Bnei Yissachar [section one]. [Maamarei Chodesh Nissan-Elul and Maamar HaShabbatot.] Zolkiew, [1850]. First edition. No title page.
24, 72 leaves. 23 cm. The first 24 leaves feature the Maamarei HaShabbatot and Maamarei Rosh Chodesh.
Stefansky, Chassidut 91.
Bnei Yissachar [section 2]. [Maamarei Chodesh Tishrei-Adar]. Zolkiew, [1846]. First edition.
117 leaves. This copy has 94 leaves (missing leaves 95-117). 23 cm. Blue paper. The book was printed without a title page.
Stefansky, Chassidut 92.
The first edition of both sections of the Bnei Yissachar, a fundamental chassidic work. Section two was printed after section one. As in many copies, this exemplar does not include the title page of section one. Apparently, the second section was printed before it and was included with this section.
The author, Rabbi Zvi Elimelech Shapiro of Dinov, was a cousin of Rabbi Elimelech of Lizhensk, who chose to give the child his name as a segulah. He was a genius in both revealed and hidden aspects of Torah and was greatly admired by the leading Torah personalities of his time. In chassidut, he was a disciple of the Chozeh of Lublin and Rabbi Menachem Mendel of Rimanov. He later became close to the Maggid of Kosnitz and the Ohev Yisrael of Apt. He was rabbi in a number of communities and instituted significant bylaws battling the Enlightenment. He authored many works on all aspects of the Torah, but he is forever known for his Bnei Yissachar. He passed way in 1841, and the book was published posthumously. For the story of the printing of the book, including the harassment by the censor who was a Jewish maskil who knew the author is related by Ben Menachem, see Pitchei Shearim, p. 69-74.
Each volume is bound separately, with new half-leather and marbleized paper bindings. Some supplementary paper has been mounted in blank margins. Minimal aging stains. Fine condition.