Bidspirit auction | Kodesh HaKodoshim — The Siddur

Kodesh HaKodoshim — The Siddur HaAri of R’ Tzvi Meir HaKohen Rabinowitz of Radomsk  With Hagahos in His Ksav Yad Siddur HaAri (Lvov 1866), arranged by the mekubal R’ Shabsai of Rashkov, among the talmidim of the Baal Shem Tov. This siddur was especially cherished by many of the early tzaddikim. The siddur before us belonged to, and was used in tefillah by, R’ Tzvi Meir HaKohen Rabinowitz of Radomsk ZTzok”l — beloved son and successor in rabbonus to his father, Rabbeinu the Tiferes Shlomo. His signature appears on the title page, and throughout the siddur are numerous hagahos in his ksav yad on inyanei Kabbalah — particularly around the Haggadah Shel Pesach and the tefillos of Rosh Hashanah. The siddur is bound together with a simple yearly siddur (Chinuch LaNa’ar, Warsaw 1873) . It is evident that when he davened with the tzibbur, it appeared as though he was using an ordinary siddur — in the manner of tzaddikim who did not reveal their involvement in nistar, so that none would notice that he was learning from the Siddur HaAri bound within. The siddur passed by inheritance to his son, R’ Yehoshua Nachum HaKohen Rabinowitz ZT”l, and bears several of his stamps. Such a siddur, with this provenance and ksav yad, is exceedingly rare! • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • R’ Tzvi Meir of Radomsk R’ Tzvi Meir HaKohen Rabinowitz, Av Beis Din of Radomsk (1840–1902), was born to the Tiferes Shlomo. He was known as a mara d’kula Talmuda, proficient in both nigleh and nistar. His father remarked in his youth: “Bni Hershele iz a shenkel seforim.” After his father’s petirah, he filled his place as Rav of Radomsk. He was especially known for his greatness in Toras HaNistar, learning daily before alos hashachar in the kisvei HaAri with great hislahavus. He was the first to bring to print Shaar HaGilgulim of R’ Chaim Vital from a ksav yad of the mekubal R’ Yaakov Tzemach, which he inherited from his father. It was printed with the haskamah of the Divrei Chaim. Those close to him witnessed wondrous matters that cannot all be recorded, and the posuk “V’sigzar omer v’yakam lach” was seen to be fulfilled in him (see Ohel Shlomo). His Son — R’ Yehoshua Nachum R’ Yehoshua Nachum HaKohen Rabinowitz ZT”l, born 1889, was recognized from his youth as destined for greatness, known as an ish chassid moram mi’am. In 1925 he ascended to Eretz Yisroel with the agreement of the Rebbe, the Mahari”d of Belz.