Auction 74 - Judaica - Books, Manuscripts, Rabbinical Letters, Ceremonial Art
Sama D'Chaya – Lviv, 1870 – Only Edition – Sanz-Sadigura Polemic – Rare Book / Maayam HaChochma – Czernowitz, 1864
Opening: $300
Sold for: $375
Including buyer's premium
Sama D'Chaya, defense of the rebbes of the Ruzhin dynasty, and response to the allegations of the Divrei Chaim, Rebbe of Sanz, against the Ruzhin court. [Lviv? 1870?].
Polemic booklet printed during the course of the fierce controversy between the Sanz and Sadigura Chassidic courts.
This book was written in response to one of the sharp letters issued by Rebbe Chaim Halberstam – the Divrei Chaim of Sanz, against the Chassidim of Sadigura and Ruzhin. In the first part of the booklet, the letter of the Divrei Chaim is transcribed, with the addition of dozens of footnotes refuting his claims. The second part of the book contains additional rejoinders. The book is written in a biting, mocking and disparaging way, and is full of satire, mockery and witticism. It also contains much information about the way Chassidic courts ran in those days, the fashion of the Sanz and Sadigura women, and more.
The book was printed anonymously. A note at the foot of the title page indicates that the book can be obtained from R. Yeckel Hilferding.
The same year, a response to this book was printed by Sanz Chassidim in Lviv, named Shevet LeGev Kesilim. Its title page states: "Letters… from the Torah scholars of our times, to reprove the wicked… for opening their mouth… and they sought a man of intrigue… and he published Sama D'Chaya to scorn prominent Torah scholars…".
The infamous dispute between the Sanz and Sadigura courts broke out in Adar 1869, following a series of sharp letters which the Divrei Chaim of Sanz publicized, in which he appealed to ban the Chassidim of Sadigura, Chortkov, Husiatyn and Leova. See Beguiled by Knowledge by Prof. David Assaf for the details and background of the controversy.
In the preface to his book, Assaf writes about the polemic writings which were produced during the course of the dispute: At the height of the controversy, from Nissan 1869 until the end of the winter of 1870, at least twenty-five defamatory publications were printed. Most represented Sanz, and only a few represented Sadigura. "Only a few copies of each work are extant in libraries and private collections, and they are considered rare".
Bound with:
Maayan HaChochma, kabbalah, "composed by the master of all prophets, Moshe Rabbenu". Czernowitz, 1864.
[16]; [8] leaves. 17.5 cm. Good condition. Stains (dampstains to Maayan HaChochma). Minor marginal tears to title page. Inner margins of title page and other leaves reinforced with paper. Minor worming. Old binding.
Polemic booklet printed during the course of the fierce controversy between the Sanz and Sadigura Chassidic courts.
This book was written in response to one of the sharp letters issued by Rebbe Chaim Halberstam – the Divrei Chaim of Sanz, against the Chassidim of Sadigura and Ruzhin. In the first part of the booklet, the letter of the Divrei Chaim is transcribed, with the addition of dozens of footnotes refuting his claims. The second part of the book contains additional rejoinders. The book is written in a biting, mocking and disparaging way, and is full of satire, mockery and witticism. It also contains much information about the way Chassidic courts ran in those days, the fashion of the Sanz and Sadigura women, and more.
The book was printed anonymously. A note at the foot of the title page indicates that the book can be obtained from R. Yeckel Hilferding.
The same year, a response to this book was printed by Sanz Chassidim in Lviv, named Shevet LeGev Kesilim. Its title page states: "Letters… from the Torah scholars of our times, to reprove the wicked… for opening their mouth… and they sought a man of intrigue… and he published Sama D'Chaya to scorn prominent Torah scholars…".
The infamous dispute between the Sanz and Sadigura courts broke out in Adar 1869, following a series of sharp letters which the Divrei Chaim of Sanz publicized, in which he appealed to ban the Chassidim of Sadigura, Chortkov, Husiatyn and Leova. See Beguiled by Knowledge by Prof. David Assaf for the details and background of the controversy.
In the preface to his book, Assaf writes about the polemic writings which were produced during the course of the dispute: At the height of the controversy, from Nissan 1869 until the end of the winter of 1870, at least twenty-five defamatory publications were printed. Most represented Sanz, and only a few represented Sadigura. "Only a few copies of each work are extant in libraries and private collections, and they are considered rare".
Bound with:
Maayan HaChochma, kabbalah, "composed by the master of all prophets, Moshe Rabbenu". Czernowitz, 1864.
[16]; [8] leaves. 17.5 cm. Good condition. Stains (dampstains to Maayan HaChochma). Minor marginal tears to title page. Inner margins of title page and other leaves reinforced with paper. Minor worming. Old binding.
Chassidic Books
Chassidic Books