(CHASSIDISM).

AUCTION 42 | Thursday, December 18th, 2008 at 1:00

Fine Judaica: Hebrew Printed Books, Manuscripts, Graphic & Ceremonial Art

Back to Catalogue Download Catalogue

<Previous Lot

/360

Next Lot>

Lot 100

(CHASSIDISM).

Igereth ha-Kodesh [“The Holy Epistle”]: Menachem Mendel of Vitebsk, Abraham of Kalisk and Chaim Chaikel of Amdur. With selections from Dov Baer of Mezritch, Elimelech of Lizhensk, and Jacob Joseph of Ostrog. Appended: Maimonides, Moses. Perek Hanhagoth ha-Mithboded [Chapter of the Behavior of the Meditator], i.e. Guide of the Perplexed Part III, Chapter LI, with commentary of Shem Tov. * Levi Isaac of Berdichev. Sepher ha-Zechirah [The Book of Remembrance] ff. 24. One obstinate wormhole, waterstained. Modern boards. 8vo cf. Vinograd, Zolkiew 548; Mehlman 1125; Liberman, Ohel Rache”l, p. 61, no. 4

(Zolkiew): (c. 1800)

Est: $400 - $600

PRICE REALIZED $1,000

From these letters composed by the leaders of the Chassidic movement, one is able to learn much concerning the early history of the movement. The editorial decision to include the chapter from Maimonides' Guide that constitutes a manual for meditation, bespeaks the importance of "devekuth". Variants of the letters of R. Chaim Chaikel exist. It seems the version in our collection differs from the version of Chaim ve-Chesed (1891), a collection of the Chassidic master's teachings. See H. Rabinowicz, Lithuanian Hasidism (1970), p. 146, n. 31.