“These important words enlighten our eyes from Heaven” (from the manuscript)
Manuscript, complete work on Chassidic doctrine on chamishah chumshei Torah and the meggilahs by one of the leading Chassidim, who did not write his name on the manuscript, aside from several hints, including one very significant hint that reduces the possibilities to about twenty people in total – including some of the leading Admo”rei HaDorot . [Europe, late 19th century.]
The chronological order of the manuscript is as follows: Meggilat Ruth, Meggilat Eichah, Chamishah Chumshei Torah, from parashat Yitro to parashat V’Zot HaBrachah; Meggilat Esther; drushim for Shavuot. The manuscript consists of deep Chassidic and Kabbalistic torot that demonstrate that the author was expert in the revealed, the hidden, and Chassidism.
In several places, the author cites gedolei heChassidut , such as in the name of the Ba’al Shem Tov, describing him as Nesi Elo-kim , Ish Elo-kim Kadosh Rabbi Mendel Fristiker” [this is none other than Rabbi Menachem Mendel of Rimanov, who was previously rabbi in Fristik], the Ohev Yisrael of Apta, and well as quoting a conversation that took plate between the Rebbe Rabbi Yisrael of Ruzhin, and the Rebbe Rabbi Shmuel of Kaminka about the Sar Shalom of Belz. Elsewhere, he writes, “I heard that it was said that the sacred rabbi, the av beit din of Belz said explicitly …” [The wording he uses indicates that the author was a contemporary of the Sar Shalom of Belz, or that he lived in the following generation, as he knew people tho heard Torah directly from the Sar Shalom, who was also the latest Admo”r mentioned in this manuscript.]
Along the entire manuscript, the author’s name is never mentioned, but there are several hints as to his identity. In one place, the writer refers to what he wrote in his book of responsa (“and in my sefer of responsa and in-depth studies I expanded on this”) as well as mentioning derashot he delivered (“Refer to what I wrote in the drush on building the study hall, ” “Refer as well to what I wrote in the drush for the benefit of the public”). However, the hint that brings us closest to identifying the writer is the name of his grandfather-in-law, which appears on page [10a] where he cites a dvar Torah in the name of “My grandfather-in-law, the gaon, the great light, Mahara”m Taubsh in his sefer Karnei Re’em .”
This wording indicates that the author was married to one of the Karnei Re’em’s granddaughters. The Karnei Re’em was known to have six sons and daughters, so this note reduces the options to less than twenty grandsons-in-law married to his granddaughters, and these include gedolei hador . The most famous son-in-law was the second Admo”r of Nadvorna, son of the Rebbe Rabbi Yissachar Ber’che, founder of Nadvorna Chassidism, who married Rebbetzin Chayah, daughter of the sacred gaon Rabbi Shmuel Shmelke Taubsh, av beit din of Iasi, son of the Karnei Re’em .
Large-format kuntress . [57] leaf. 34 cm. The leaves are stitched together but not bound.
Fine condition. The first leaf is creased and somewhat worn. Other leaves have minimal stains and light tears.