Kalonymus Kalman Epstein. Ma’or VaShemesh [Chassidic discourses]

(CHASSIDISM).

Yehudith Rabinstein (H. Sulzbach])

(Lemberg / Breslau)

1785 (i.e. 1842)

FIRST EDITION . Additional divisional title-page.

Vinograd, Breslau 248.

EXCEPTIONALLY IMPORTANT FIRST EDITION. Enormously popular, the Ma’or VaShemesh has been reprinted numerous times and constantly cited in a great many other works down to this day. In addition to its Chassidic content, the treatise is renowned for its profound psychological and sociological insights. The author, R. Kalonymus Kalman HaLevi Epstein (1754-1823, the “Ma’or VaShemesh”) was one of the most revered and influential of Chassidic leaders. A disciple of R. Elimelech of Lizhensk, the Chozeh of Lublin, R. Yisrael of Koznitz, R Mendel of Rimanov, R. Levi Yitzchak of Berditchev and R. Yechiel Michel of Zlotchov and originally from “Ir Chadash” (Neustadt), in 1785 he established a chassidic shtiebel in Cracow, in the old synagogue of R. Nathan Nata Shapiro (author of Megaleh Amukoth). The first edition of the Ma’or VaShemesh was issued with counterfeit title-pages and the work was in fact published in Breslau in 1842. See T. M. Rabinowicz, The Encyclopedia of Hasidism p. 117 and Stefansky, no. 307.