Auction 72 - Rare and Important Items
Torah Or (Chabad) – Kopust, 1836 – First Edition / Torah Or – Zhitomir, 1862 – First Edition of Hosafot L'Sefer Torah Or
Opening: $1,500
Estimate: $3,000 - $5,000
Unsold
1. Torah Or, Chassidic essays on Bereshit and Shemot, Chanukah and Purim, by Rebbe Shneur Zalman of Liadi – the Baal HaTanya. Kopust (Kopys), 1836. First edition.
The book was written from teachings heard directly from the Baal HaTanya by his brother R. Yehuda Leib of Janowiec, author of She'erit Yehuda, and was arranged and edited for print by his disciple and grandson R. Menachem Mendel Schneersohn of Lubavitch, author of Tzemach Tzedek (1789-1866). While editing and proofreading the book Torah Or, the Tzemach Tzedek did not undertake any other tasks, not even responding to halachic enquiries, being aware of the great responsibility resting upon him. Once the book was printed, the Tzemach Tzedek wrote a missive to his Chassidim describing its importance: "All its words are like burning coals enflaming hearts and drawing them close to their Father in Heaven…" (Igrot Kodesh of the Tzemach Tzedek, Brooklyn 2013, pp. 41-43).
[2], 2-167, [1] leaves. Two title pages. First title page printed in red and black. 20 cm. Fair-good condition. Stains. Worming, affecting text in several places, repaired in part. Large tears to leaves 2-3, with loss of text, restored with photocopies. Marginal tears and scorches to several middle leaves, affecting the text of leaves 74-75. New leather binding.
Stefansky Chassidut, no. 610.
This is one of the last books printed in Russia before the 1836 governmental decree to shut down all Jewish printing presses, as a result of defamation by the maskilim. Thereafter, only two printing presses, one in Vilna and the other in Zhitomir, were allowed to operate, under the close scrutiny of the Russian government. Part II of this book, on Vayikra-Devarim, was printed only in 1848, under the title Likutei Torah.
2. Torah Or, Chassidic essays on Bereshit and Shemot, Chanukah and Purim, including Hosafot L'Sefer Torah Or (Supplements to Torah Or), by Rebbe Shneur Zalman of Liadi – the Baal HaTanya. Zhitomir: R. Chanina Lipa and R. Yehoshua Heshel Shapira, grandsons of the Rabbi of Slavita, 1862. First edition of the supplements.
Printed on the second title page: "Reprinted most elegantly and corrected…".
The supplements include 15 new essays of the Baal HaTanya. While most of the book follows the writings of the author's brother, R. Yehuda Leib of Janowiec, the essays printed in the supplements were written by the author's son, R. Dov Ber, the Mitteler Rebbe of Lubavitch, as attested to on the title page of this section.
A tradition is cited in the book Beit Rebbi by R. Chaim Meir Heilman (Berdychiv 1902, II, p. 34), that the essays printed in the supplements were edited and abridged by the Tzemach Tzedek, son-in-law of the Mitteler Rebbe.
102; 24 leaves. Two title pages. First title page printed in red and black. Another title page for supplements. Approx. 27 cm. Good-fair condition. Stains and wear. Worming. New binding.
Stefansky Chassidut, no. 612.
The book was written from teachings heard directly from the Baal HaTanya by his brother R. Yehuda Leib of Janowiec, author of She'erit Yehuda, and was arranged and edited for print by his disciple and grandson R. Menachem Mendel Schneersohn of Lubavitch, author of Tzemach Tzedek (1789-1866). While editing and proofreading the book Torah Or, the Tzemach Tzedek did not undertake any other tasks, not even responding to halachic enquiries, being aware of the great responsibility resting upon him. Once the book was printed, the Tzemach Tzedek wrote a missive to his Chassidim describing its importance: "All its words are like burning coals enflaming hearts and drawing them close to their Father in Heaven…" (Igrot Kodesh of the Tzemach Tzedek, Brooklyn 2013, pp. 41-43).
[2], 2-167, [1] leaves. Two title pages. First title page printed in red and black. 20 cm. Fair-good condition. Stains. Worming, affecting text in several places, repaired in part. Large tears to leaves 2-3, with loss of text, restored with photocopies. Marginal tears and scorches to several middle leaves, affecting the text of leaves 74-75. New leather binding.
Stefansky Chassidut, no. 610.
This is one of the last books printed in Russia before the 1836 governmental decree to shut down all Jewish printing presses, as a result of defamation by the maskilim. Thereafter, only two printing presses, one in Vilna and the other in Zhitomir, were allowed to operate, under the close scrutiny of the Russian government. Part II of this book, on Vayikra-Devarim, was printed only in 1848, under the title Likutei Torah.
2. Torah Or, Chassidic essays on Bereshit and Shemot, Chanukah and Purim, including Hosafot L'Sefer Torah Or (Supplements to Torah Or), by Rebbe Shneur Zalman of Liadi – the Baal HaTanya. Zhitomir: R. Chanina Lipa and R. Yehoshua Heshel Shapira, grandsons of the Rabbi of Slavita, 1862. First edition of the supplements.
Printed on the second title page: "Reprinted most elegantly and corrected…".
The supplements include 15 new essays of the Baal HaTanya. While most of the book follows the writings of the author's brother, R. Yehuda Leib of Janowiec, the essays printed in the supplements were written by the author's son, R. Dov Ber, the Mitteler Rebbe of Lubavitch, as attested to on the title page of this section.
A tradition is cited in the book Beit Rebbi by R. Chaim Meir Heilman (Berdychiv 1902, II, p. 34), that the essays printed in the supplements were edited and abridged by the Tzemach Tzedek, son-in-law of the Mitteler Rebbe.
102; 24 leaves. Two title pages. First title page printed in red and black. Another title page for supplements. Approx. 27 cm. Good-fair condition. Stains and wear. Worming. New binding.
Stefansky Chassidut, no. 612.
Chabad – Books and Letters
Chabad – Books and Letters