Sefer Ben Porat Yosef – Koretz, 1781 – first edition – first printing of the famed Igeret Kodesh by Maran rabbeinu Yisrael Ba’al Shem Tov: "ושאלתי את פי משיח אימת אתי מר, והשיב לי בזאת תדע בעת שיתפרסם לימודך ויתגלה בעולם ויפוצו מעינותיך חוצה"
From the library of the holy Rav Rabbi Avraham Yaakov Friedman of Sadigura, the son of the holy Rav of Ruzhin – stamps of his successors the holy brothers the Or Yisroel of Sadigura and the Pachad Yitzchak of Boyan.
On the title page, the stamps of the holy brothers the Admorim the Or Yisroel of Sadigura and the Pachad Yitchak of Boyan: "Yitzchak Friedman" and "Yisroel Friedman".
This is the second book by the author of Toldot Yaakov Yosef, which was printed approx. a year after the Toldot Yaakov Yosef. In this book, like in its predecessor, the author of the Toldot states numerous times that ‘I have heard from my teacher’ and then introduces the Torah of his leading Rav the Besht.
At the end of the book, printed for the first time is the famed Igeret Kodesh that the Besht had sent to Eretz Yisroel to his brother-in-law the holy Gaon Rabbi Gershon of Kitov who was then living in Jerusalem. The Besht gave the Igeret to the author of the Toldot, who intended to immigrate to the Holy land in winter 1752, to be given to Rabbi Gershon of Kitov. After the trip was cancelled, the Igeret remained with the author and was published by him ‘to merit the Jewish people’.
The Saraf, the holy Rav Rabbi Uri of Strilsk recalled that the holy Rav Rabbi Mordechai of Neshchiz used to study the Igeret daily: ‘
The Tzaddik of Neshchiz was obligated to study it daily, just like the laying of the Tefillin‘. He also said in his name that this Igeret implies three holy names that ‘
can reveal the Ketz Hage’ulah‘ (Imrei Kodesh Hashalem, Jerusalem 1961, p. 47).
On the title page, a blurred signature. On the top of the leaves, a signature of David, Yisroel, Yigdal and Pinchas.
[1], 100 leaves. 30 cm. Good overall condition. On the title page and some of the leaves, dampness stains and moth perforations. A tear to the edge of the title page, not affecting the decoration. New binding.
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