Shnei Luchot HaBrit (Shlah), by R. Yeshayah HaLevi Horowitz. Amsterdam: Immanuel son of Josef Athias, 1698. Illustrated title page (by Avraham ben Yaakov HaGer).

Shnei Luchot HaBrit contains many halachic novellae, Kabbalistic principles, homiletics and ethics, and incorporates all realms of the Torah. The book was received with awe throughout the Jewish world, and its teachings are quoted in the books of leading poskim and kabbalists. Many renowned Chassidic leaders were extremely devoted to the study of the books of the Shlah.

This edition of the Shlah was printed in Amsterdam in 1698, the year the Baal Shem Tov was born, and Chassidic lore ties these two events. The Rebbe Rayatz of Lubavitch writes that the elaborate edition of the Shlah printed in the year "Nachat" ("gratification"; the numerical value of the Hebrew year 5458 [1698]) is an allusion to the heavenly gratification caused by the revelation of the holy book, leading to the birth of the Baal Shem Tov that year, a connection the Baal Shem Tov himself used to make.
Early signatures at the top of the title page and on the following leaf.

This copy belonged to R. David Sperber – the Gaon of Brașov (see below). His signature appears on the front endpaper. The book contains many glosses (over 150) handwritten by him, some lengthy. Some glosses are slightly trimmed.

[4], 422; 44; [12] leaves. 29.5 cm. Good-fair condition. Tears and damage to title page and to several leaves. Loss to lower left corner of illustrated title page, affecting the illustration, with photocopy replacement. Stains, dark dampstains. Worming to several leaves. The book is severed into two parts. Old, damaged, detached binding.

R. David Sperber (1877-1962), leading Galician and Romanian rabbi. Born in Zablotov to a family of Kosov-Vizhnitz Chassidim, he was a disciple of R. Meir Arik and also studied under Rebbe Moshe Hager of Kosov, and prepared the latter's writings for press. From 1908, he served as dayan and posek in Polien Riskeve (Poienile de sub Munte), and from 1922 as Rabbi of Braşov (Kronstadt). In 1950, he immigrated to Eretz Israel, where he became known as "the Rabbi of Braşov", and served as a leader of the Moetzet Gedolei HaTorah and the Independent Education System. His grandson is R. Prof. Daniel Sperber.

PLEASE NOTE: Item descriptions were shortened in translation. For further information, please refer to Hebrew text.