Bidspirit auction | The Only Chassidic Sefer Printed

The Only Chassidic Sefer Printed in Mezritch – Or Pnei Moshe – First Edition with Rare Additional Approbation Leaves – Mezritch, 1810 Or Pnei Moshe , chiddushim on the Torah and the Five Megillos by Rabbi Moshe of Peshaworsk. Published by the author's mechutan Rabbi Menachem Nachum together with his son, Rabbi Yisroel Dov Ber Shlomo , the author's son-in-law. Printed by Rabbi Mordechai Katz in Mezritch , 1810. First edition. The only known Chassidic sefer ever printed in Mezritch! With approbations from many of the foremost leaders of the generation and the early masters of Chassidus, including the Kedushas Levi of Berditchev , Rabbi Menachem Mendel of Rimanov , the Chozeh of Lublin , the Maggid of Kozhnitz , the Ohev Yisroel of Apta , Rabbi Naftali of Ropshitz , the Be'er Mayim Chaim , the Orach L'Chaim of Zlotchov, Rabbi Hersh Leib Malik, the Ahavas Shalom of Kosov, Rabbi Hershele of Ziditchov, Rabbi Mordechai of Kremenitz, as well as Rabbi Ephraim Zalman Margolios, the Chavos Daas, the Yeshuos Yaakov, and many others. Following the original approbation leaves are two additional approbation leaves, printed later in a smaller typeface. These leaves are extremely rare and are lacking from many surviving copies of this edition. Flames Emanated from His Pen! The sons of Rabbi Zusha of Anipoli relate in the name of their father that when he stayed in Peshaworsk during his years of wandering, he witnessed extraordinary sights: ”...Whenever he learned, his appearance stood before me like an angel of Hashem Tzevakos. And when he wrote his holy sefer, flames emerged from his holy letters. All this we heard from his holy mouth...” Rabbi Yaakov, Av Beis Din of Bobrka, likewise testified in the name of Rabbi Zusha that ”the glory of Hashem rested upon him, and the Shechinah dwelled in the work of his hands.” The Alshich Revealed Himself to the Author In his approbation, the Chozeh of Lublin writes that the author concealed his greatness throughout his life, ”to the extent that it was not known that he was even a great scholar.” He continues: ”...I knew him from my youth, for I was among those who learned from him and drank from his faithful waters... and he reached the ”madreiga” that the gaon Rabbi Moshe Alshich revealed himself to him...” ”No Secret Was Hidden from Him” The Rabbi of Rimanov likewise writes: ”...From my youth I knew this man... he possessed complete mastery in both the revealed and hidden Torah, and no secret was hidden from him...” The Be'er Mayim Chaim adds: ”...Chachmei Yisroel and the gedolei hador had long recognized him... all his words were like the Urim VeTumim...” Rabbi Moshe Sofer of Peshaworsk (1720–1806) concealed his greatness in his early years, supporting himself by producing whiskey while secretly serving as one of the outstanding hidden tzaddikim of his generation. He was a close talmid of Rabbi Elimelech of Lizhensk, and many of the leading tzaddikim—including Rabbi Elimelech, Rabbi Baruch of Mezhibuzh, Rabbi Mordechai of Neschiz, Rabbi Dovid of Lelov, Rabbi Uri of Strelisk, and Rabbi Yitzchak Isaac of Ziditchov—obtained tefillin parshiyos and mezuzos written by his own hand, attributing extraordinary holiness to his STaM. Following the passing of Rabbi Elimelech, he eventually succeeded Rabbi Avraham Moshe as Rebbe in Peshaworsk. The Chozeh of Lublin testifies that he merited revelations from the Alshich HaKadosh, and tzaddikim declared that he was a spark of the Alshich's holy neshamah.