Auction 74 - Judaica - Books, Manuscripts, Rabbinical Letters, Ceremonial Art
Seraf Pri Etz Chaim – Czernowitz, 1866 – First Edition – "Great Protection for the Home" – Approbations by the Divrei Chaim of Sanz and the Rebbes of Ruzhin and Sadigura – Important Ownership, Descendants of the Author and of Rebbe Elimelech of Lizhensk
Opening: $300
Sold for: $375
Including buyer's premium
Seraf Pri Etz Chaim, commentary to the book Pri Etz Chaim – kabbalah of the Arizal, by R. Moshe Shoham Rabbi of Dolyna, disciple of the Baal Shem Tov. Czernowitz (Chernivtsi), 1866. First edition. With approbations by prominent Chassidic leaders, the Ohev Yisrael of Apta, R. Yitzchak of Radvil, the Divrei Chaim of Sanz and the rebbes of Ruzhin and Sadigura.
The author, R. Moshe Shoham Rabbi of Dolyna (d. 1820) was one of the youngest disciples of the Baal Shem Tov, and he quotes the latter's teachings in his book Divrei Moshe. In 1786, he was appointed rabbi of Dolyna, through the efforts of R. Elimelech of Lizhensk. The Ohev Yisrael of Apta writes in his approbation: "I know that he is well versed both in revealed and hidden realms of the Torah, and he has never departed from the tent of Torah study". The Divrei Chaim of Sanz praises him: "An exceptional, G-dly man". Apart from this book, he authored Divrei Moshe on the Torah (Mezhibuzh 1818), and Imrei Shoham (Kolomyia 1780) on Tractates Ketubot, Kiddushin and Bava Metzia.
The presence of this book in one's home is considered a protection, as R. Yehuda Tzvi Steg Rabbi of Skolye asserts in his approbation to the book Imrei Shoham: "It is a great mitzva for this book to be found in Jewish homes, and it serves as a wonderful protection for the home, since he was a disciple of the Baal Shem Tov".
The publisher of this book was a Chassid of Sadigura, and understandably the book bears approbations by his teacher, Rebbe Avraham Yaakov of Sadigura, and by the latter's brothers, rebbes of Ruzhin. Nevertheless, the publisher also sought the approbation of the Divrei Chaim of Sanz, who, from 1869 onwards, fiercely opposed the court of Sadigura (the Divrei Chaim writes about the publisher: "My friend, R. Shimshon Shlomo of Maramureș showed me…"). Furthermore, the list of pre-publication subscribers (prenumeranten) includes towns which were strongholds of Sadigura Chassidim alongside towns which were strongholds of Sanz Chassidim. This dispels the rumor that already in 1866, and even earlier, there was tension between the Sanz and Sadigura courts (see: David Assaf, Beguiled by Knowledge, p. 180).
The five pages of prenumeranten lists at the beginning of the book provide much information regarding prominent figures and places in the history of Galician Chassidut.
Stamp on title page: "Naftali Weisblum, son of R. Y.Y., grandson of the Tzaddik of Lizhensk and Zidichov". Ownership inscription on the title page: "Belongs to R. Yaakov Yitzchak Weisblum, grandson of the author".
R. Naftali Weisblum of Bolechov (Bolekhiv; 1862-1918, Encyclopedia L'Chachmei Galicia, II, pp. 897-898), a Tzaddik and wonder worker. Many Chassidim benefited from his counsel, especially on medical issues. A descendant of R. Elimelech of Lizhensk (he was the son of R. Yisrael Yosef, son of R. Yaakov Yitzchak, son of R. Naftali of Lizhensk, son of R. Elazar, son of the Noam Elimelech). His son, R. Yaakov Yitzchak Weisblum (1907-1974, Encyclopedia L'Chachmei Galicia, II, p. 894), rabbi of Svirzh and a rabbi in Haifa. Both R. Yaakov Yitzchak's mother and R. Naftali's mother belonged to the Perl (Shoham) family, and were descendants of R. Moshe Shoham of Dolyna, author of this book.
[5], 83, 83-149 leaves. 25 cm. Good-fair condition. Stains. Wear to first leaves. Marginal tears to title page, not affecting text, repaired with paper. Tears to several leaves, not affecting text. Worming. New binding.
Stefansky Chassidut, no. 594.
The author, R. Moshe Shoham Rabbi of Dolyna (d. 1820) was one of the youngest disciples of the Baal Shem Tov, and he quotes the latter's teachings in his book Divrei Moshe. In 1786, he was appointed rabbi of Dolyna, through the efforts of R. Elimelech of Lizhensk. The Ohev Yisrael of Apta writes in his approbation: "I know that he is well versed both in revealed and hidden realms of the Torah, and he has never departed from the tent of Torah study". The Divrei Chaim of Sanz praises him: "An exceptional, G-dly man". Apart from this book, he authored Divrei Moshe on the Torah (Mezhibuzh 1818), and Imrei Shoham (Kolomyia 1780) on Tractates Ketubot, Kiddushin and Bava Metzia.
The presence of this book in one's home is considered a protection, as R. Yehuda Tzvi Steg Rabbi of Skolye asserts in his approbation to the book Imrei Shoham: "It is a great mitzva for this book to be found in Jewish homes, and it serves as a wonderful protection for the home, since he was a disciple of the Baal Shem Tov".
The publisher of this book was a Chassid of Sadigura, and understandably the book bears approbations by his teacher, Rebbe Avraham Yaakov of Sadigura, and by the latter's brothers, rebbes of Ruzhin. Nevertheless, the publisher also sought the approbation of the Divrei Chaim of Sanz, who, from 1869 onwards, fiercely opposed the court of Sadigura (the Divrei Chaim writes about the publisher: "My friend, R. Shimshon Shlomo of Maramureș showed me…"). Furthermore, the list of pre-publication subscribers (prenumeranten) includes towns which were strongholds of Sadigura Chassidim alongside towns which were strongholds of Sanz Chassidim. This dispels the rumor that already in 1866, and even earlier, there was tension between the Sanz and Sadigura courts (see: David Assaf, Beguiled by Knowledge, p. 180).
The five pages of prenumeranten lists at the beginning of the book provide much information regarding prominent figures and places in the history of Galician Chassidut.
Stamp on title page: "Naftali Weisblum, son of R. Y.Y., grandson of the Tzaddik of Lizhensk and Zidichov". Ownership inscription on the title page: "Belongs to R. Yaakov Yitzchak Weisblum, grandson of the author".
R. Naftali Weisblum of Bolechov (Bolekhiv; 1862-1918, Encyclopedia L'Chachmei Galicia, II, pp. 897-898), a Tzaddik and wonder worker. Many Chassidim benefited from his counsel, especially on medical issues. A descendant of R. Elimelech of Lizhensk (he was the son of R. Yisrael Yosef, son of R. Yaakov Yitzchak, son of R. Naftali of Lizhensk, son of R. Elazar, son of the Noam Elimelech). His son, R. Yaakov Yitzchak Weisblum (1907-1974, Encyclopedia L'Chachmei Galicia, II, p. 894), rabbi of Svirzh and a rabbi in Haifa. Both R. Yaakov Yitzchak's mother and R. Naftali's mother belonged to the Perl (Shoham) family, and were descendants of R. Moshe Shoham of Dolyna, author of this book.
[5], 83, 83-149 leaves. 25 cm. Good-fair condition. Stains. Wear to first leaves. Marginal tears to title page, not affecting text, repaired with paper. Tears to several leaves, not affecting text. Worming. New binding.
Stefansky Chassidut, no. 594.
Chassidic Books
Chassidic Books