Auction No. 100
Rare and special items
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Lot 59
The Holy Book 'Reishit Chochma' with the Handwritten Signature of Rabbi Elimelech of Grodzisk
The book Reishit Chochma by Rabbi Eliyahu de Vidas, a student of Rabbi Moshe Cordovero. The Amsterdam edition, 1737. The personal copy of Rabbi Elimelech of Grodzinsk with his handwritten signature on the title page.
Specifications: [1] 5, 334 leaves. 19 cm. The leaf after the title page is missing.
Unique Features: On the book's title page is the handwritten signature of Rabbi Elimelech of Grodzinsk, and his stamp at the end.
Background: Rabbi Elimelech of Grodzinsk (1824-1892), son of Rabbi Chaim Meir Yechiel Shapira of Mogielnica, grandson of the Maggid of Kozhnitz. He was one of the great righteous men of his generation and Admor to thousands of followers. He learned from the Saba Kadisha of Radoshitz, Rabbi Natan David of Shidlowce, and was also influenced by Rabbi Yisrael of Ruzhin. In 1848 he settled in Grodzisk and became one of the leaders of the generation.
The great books Imrei Elimelech on the Torah and Divrei Elimelech on the Torah and festivals were printed from his teachings. The books are replete with love of the Jewish people and written in the style of his grandfather, the Maggid of Kozhnitz. His son was the Rebbe Rabbi Kalonymous Kalman of Piazecna. [Encyclopedia L'Chassidut pages 244-245].
This holy book of mussar was revered by the great Chassidic leaders. The chassidic masters greatly praised the book's holiness and instructed that it be studied daily, refer to Reishit Chochma HaShalem, Mahadurat Yerushalayim 2000, in the foreword, chapter 4.
Condition: Moderate. The bottom half of the title page is missing, and there is a tear on the last leaf. Aging stains. Simple binding.
Tiv Gittin V'Yad Efraim regarding names for divorce. Lemberg, 1839. Signatures of the Przedbórz rabbinical dynasty.
Specifications: The endpaper bears the signature of Admor Avraham Moshe Waltfried of Przedbórz and Rozprza (1840-1918), son of Rabbi Emanuel of Przedbórz, the only son of Rabbi Yeshaya of Przedbórz. He suffered terribly from persecution and libels both by the local gentiles and Jewish opponents. He merited the support of his teacher, Rabbi Chaim of Sanz who wrote when he was young, "The dear rabbi...Avraham Moshe son of...Hakodesh...Emanuel z"l will take over his forefather's position in the rabbinate, and though he is only young in years, the glory of his face is alight with fear and wisdom, so I am sure that he will be a great tree if we glorify and strengthen him." On the same leaf, a little lower down, is the signature of his son, Admor Emanual of Pabianice - Lodz, son-in-law of Rabbi Yehoshua of Djikov, author of Ateret Yeshua.
His brother (from his father's second wife) signed on the title page, and his son-in-law Admor Yechezkel Yechiel Waltfied Av Beit Din of the Ulla region.
For more information, refer to Dibrot Chaim (Jerusalem, 2015).
Condition: Fine. Aging stains. Original binding in disrepair.
Sefer Karnayim with the commentary Dan Yadin by Rabbi Shimshon of Ostropol. [Lemberg] 1850. With the personal stamp of Rabbi Yehosef HaLevi Rottenberg of Căuşeni author of "Bnei Shlishim," with Torah novellae at the end in his handwriting.
Specifications: 30 [7] leaves, 19 cm.
Unique Features: On page 30b, the stamp of Rabbi Yehosef Rottenberg from the period of his rabbinate in Nyirmada. On the last page is an extremely interesting inscription regarding the prohibition against hearing a woman sing, in the handwriting of the author of the Rebbe, author of the Bnei Shlishim. He writes, "...and I wrote all of this due to an event which occurred and entered my thoughts at the time it occurred, may G-d save me from all evil, prevent my eyes and ears from seeing and hearing evil, only goodness and kindness..."
Background: The Rebbe Rabbi Yehosef HaLevi Rottenberg, head of the Căuşeni dynasty, son of Rabbi Zvi Hirsch of Tłuste, son of Rabbi Yehosef of Kozowa - son-in-law of the Rebbe Rabbi Zvi Hirsch of Zidichov. One of the greatly pious men of his generation, he lived a life of holiness and purity, with much self-affliction and fasting. He travelled to many of the great chassidim of his generation, and Rabbi Chaim of Sanz described him as having the brain of his grandfather, the Ateret Zvi of Zidichov.
He was born in 1853. In 1875, he succeeded his father-in-law, Rabbi Meshulam Feish HaLevi of Tosh, from where he moved to Nyirmada, Debrecen, and in 1897 he served as Rabbi of Căuşeni, by whose name he was known. He died in 1912. Books printed from his writings include: Bnei Shlishim on the Torah and festivals, Bnei Shlishim Drashot, VaYitzhar Yosef, VaYelaket Yosef, VaYedaber Yosef and more.
Condition: Fine-very fine. Not bound. A few aging stains. At the bottom of the leaf are wide margins, some of which were not cut.
Snuff box. Hallmarked silver. Alt-Wien. 19th century.
Specifications: 17x87x58 cm. Silver hallmarks inside the box. Inside an elegant designated case.
Unique features: The cover features a delicately engraved design along with a nice small engraving of the Admor's name: יעקב ב'ה מוה' דוד מזאבלטוב.
Background: Rabbi Yaakov Hager [1715-1881] was the Admor of Zablatov. He was the eldest son of the patriarch of the dynasty, Rabbi Dovid, who was the son-in-law of Rabbi Moshe Leib of Sossov and the son of Rabbi Menachem of Kossov. He took over his father's chassidic court after his father's death. He was the son-in-law of Rabbi Yehuda Zvi of Razla, and his second wife was the daughter of Rabbi Yeshaya Schorr, Rabbi of Jassy. Rabbi Chaim Sanzer wrote many honorifics when referring to him. His Torah thoughts are included in Ateret Yaakov V'Yisrael and Esser Atarot. Refer to: Alfasi, chassidut 2, 230-231.
Condition: Light dents. Very fine.