1. Introduction and guide to Etz HaHayyim, “called Sur MeRah v’Aseh Tov”, by the Admor Rabbi Zvi Hirsch Eichenstein of Zidichow, called the Sar Beit HaZohar, with additions of the Mahartza by the Admor Rabbi Zvi Elimelech Shapira of Dinov (the Bnei Issachar). Printed in Lemberg in 1858. 42 leaves. The body of the work has handwritten notes.
2. Igeret HaKodesh, nice words and hanhagot from Admorim Rabbi Menachem Mendel of Vitebsk, Rabbi Avraham of Kolisk, Rabbi Haim Haikel of Hamdora and Rabbi Elimelech of Luzhansk. Printed in Lemberg 1858. 21 leaves.
3. Nahalat Shimon, chiddushim on the weekly parshah from Rabbi Shimon ben Avraham Ashkenazi, the Av Beit Din of Abramil. Printed in Lemberg 1858. 41 leaves. Approbation form Rabbi Naftali Hertz Kharif of Yaroslav. Printed on light-blue paper.
4. Kehilot Yaakov, a commentary on Kohelet from Rabbi Shmaryahu Shmaril Brendris of Harmilov (see below), a chassidic work, first edition. Lemberg 1852. 30, [4] leaves.
Old binding is worn, leather spine, stains, a few moth holes in a few places, overall good condition.
Notes and stamp testifying that this work belonged to the Admor Rabbi Mordechai David Teitelbaum of Tzfat, grandson of the Yismach Moshe. Glosses handwritten and a long note at the end of the volume.
Rabbi Mordechai David Teitelbaum (died 1920) was the son of Rabbi Nachum Zvi of Drohovitch, who was the son of Rabbi Eliezer Nissan Teitelbaum the son of the Admor Yismach Moshe of Ohel. On his mother’s side he was also the grandson of Rabbi Mordechai David Ungar the Rabbi of Dombrova. He served as dayan in Stotshin and in 1902 he moved to Israel and settled in Tzfat.
The author of the Kehilot Yaakov, Rabbi Shmarya Shmaril Brendris (1780-1857) was the son of Rabbi Yaakov. He was Av Beit Din in Terembovla and Rimlov (two towns in the Tarnopol district of Ukraine), a student of Rabbi Avrahma David of Botchatch (the Daat Kedoshim) and Rabbi Ephraim Zalman Margaliyot, the Mateh Ephraim. He moved to Israel in 1852 and about five years later died in Jerusalem and was buried on Mt. of Olives. His son, Rabbi Yosef Meir (the Av Beit Din of Osatzia) succeeded him in Harimlov. His brother Rabbi Zvi Hirsch was a follower of Rabbi Yisrael of Ruzhin. He was a gadol of Jerusalem who signed in 1856 the “herem” against the Haskalah’s schools (see: Meorei Galicia, vol. 1, pp. 618-619).
