Rare handwritten compilation full of fascinating rabbinic-Chassidic content, handwritten by the gaon Rabbi Yosef Chaim Shimmel of Dibetsk, one of the Chassidic Rebbeim of Galicia. Written over decades from 1880-1930. Includes a rare catalog of his Chassidic library.
The first part of the manuscript [pages 3-17]: consists of the gaon Rabbi Yosef Chaim Shimmel’s library catalog – a private library rare in size. The catalog contains an orderly and detailed list of over 300 books. This is a true bibliographic treasure – a rare and important booklist, the lion’s share of which is Chassidic sefarim . (Alphabetically arranged, as well as by book number.) There are large public Jewish libraries known from this period, and others by renowned Admo”rim, however, documentation of such a large private library is extremely rare.
Pages 20-35 bear a complete work on astronomy handwritten by the gaon Rabbi Yosef Chaim Shimmel about setting the Hebrew calendar and the cycle of its years. Detailed tables included, with explanations of the calculations and creation of the year calendars.
Pages 38-44 bear texts for halachic contracts necessary for rabbis to run religious life, marriages and business according to Jewish law. The shtarot [contracts] are from the years 1875, 1882 and 1889 – in two of them the place they were written is noted – Dibetsk.
Page 45: Calculation of the number of years from Creation to the destruction of the Beit HaMikdash (3828 years).
Pages 47-48: Kabbalistic segulahs and incantations attributed to Chassidic luminaries: the Maggid of Kozhnitz and the author of Bnei Yissachar of Dinov (not exclusively). The segulahs are designated for toothaches, against the evil eye and more. Written alongside one of the incantations: “Very effective.”
Pages 49-51: “To remember” – yahrtzeits, birth dates and wedding dates of Rabbi Yosef Chaim Shimmel’s ancestors and descendants.
The last two leaves bear 52-53: draft of a letter from an unknown Admo”r with a request that he come stay with them. Next to this draft is the address of the Admo”r Rabbi Shalom Halberstam of Stropkov while he was staying in Kashoi in 1933.
Refer to the Hebrew catalog text for a brief biography of Rabbi Yosef Chaim Shimmel, one of the Chassidic rabbis of Galicia .
Provenance: Michael Krupp Collection.
[41] written pages, of 28 leaves. 21 cm.
Overall fine condition. Minimal wear and tiny tears in the margins of the leaves. Stains and usage marks. Softcover binding, worn.