Auction 18
Lot 262:
Kohellet with commentary Chemdat Yisrael by Rabbi Yisrael Nachman of Drohovitz and Tzfat. The author was the son of Rabbi Yosef of Drohovitz (student of the Ba’al Shem Tov), was a rabbi in Galicia, Poland, and Hungary. Moved to Tzfat, and for a certain period also served in the Rabbinate of Sidon (Lebanon). In 1804, on his way to Israel, he met HaHida in Livorno, and told him a great deal about the Ba’al Shem Tov and the Chassidic movement, and HaHida mentions things that he heard in his father’s name in his books (including Khomat Anach Song of Songs). He wandered in many countries, and in this book he mentions things he heard from Rabbi Simcha, Av Beit Din of Brisk, from a teacher in Egypt, and describes his visit to Aleppo, Izmir, and Salonika. During his shlichut in Italy he made a big impression, and Rabbi Mordechai Shmuel Girondi testifies that “he answered any difficult question posed to him in both the revealed and mystical Torah, a real genius.” In 1821 he printed Ashad HaNechalim in Livorno, a book by his friend the Admor Arvei Nahal, anonymously, as he was ordered to by his friend so as not to publicize him. He returned to Tzfat and died. | signature of ownership of Refael Haviv Zechut on the cover. Throughout the book are handwritten notes in a Sefardi handwriting. 4, 4-62 pages. 29.5cm. Stefanski Chassidut 225. Only four books of Chassidut were published in Livorno, all by Rabbi Yisrael Nahman of Drohovitz. New binding. Cover and a number of the first pages were repaired professionally. Last page added in partially via photocopy. Generally good condition.
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