Passover leads all the festivals
Sefer Brit HaLevi , revealed and hidden commentary on the Passover Haggadah by Kabbalist Rabbi Shlomo Alkabetz, author of ‘Lecha Dodi.’ [Lemberg], Zalman Leib Flecker and partners press, 1863. First edition. Personal copy of the third Admo”r of Lelov, Rabbi Elazar Menachem Mendel Biderman, from the period he spent in Jerusalem.
The sefer includes nineteen chapters, including a commentary on the haggadah. Chapters 16-19 include parts of the haggadah text in the center of the leaf, surrounded by the commentary [starting at Ha Lachma Anya through the four questions, Avadim Hayinu , the story of Rabi Elazar ben Azaryah … and Rabi Akiva, who sat together in Bnei Brak – Rabi Elazar Ben Azaryah said, “I am like seventy years old, ” Baruch HaMakom , the four sons – chacham , rasha , tam and eino yode’a lishol , V’Higgadeta L’Vincha , MiTechilah Ovdei Avodah Zarah until ‘And Ya’akov and his sons descended to Egypt’]
The title page and other places feature stamps from the G-dly person, the Admo”r Rabbi Elazar Menachem Mendel Biderman of Lelov, one of the leading Admo”rim of the generations, and leading Admo”r in the Land of Israel. Text of the stamp: “Elazar Menachem Bha’ Mhr’ Moshe ztzllh”h.” This sacred Kabbalistic work was used by Rabbi Elazar Mendel for his sacred service in his home opposite the Temple Mount, and the sacred night of the Passover holiday – the loftiest night of the year, with the most tremendous revelations to Chassidic tzaddikim ! It is chilling to see the multiple stains from spills all along the length of the sefer , characteristic of haggadahs, remnants from this G-dly person’s seder table.
The severe stringencies maintained by the Lelov dynasty for seder night are well-known. They even used special dishes and clothes – and even a special apartment for Passover. There is a famous story about one first night of Passover when a Chassid came to Rabbi Elazar Mendel’s home and pleaded with him to beg for mercy for his wife who had become critically ill. Rabbi Elazar Mendel asked “Is it possible there is still chametz in your home?” The man went back home and checked all the nooks and crannies, yet did not find even one crumb of chametz. He returned to his rebbe in disappointment. The rebbe said – go look in such-and-such a sefer that you studied on Shabbat while you were eating kugel – perhaps a single noodle remains there. The man returned home and checked the sefer , where, much to his astonishment, he found the single noodle the Rebbe mentioned. He immediately destroyed it and ran up to his wife, who had recovered. This demonstrates that the signs of use and the spills in the sefer must be from the Seder night itself and would not have been used after Pesach.
It is important to note the words of the author of Divrei Chaim of Sanz here about Rabbi Elazar Mendel of Lelov’s seder night: “We observed in the upper worlds that the most beautiful seder of all the tzaddikim was the one held by Rabbi Elazar Mendel of Jerusalem.”
Refer to the Hebrew catalog text for a brief biography of Rabbi Elazar Menachem Mendel Biderman of Lelov .
[2], 44 leaf. 25 cm. The stamps are on the title page, leaf 21, and the front protective leaf. Page 2b bears his son’s beautiful stamp – the sacred Rabbi Yerachmiel Yosef, who inherited this sefer from his sacred father.
Overall fine condition. Many sacred stains and usage marks. Tears in both of the first leaves. Small tears in several more leaves. Antique binding, minimally worn and chafed. The front board is partially detached.