Bidspirit auction | First Chassidic Sefer Printed in

First Chassidic Sefer Printed in Slavita: Rav Yaivy Moshe Shapira Press First Edition 1792 * Essays on Chassidus, commentary on the Torah, Tehillim, mussar and chiddushim on Shas ‎by Rabbi Yaakov Yosef, Maggid of Ostroh, disciple of the Maggid of Mezritch.‎ 'Rav Yaivy' is the first chassidic sefer ever printed by the tzaddikim of Slavita in their famed Slavita Press, as well as one of the first chassidic sefarim ever published altogether. In this sefer, Rav ‎Yaivy cites many teachings from the Baal Shem Tov and his venerable disciples.‎ Rabbi Yaakov Yosef of Ostroh , known as Rav Yaivy after his initials Yaakov ‎Yosef ben Yehuda (1738-1791), was a ‎prime disciple of the Maggid of Mezritch and close to many talmidim of the Baal Shem Tov. ‎In 1766, he succeeded his father Rabbi Yehuda Leib as Maggid Meisharim and Rav of ‎Ostroh, and he inscribed many of his father’s chiddushim in the present sefer.‎ Rav Yaivy’s drashos attracted crowds to Ostroh , and he inspired many to ‎embrace Chassidus. In this sefer, he strongly condemns societal wrongs, corruption ‎and slander; he rebukes community leaders who intimidate the public and the affluent for ‎acting arrogantly due to their wealth. Most prominently though, he cautions the public ‎regarding the grave sin of talking during prayers, and the sefer actually opens with his special ‎pamphlet on the topic, 'Morah Mikdash', literally “fear of the temple.” Despite his stark messages of reproof, Rav Yaivy’s sefer is also replete with overflowing love ‎and compassion toward Klal Yisrael, particularly for those who follow Hashem’s ways with pure ‎faith and do not pursue the vanities of this world. A large segment of this sefer is a commentary on 53 chapters of Tehillim, corresponding to ‎the 53 years Reb Yaivy lived. On the final day of his life, he elucidated Chapter 53 of ‎Tehillim.‎ The sefer opens with an approbation by Rabbi Levi Yitzchak of Berditchev, ‎author of 'Kedushas Levi', who refers to the author Rav Yaivy as a “Holy man of G-d”. It also ‎features letters of approbation by the Rabbanim of Ostroh who write, “And the wise man ‎will understand and will not hesitate because of the great expense, but will purchase this sefer ‎with great enthusiasm.”‎ Slavita, 1792. First edition . Printing press of the holy Rabbi Moshe Shapira. Page Count: 2, 139, 47 leaves. Size: 34 cm. Condition: Light stains; professional restoration on the margins of the first and last pages, along with minor stains. Aside from this, a fine copy. Printed on greenish paper. Half-leather binding. Provenance: Stefansky Chassidus, no. 530.