Manuscript, Pinkas of the Chevrat Shas of the Husiatyn Kloiz in Kopitchinitz. [1880-1881]. With additional handwritten entries, from 1881 until the mid-1890s.
Elegant volume, with a colorful illustrated title pages and colorful illustrations on most leaves. Original leather binding, gilt-decorated and inscribed: "This Pinkas belongs to the Chevrat Shas of Kopitchinitz, 1885". As stated in various places in the Pinkas, the society was founded on Rosh Chodesh Cheshvan 1880. The Pinkas was completed in Shevat 1881, as stated in the writer's colophon on the final page of the Pinkas (before the endpapers): "Work completed on Motzaei Shabbat Parashat Yitro, 23rd Shevat 1881, here in Chortkov, Yitzchak Eizik son of the late R. Rafael Edelsberg, beadle of the rebbe's Chevrat Shas in Chortkov" – the scribe, R. Yitzchak Eizik Edelsberg of Chortkov, was the beadle of the Chevrat Shas in the Beit Midrash of Rebbe David Moshe of Chortkov [eldest brother of Rebbe Mordechai Shraga of Husiatyn – rabbi of the Husiatyn Chassidim in Kopitchinitz, for whom the Pinkas was prepared]. The elegant binding of the Pinkas was prepared in 1885, some four years after the Pinkas was scribed (as indicated by the inscription on the front board). Stamps of the society in several places: "Chevrat Shas of the Husiatyn Kloiz in Kopitchinitz".
The manuscript includes four colorful illustrated title pages (see below), and many other illustrated leaves – one for each member of the society, with a table to be filled-in with the member's study plans for the next 18 years and the sum of money he pledges to the society. Each page is decorated with an architectural border, with a different color illustration in the center (lions and gazelles, various birds, plants, buildings, and more).
Contents of the Pinkas:
The manuscript opens with two illustrated title pages showing pillars, floral ornaments, gazelles and birds. A building is depicted on top of the second title page (possibly the building of the Husiatyn Kloiz in Kopitchinitz). The first title page states: "Pinkas of the Chevrat Shas", and is dated Rosh Chodesh Cheshvan 1880, Kopitchinitz.
The title pages are followed by an introduction and a list of regulations of the society (with ornamented, calligraphic headings). Eighteen regulations are listed (the 18th regulation was added in later script, as an addendum to the 4th regulation).
This is followed by another title page, introducing the section with the names of the society members – one page per member. Each page is decorated with an architectural border with the name of the member inscribed at the top, and includes a table to be filled-in over 18 years, with the member's study program and the payments he undertook. A different colorful illustration appears at the center of each page. The illustrations include: sheep grazing, a raven and three trees, gazelles, lions, eagles and other birds, a cityscape with buildings, vases of flowers, a well with a pump, the Tablets of the Law over Mt. Sinai, a Torah scroll, and more (it appears that some of the illustrations are related to the member's name or profession). A rectangular frame at the foot of each page contains the text of a commitment which the member was supposed to sign on (only seven members actually signed this commitment). The first page contains the name of the rabbi of the city, R. Yaakov Shimon. On some pages, there is a note near the member's name, regarding his exit from the society due to his passing or move to a different city. The details are filled in differently for each member. For instance, the study program of the rabbi of the city is completed for 11 years, from 1881 until 1891. The pages of some members only feature a few years of study plans. Certain members are only listed from 1887, when additional members joined the society.
In Hasidic Art and the Kabbalah (see below), Batsheva Goldman Ida mentions an illustration from this Pinkas – a lion about to ascend an empty throne – as being a singular Jewish depiction of the motif of the empty chair of the Messiah or R. Nahman's chair.
The fourth title page introduces a list of young students who wished to join the society. They were considered sons of members until their wedding, when they would officially be recorded in the Pinkas as full members. The list, written on one page, is headed by "Shalom son of R. Yaakov Shimon, rabbi of the city" (he was born to his father in his old age through the blessing of Rebbe Chaim of Kosov, after he had been childless for many years. See: Ohalei Tzaddikim, Czernowitz 1936, p. 65).
The final leaves of the Pinkas contain long notes pertaining to the Chevrat Shas: protocol of the society's foundation in 1880 and names of its heads; list of books donated by the members of the society to the Kloiz library, protocols of meetings to elect the society's directorship and acceptance of new members until 1890; memoirs of siyum feasts in 1883-1889; and more.
The city of Kopitchinitz (present day: Kopyczyńce, Ternopil Oblast, western Ukraine), was a large center of Chassidim of Rebbe Mordechai Shraga Friedman of Husiatyn (1834-1894) – youngest son of Rebbe Yisrael of Ruzhin. Kopitchinitz was close to Husiatyn on one side (21 km), and to Chortkov on the other (16 km). Rebbe Yitzchak Meir Heshel (1861-1935), son-in-law of Rebbe Mordechai Shraga of Husiatyn, served as rabbi and rebbe of Kopitchinitz from 1894. There is an interesting anecdote regarding his appointment as rabbi of Kopitchinitz. R. Yitzchak Meir refused to succeed his father Rebbe Avraham Yehoshua Heshel of Mezhibuzh-Zinkov who passed away in 1881, and remained in Husiatyn near his father-in-law the rebbe for another 13 years. In 1894, after the passing of his father-in-law R. Mordechai Shraga of Husiatyn, he was approached by representatives of various towns, who wished to appoint him as their rabbi. The residents of Kopitchinitz (including many Husiatyn Chassidim) also wished to appoint him as their leader. R. Yitzchak Meir travelled with the various delegations to his elderly uncle R. David Moshe Friedman in Chortkov, to request his help in reaching a decision. After hearing all the sides, the rebbe of Chortkov decided to cast lots, and cards were prepared with the names of the various towns. Rebbe David Moshe himself drew the winning card, which stated "Kopitchinitz", and announced: "Mazal Tov, rebbe of Kopitchinitz!". This is how R. Yitzchak Meir Heshel was appointed rebbe of Kopitchinitz by the rebbe of Chortkov (see: Stern, Ner Yisrael Ruzhin, VI, p. 107; A. Bakenrot, HaNe'edar BaKedoshim, p. 297).
[55] leaves (and 30 more blank leaves). Approx. 24 cm. Good-fair condition. Stains, including dampstains. Minor wear. Worming, slightly affecting ornaments on title pages and other leaves. Inscriptions. Original gilt-decorated binding, with blemishes and worming.
Reference: Batsheva Goldman Ida, Hasidic Art and the Kabbalah, Leiden-Boston: Brill, 2018, pp. 372-374.
Provenance: The Gross Family Collection, Tel Aviv, EE.011.010.