Auction 77
Lot 168:
Doresh Zion, "describing the journey of Rabbi Simcha of Zolozitz-Galicia to Eretz Yisraewl in 1763. With several comments and words to the readers". Published by Chaim Eliezer Hoisdorf. Yitzchak Giustiniani Press, Jerusalem – 1887. [4], 8; 60 pp. 16 cm. Shoshana Halevi 575. Moth perforations and damage. Stains. 2 detached sheets. Goodo overall condition.
This book, with some small variations, is similar to Sefer Ahavat Zion (Horodna, 1790) – containing a rare historical documentation of the first Aliyah of the Baal Shem Tov’s Disciples, by Rabbi Simcha ben Rabbi Yehoshua Hass author of Binyan shel Simcha and Neti’ah shel Simcha. About him, the title page in the First Edition says: "והוא איש אמת וירא את ה’ מרבים וכל דבריו כנים ומעוררים את לב ידיד הקורא.. שאהבת ציון לא תשכח לנצח".
The first Aliyah of Chassidim!
The work is fascinating and expresses a deep love of Eretz Yisrael. including the author’s journey to the Holy Land ("…and he came to Acre… on the 12th of Tishrei 1764 and immigrated to Safed where he settled…) and his return to Europe ("…and was accepted as Maggid Meisharim in the community of Brailov where he passed away in 1768 when he was 58"). The true reason for his journey is not written here. To the best of our knowledge, the author immigrated to Eretz Yisrael with two disciples of the Baal Shem Tov, who are mentioned several times in the work: Rabbi Nachman of Horodenka and Rabbi Menachem Mendel of Premishlan, under what is known as the first Aliyah of the Baal Shem Tov’s disciples. The book also mentions Rabbi Shmuel of Horabashov, which makes this work the most reliable and earliest historical documentation of this Aliyah.
In this edition, the first 8 pages of the book contain a foreword by Rabbi Chaim Eliezer Hoisdorf, describing his journey from Europe to the Holy Land in 1884.
For more about this work, see Moreshet Auction 75 lot 8.
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