, a year after his passing.
This copy belonged to rabbis of the Or Shraga family of Yazd (Persia). Signature of R. Moshe son of R. Yitzchak Or Shraga (Mullah Aghababa, grandson of the Or Shraga) on the title page. Stamps of his son R. Refael son of R. Moshe Or Shraga, and signatures of R. Refael's son – R. Moshe Or Shraga. Several long glosses in Persian script, one signed: "R.B.M." (Refael ben Moshe), and another signed: "Tz.R.K" (the young Refael? K?).
The Or Shraga family of Yazd, descendants of the Kabbalist Mullah Or Shraga, were among the greatest rabbis of Persia. Mullah Or Shraga served as a rabbi for decades and was the force behind the enduring adherence of Yazd Jewry to Torah study and mitzvah observance. He and his descendants led the local community for some two hundred years. Rabbi Or Shraga reputedly came to Yazd from the city of Isfahan, some two hundred and fifty years ago, after the king issued a decree ordering the killing of ten great Torah scholars. He was one of three Torah scholars who managed to escape, the other seven died sanctifying G-d's Name. In Yazd, he facilitated the flourishing of the city's Jewish population and transformed the city into a Torah center. Yazd Jews were among the first to emigrate from Persia to Jerusalem, establishing there the famous Yazdim community.
Rabbi Or Shraga and his descendants were revered by the Jews of Persia. Of particular renown is R. Moshe son of R. Yitzchak, known as Mullah Aghababa, who served as rabbi of Yazd (see: Yosef Shraga, MiYazd LeEretz HaKodesh, pp. 157-161).
52; 59; 29; 37; 31 leaves. 22 cm. Condition varies. Most leaves in good condition. First leaves and last leaves in fair condition. Large open tears to title page, affecting text. Open tears to some other leaves, some repaired with paper. Stains, including dampstains. Wear. Leaves trimmed, affecting headings in several places. Old binding, with damage.
Interesting approbations by Chassidic leaders: R. Levi Yitzchak of Berdichev (who writes: "This book was written by a titan among giants, and was written in purity and holiness"); R. Yisrael of Kozhnitz; R. Yaakov Yitzchak, the Chozeh of Lublin (who writes: "Although I do not usually conduct myself in greatness, because a person knows himself and I am neither a rabbi or a Maggid, however… out of my love of G-d, I greatly love every Jew and most certainly tzaddikim, therefore I am writing an approbation…"); R. Avraham Yehoshua Heshel of Apta; R. Chaim of Botoșani (author of Sidduro shel Shabbat).
The author, R. Avraham Chaim of Zlotchov (ca. 1726-1816; Encyclopedia L'Chassidut, I, pp. 80-81), was one of the greatest Torah scholars and Chassidim in his generation. He was the son of R. Gedalia Rabbi of Zhovkva, and the son-in-law of R. Pinchas Horowitz, the Haflaah. Through his second marriage he came to be the son-in-law of R. Yissachar Dov of Zlotchov, the author of Bat Eini. He was a disciple of the Maggid of Mezeritch, of R. Yechiel Michel of Zlotchov, of the Haflaah and of his brother R. Shmuel Shmelke of Nikolsburg.
This book opens with a long foreword by R. Efraim Zalman Margolies of Brody, which ends with praise for the author: "…He was great in Torah and Chassidut, spent much of the day in prayer, involved himself extensively in charity and good deeds and brought many to repentance. He was proficient in the hidden facets of the Torah". R. Avraham Chaim once sent a letter to the Ohev Yisrael of Apta requesting that the Ohev Yisrael pray for his recovery, to which the Ohev Yisrael replied that he was surprised by the request, since a person such as R. Avraham Chaim can certainly pray for himself and be sure that his prayers will be answered (Igrot HaOhev Yisrael, Igeret 23b). The author himself prepared the book Orach Chaim for print, between 1804 and 1814, and received approbations from many leading Chassidic masters. However, he did not merit seeing his book in print; it was finally printed in 1817, a year after his passing.
This copy belonged to rabbis of the Or Shraga family of Yazd (Persia). Signature of R. Moshe son of R. Yitzchak Or Shraga (Mullah Aghababa, grandson of the Or Shraga) on the title page. Stamps of his son R. Refael son of R. Moshe Or Shraga, and signatures of R. Refael's son – R. Moshe Or Shraga. Several long glosses in Persian script, one signed: "R.B.M." (Refael ben Moshe), and another signed: "Tz.R.K" (the young Refael? K?).
The Or Shraga family of Yazd, descendants of the Kabbalist Mullah Or Shraga, were among the greatest rabbis of Persia. Mullah Or Shraga served as a rabbi for decades and was the force behind the enduring adherence of Yazd Jewry to Torah study and mitzvah observance. He and his descendants led the local community for some two hundred years. Rabbi Or Shraga reputedly came to Yazd from the city of Isfahan, some two hundred and fifty years ago, after the king issued a decree ordering the killing of ten great Torah scholars. He was one of three Torah scholars who managed to escape, the other seven died sanctifying G-d's Name. In Yazd, he facilitated the flourishing of the city's Jewish population and transformed the city into a Torah center. Yazd Jews were among the first to emigrate from Persia to Jerusalem, establishing there the famous Yazdim community.
Rabbi Or Shraga and his descendants were revered by the Jews of Persia. Of particular renown is R. Moshe son of R. Yitzchak, known as Mullah Aghababa, who served as rabbi of Yazd (see: Yosef Shraga, MiYazd LeEretz HaKodesh, pp. 157-161).
52; 59; 29; 37; 31 leaves. 22 cm. Condition varies. Most leaves in good condition. First leaves and last leaves in fair condition. Large open tears to title page, affecting text. Open tears to some other leaves, some repaired with paper. Stains, including dampstains. Wear. Leaves trimmed, affecting headings in several places. Old binding, with damage.
Chassidic Books
Chassidic Books