Chamishah Chumshei Torah.

IBN ATAR, CHAIM (THE OHR HACHAIM HAKADOSH).

Tzvi Hirsch Margolioth of Shklow & Asher Premsler of Zolkiew

Shklow

1785

Two volumes. Second edition. With commentary of Ohr HaChaim, Targum Onkelos, Rashi, and Ramban. The Chaim Liberman copy.

Vinograd, Shklow 17.

HIGHLY SCARCE EDITION. According to Haim Liberman, the publisher of this Bible, Asher Premsler, was a covert free-thinker and follower of the Haskalah movement, who was opposed to portions of the Ohr HaChaim’s commentary that appeared to impute the author with Messianic ambitions. Consequently, Premsler removed portions he deemed offensive (viz. f. 24b, Re’eh “Achicha Ha’evyon … Mashiach Hashem ‘U’shemo Chaim’.”) The words ‘U’shemo Chaim’ are omitted from this edition. According to Liberman’s tale, “The saintly Ohr HaChaim, deceased and now residing in Paradise was deeply offended by the malicious censorship of his work. A voice called from Above and declared: ‘He removed my name from my work, therefore I will enter his.’ Whereupon in the Biblical text relating the adulteress swearing she has not sinned with another man, the letter “cheth” flew from the word “aCHer,” (another) in all printed copies of this edition, to be miraculously replaced by the letter “shin” to read “ASHer.” (See f. 8a end of first paragraph). Indeed, in time, a woman admitted to having an adulterous relationship with the publisher Asher Premsler, who was publicly shamed (tarred and feathered) and forced to abandon home and hearth.” For a full account of this dramatic tale, see Liberman, Ohel Roche”l Vol. I pp. 156-7. Haim Liberman heard this story from his teacher R. Abraham Klatzkin in Liozna (which is not far from Shklov), 1905-06. See p. 157 n. 10 for variant legends.