Personal siddur of the Elder Admo”r in his generation, known as “The Pillar of Prayer and Kindness, ” the sacred Rebbe Meshulam Feish Segal of Tosh. As attested by the Rebbe’s close associates, the siddur was used by the Rebbe over many years, on weekdays, Shabbats and festivals. This is also evident in the abundant usage stains on almost every page of the siddur.
The Rebbe’s thrilling owner’s signature appears at the top of the title page: “Meshulim Feish Segal Lowy, av beit din of Tosh, Canada.” The first leaves of the siddur bear many names to be mentioned. Some of the names are written in the Rebbe’s hand, as detailed in the enclosed confirmation.
The value of this segulah book is difficult to exaggerate as it is the personal siddur used by the “Pillar of Prayer” over many years of his famous glory-filled prayers that lasted hours upon hours pleading for salvation for the community and the individual. He used it to enact his famous supernatural salvations for those who begged for them. First-rate segulah item from one of the tzaddikim of the previous generation.
There are other siddurim of his known to have been offered at auction over recent years, including at Winner’S Auctions, but one like this has never been seen – a siddur used by the Rebbe for so many years that almost every leaf bears the Rebbe’s stamp in the form of his sacred tears or remnants of wine from that used for blessings.
Chassidic leaders revealed the great sanctity concealed within the personal belongings of tzaddikim and their ritual objects, and that they have the power to bring about salvation. It is told in the name of Rabbi Mordechai of Nezkizh, that he said regarding the vessel given to him by his rabbi, Rabbi Michel of Zlotshov: “This vessel gives the power to perform miracles and wonders …” ( Divrei Binah leaf 47). The source of the importance of the tzaddik’s personal belongings was brought long ago in the name of the Ba’al Shem Tov, by his grandson, the author of Degel Machaneh Ephraim (in parashat Bo): “… All that a person has – his slaves, his servants, his livestock and even all his vessels, are all his sparks, belonging to the root of his soul.” Even the Chatam Sofer, who is not counted among Chassidim, writes in parashat Toldot: It can be understood from the Yerushalmi that a person’s garments are infused with the wearer’s sanctity, and he who wears them after him will be infused with the same spirit for the better; this is the secret of his sons wearing them after him …” If such a statement applies to all items used by a tzaddik – how much more so the Tzaddik’s personal siddur, that absorbed thousands of hours of his prayers, and with which the Rebbe worked his supernatural salvations with his famous prayers!
This siddur was used by the Rebbe for many years (it was printed approximately 50 years before the Rebbe’s passing!) and along the entire siddur there are many usage marks – remnants from wine used for blessings, the Rebbe’s sweat stains, and stains from his sacred tears. It is interesting to observe the places with an especially large number of stains, as they are exactly the places the Rebbe would characteristically concentrate his wondrous service. For example: In the Shemoneh Esreh prayers of Shacharit (the Rebbe’s prayers were so intense that he became known as the “Pillar of Prayer”); in the blessing al netilat yadayim – as it is known that the Rebbe was considered “the master of the secret of netilat yadayim in our generation” (refer to the discussion in the Hebrew catalog text); in the grace after meals, which appears after Shacharit (many wine stains from the Rebbe’s kossot shel berachah ); the motza’ei Shabbat service (many marks); the kiddush text for Yamim Tovim and Rosh HaShanah and much more.
Refer to the Hebrew catalog text for a brief biography of Rabbi Meshulim Feish Segal Lowy .
Prayer was a special chapter in the Rebbe’s sacred life story. His prayers could extend for many hours, as attested by R’ M. Amsel in Zichronot HaMe’or (1974; Part II p. 229): “While still a youth, he prayed very much, with all his heart … one of the Admo”r of Tosh’s most solid pillars was prayer. The prayers of the Rebbe of Tosh are each and every one in itself an entire chapter of devotion and faithful service to instill love and reverence for the Creator in the hearts of those who pray, holiness and piety.”
Specifications: Siddur Taharat Hashem (Slavuta style), integrated with Hashem’s names spelled out. Jerusalem, 1963. 308 leaf, 17 cm. With the Rebbe’s personal stamp and many handwritten names for blessing.
Very fine condition: Many usage marks.
Signed confirmation included from the Rebbe’s disciple, Rabbi Moshe Eliezer Pfeffer, av beit din of Selish-Chortkov Bnei Brak, attesting to the authenticity of the siddur, that it was used over a lengthy period by the Rebbe, and that the notations in the siddur are in the Rebbe’s own script.
