Bidspirit auction | Copy of the Holy Sfas

Copy of the Holy Sfas emes of Gur- Signature of the the Holy Rabbi Moshe Bezalel Alter- Signatures & marginal glosses of the Pnei Menachem of Gur. - A rare and highly important collection of seforim from the estate of the holy Admorim of Gur throughout the generations. 1. Sefer Heichalot HaZohar, with the commentary of the Vilna Gaon. Königsberg, 1857 — first edition. Published by the gaon Rabbi Yaakov Mecklenburg (author of HaKetav VeHaKabbalah). Stamp on the title page ' 'From the estate of our father the Rebbe Ztvkllh''h (=Zecer Tzadik Vekadosh Livracha Lechyei Haolam Habah)''. Meaning Maran the Holy Sfat Emes. With library stamp of his grandson, the holy Pnei Menachem of Gur. 2. Sefer Mivcḥar HaPeninim, by Rabbeinu Yedaya HaPenini, with commentary by the Yaavetz, together with selections from the disciples of the holy Baal Shem Tov, and including a letter from the Sefat Emet of Gur. First edition. Piotrków, 1911. On the title page appears the signature of the holy Rabbi Moshe Bezalel Alter: “Moshe Bezalel of the community of Gur.” An additional inscription on the flyleaf reads: “The righteous, pious, and ascetic Rabbi Moshe Bezalel Alter of Gur, may he live long.” Bound together with: Sefer Yad Aharon, on the commentary of the Baal HaTurim on the Torah, by Rabbi Aharon Staszewski of Poddębice and Piotrków. Piotrków, 1909. At the end appears an important list of signatories from across Poland. 3. Sefer Lecḥem VeSimlah, on the laws of niddah, immersion, and mikva’ot, by the gaon Rabbi Shlomo Ganzfried. Betlan, 1908. On the title page are several signatures and stamps of the Admor, the holy Pnei Menachem of Gur. The margins of the sefer contain numerous handwritten glosses in his holy hand. The Holy Rebbe Yehuda Aryeh Leib Alter of Ger (1847-1905), author of Sfat Emet, the third Gerrer Rebbe. Under his prominent leadership, the Ger Chassidic dynasty became the largest most influential Chassidic dynasty in Poland. Born to Rebbe Avraham Mordechai Alter - son of Rebbe Yitzchak Meir, author of Chiddushei HaRim, founder of the Ger Chassidism. The 13 sons of the Chiddushei HaRim died in his lifetime. All died in their childhood with the exception of R. Avraham Mordechai who lived longer and died as a young man a short while after the birth of his only son, R. Yehuda Leib (Leib'le). The orphan whose mother had died earlier, moved to the home of his illustrious grandfather, author of Chiddushei HaRim who raised him as a son. Even at that tender age, he amazed all who saw him with his diligence and depth. His grandfather took much pride in him and used to show him saying ”See how my grandson studies Torah lishma”. Whenever he traveled to Kotzk, the Chiddushei HaRim would take his young grandson with him ”so he should see a true Jew”. The Kotzker Rebbe loved the clever young man who amazed him greatly. His visits to Kotzk left a strong impression on R. Yehuda Leib for his entire life. In 1862, at the age of 15, he wed the daughter of Rabbi Yehuda Kaminer of Chęciny, author of Degel Yehuda and since his name was the same as his father-in-law's, his grandfather, the Chiddushei HaRim instructed him to add the name Aryeh to his name. Since then he signed ”Aryeh Leib”. After his marriage, he continued living near his grandfather in the town of Ger studying Torah and serving G-d with outstanding devotion. In 1866, at the age of 19, the Chiddushei HaRim died leaving orders to appoint his grandson as his successor. In spite of his young age, the Chassidim wished to appoint him rebbe but he adamantly refused and turned away the many people who knocked at his door. Instead, he joined the Ger Chassidim who accepted the leadership of Rebbe Chanoch Henich HaCohen of Aleksander (disciple of the Kotzker Rebbe) and he would travel to him every year. The Aleksander Rebbe who was very old, greatly honored the young man and waited for his visits and sat him at the head of the table. In 1870, four years after his grandfather's death, the Aleksander Rebbe died and again the Chassidim sought to appoint him as their rebbe. After repeated urging, he agreed to accept the position but he refused to sit at the head of the table and from that time, Gerrer Rebbes sit in the middle of the table and not at the head. The 23-year-old rebbe soon became a central figure in the lives of Polish Jewry. In spite of his refusal to serve as rebbe, after accepting the position he fulfilled his duties with full responsibility and invested his genius and deep wisdom in elevating his thousands of Chassidim, advising and assisting them in spiritual and material matters. He famous throughout Poland and the surrounding areas and tens of thousands of people thronged to seek his counsel and blessing and to bask in his presence. In a short while, under his leadership, the Ger Chassidic dynasty peaked to become the largest most central Chassidic dynasty in Poland. 100,000 people from all over Russia and Poland came to him every year. In 1899,