Bidspirit auction | Will of Rabbi Aharon Moshe

Will of Rabbi Aharon Moshe of Brod Jerusalem, 1845. First Edition Exceptionally Rare! * The holy Rabbi Aharon Moshe “MiGezah Tzvi” was the first Rebbe to settle in Jerusalem and is regarded as the founder of the Chassidic community in the city. Symbolically, his sacred will was the very first Chassidic sefer to be printed in Jerusalem. This first edition of the will is exceedingly rare. Rabbi Aharon Moshe of Brod (1774–1845) was born in Brod and was one of the sages of the renowned ”kloiz” (beis medrash), where he devoted himself to both the revealed and hidden aspects of Torah. He was closely associated with the Chozeh of Lublin, and after the Chozeh's passing, he became a disciple of Rabbi Uri of Strelisk (the Saraf) and the Ohev Yisrael of Apta. He also shared a close friendship with Rabbi Yisrael of Ruzhin. In 1830, he set out for Eretz Yisrael but was delayed for nearly ten years in Romania, where he had a significant influence on the community. In 1839, he finally moved to the Holy Land. Unlike earlier Chassidic immigrants who settled in Tzfas or Teveria, he established himself in Jerusalem, becoming the first Rebbe to settle in the city and the father of Chassidus in Jerusalem. He founded a Chassidic beis medrash, led the Chassidic community of Jerusalem, and served as the head of Kollel Volhynia. Rabbi Aharon Moshe passed away on Shabbat eve, 7 Tammuz 1845. It is mentioned on the title page and at the end of his sefer that he passed away ”after reciting Krias Shema with mesirus nefesh and after completing the entire Maariv prayer with a lucid mind.” He was buried in a plot he had purchased near the grave of the prophet Zechariah (as noted in his will, leaf 1b–2a). The will details how he was to be cared for during his final illness, as well as the procedures surrounding his passing and burial. The text of the will conveys a sense of holiness and reverence for Heaven. Jerusalem, 1845. First Edition. Printed by Yisrael Beck. Page Count: 8 leaves. Size: 15.5 cm. Condition: Good. Minor professional restoration to corners of margins. New binding. Bibliography: Stefansky, Sifrei Chassidus, no. 488 / S. HaLevy, Sifrei Yerushalayim HaRishonim, no. 30.