Lot 167:

Copying of dozens of letters by leading Chassidic rabbis in Eretz Yisroel - the holy...

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Copying of dozens of letters by leading Chassidic rabbis in Eretz Yisroel – the holy Rav Rabbi Menachem Mendel of Vitebsk author of Pri HaAretz and the holy Rav Rabbi Avraham of Kolisk and their disciples, written during the years 1778-1809 – including a precise and rare copying of the sharp polemic letters by the holy Rav of Kolisk against the Rav Ba’al Hatanya – Hanhagos and guidance by leading Chassidi rabbis – [Sanz, 1876]

In this collection, 45 letters were copied, most of them by leading Chassidic rabbis who immigrated to Eretz Yisroel during the famed Chassidic Aliyah of 1777. These letters were sent to their Chassidim abroad – their leading disciples and friends in Reisin. Some of these letters contain deep and abstract Chassidic ideas and others, an authentic historical documentation of the hardships they faced after their immigration to the Holy Land.

Most of these letters were published in varied books and compilations. Some of these letters were published for the first time in the book Igeret Hakodesh (Mezirov, 1794) and at the end of the book Pri HaAretz (Kopust, 1814). In addition, there are many manuscripts containing copying of the letters from the Holy Land. The manuscripts and the printed versions of the letters contain many textual variations. This manuscript too contains unique versions that do not appear in the other sources.

The uniqueness of this manuscript derives from the fact that it contains the sharpest, unprecedented letters written by the holy Rav Rabbi Avraham of Kolisk against his former friend the holy Gaon Ba’al Hatanya during the years 1797-1806.

Most of the copyists who copied letters of Tzaddikim from the Holy Land were careful not to copy the sharp polemic letters by the holy Rav of Kolisk. Thus, they were copied by only two or three copyists and published only in few academic journals (Kiryat Sefer and Tarbitz) and in the famed book by Rabbi David Zvi Hillman, Igrot Ba’al Hatanya Uvnei Doro (Jerusalem, 1953). In Chasisidc books they were never printed. This copying, however, contains these polemic letters. Regarding some letters, it seems that this copying is more precise than the printed version. For example, in a letter written by the holy Rav of Kolisk to the holy Rav Rabbi Levi Yitzchak of Berditchev against his in-law Ba’al Hatanya, the version appearing in this manuscript (54b-55b) is complete and much more understandable and readable than the printed version.

This copying was done from an early manuscript that was copied in Tiberius by the Chassidim of the holy Rav of Kolisk. Therefore, the censor and crude omissions that were made in it are understandable as well as the fact that none of the wonderful letters of praise written by the holy Rav of Vitebsk and by the holy Rav of Kolisk until 1797 do not appear in it. Moreover, all the praises about connecting with the Rav Ba’al Hatanya which were written in the famed Last Will of the Rav of Vitebsk (41a) were also crudely omitted.

Copied on the last leaves are the Tzetil Katan of the holy Rav Rabbi Elimelech of Lizhensk, Hanhagot by Rabbi Mordechai Malkovich, Hanhagot by the author of the Bnei Yissachar and more.

This manuscript was copied from an early manuscript that was owned by the Chassid Gaon Rabbi Baruch David Kahana, the author of the famed books Chibat HaAretz and Birkat HaAretz.

Written on the first page (23a): "הנה בא לכאן מארץ הקדושה ידיד ד’ וידיד נפשי הרבני המופלג החסיד מו"ה ברוך דוד הכהן בן הידיד ר’ לוי יצחק מווישניצא, שאר זוגתי, והי’ בידו הכתבים הקדושים הללו מהצדיקים המפורסמים אשר לפנינו זללה"ה, אשר בדבריהם הקדושים מבהיקים ומלהיבים לבבות לאבינו שבשמים. ע"כ העתקתי אותם שיהי’ לזכר דור דור".

The Chassid Gaon Rabbi Baruch David Kahana (1850? – 1925) was an important Chassid of the holy Rav the Divrei Chaim of Sanz and his son the holy Gaon the Divrei Yechezkel of Shinova. In 1870, he immigrated to the Holy Land by the order of his holy Rav of Sanz, and settled in Safed. Was one of the founders of the famed Kloiz of Sanz in Safed and one of the administrators of Kollel Galicia of Eretz Yisroel. In 1876, he travelled to visit his Rav the Divrei Chaim only to discover that his Rav had passed away. Apparently, this manuscript was copied in that same year (since it was his only known visit abroad).

23-58, 60-61, [5] leaves (32 leaves written on both sides). 21 cm. fair-poor condition. Large dampness and mold stains. Considerable wear. In some leaves, the lines written on the margins are slightly blurred. Moth perforations. Tears along the edges.

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