Tehillim (Neshchiz) – Warsaw, 1864 – Segulah Book – Important Ownership – From the "Estate of the Holy Rabbi of ...

Tehillim (Neshchiz) – Warsaw, 1864 – Segulah Book – Important Ownership – From the "Estate of the Holy Rabbi of Neshchiz", Publisher of This Book – Gift from His Nephew, Rabbi of Stepan

Tehillim with the Rashi and Metzudot commentaries, Yiddish translation and Seder Maamadot by the Apter Rebbe. Warsaw: R. Nathan Schriftgisser, 1864. Separate title page for Seder Maamadot.
This edition was published for public benefit by Rebbe Yitzchak of Neshchiz (Niesuchojeze), and it is reputed as a segulah book (see below).
Important copy, received by the rabbi of Stepan from the estate of the rebbe of Neshchiz, publisher of the book, as attested by the handwritten inscription on the title page of Seder Maamadot: "This Tehillim was given to me by the holy rabbi of Stepan, who received it from the estate of the holy rabbi of Neshchiz… belongs to R. Pinchas son of R. Yitzchak Aryeh Leib of Rakhvalivka" (additional signature by the same writer on the title page of Tehillim).
The "holy rabbi of Stepan" mentioned in the inscription is presumably the nephew of Rebbe Yitzchak of Neshchiz – Rebbe Levi Yitzchak of Stepan (son of R. Yosef of Ustila, eldest brother of the rebbe of Neshchiz).
This Tehillim was published by Rebbe Yitzchak of Neshchiz for public benefit, as stated at the foot of the second title page of his book Toldot Yitzchak (Warsaw, 1868 – "in the press of R. Nathan Schriftgisser, who printed in 1864 six thousand copies of the book of Tehillim, published by the rebbe to benefit the public"). Though it was printed at the time in six thousand copies, not many copies are extant today (not in NLI; recorded in the Bibliography of the Hebrew Book based on a picture from an auction).
The book Zichron Tov relates (His Charitability, section 4) that in 1864, the rebbe decided to print Tehillim books and sell them at half the cost price, "so that people would choose to buy them and recite Tehillim daily, to benefit the public, and in honor of his ancestor King David, and he printed some six thousand… and bound them in leather". He originally intended to sell each copy for only two gulden, yet after a fire destroyed his Beit Midrash, he raised the price to one ruble each, in order to finance its rebuilding. "As each book was sold, the rebbe would hold it in his hand and bless the recipient of the Tehillim, sometimes kissing the Tehillim before handing it to the buyer". The book further relates that R. Yitzchak of Neshchiz refrained from speaking in public, but in the last year of his life, he departed from this custom and delivered discourses of his novellae on the weekly portion and of his commentary on Tehillim. When presenting the latter, "the Rebbe would hold… the Tehillim he printed in Warsaw, expounding from it his Torah novellae" (ibid, His Torah Novellae, section 11).
The main title page and the title page of Seder Maamadot state that the Maamadot were compiled "according to the renowned Torah scholar… R. Avraham Yehoshua Heshel of Apta" (the Ohev Yisrael, Apter Rebbe). The approbation of the Ohev Yisrael's son, R. Yitzchak Meir of Zinkov (from the Medzhybizh 1827 edition), is printed on the verso of the title page of Seder Maamadot.
Rebbe Yitzchak of Neshchiz (1789-1868) was the youngest son of Rebbe Mordechai of Neshchiz. A close disciple of R. Levi Yitzchak of Berditchev, he married his granddaughter and transmitted many Torah thoughts in his name. He was also a disciple of R. Baruch of Medzhybizh and of the Chozeh of Lublin. He was appointed rebbe at a young age, and held this position for over sixty years. He was reputed for his prayers, the wonders he performed, and his Heavenly revelations. He was revered by all sects of Chassidism for his holiness and exceptional piety, and as one "who facilitates the flow of Heavenly bounty to the entire Jewish people" (as stated in a letter by R. Baruch Shapira, prominent Chassid of the Peshischa and Kotsk dynasties). His renowned disciples include: Rebbe Elimelech of Grodzisk, Rebbe Yaakov Tzvi of Parysów and others.
His nephew, R. Levi Yitzchak Katzenellenbogen of Stepan (presumably born after 1810 – d. Tevet 1874, Encyclopedia L'Chassidut, III, p. 27), son of R. Yosef of Ustila (1764-1830, son of R. Mordechai of Neshchiz and eldest brother of R. Yitzchak of Neshchiz), son-in-law of R. Yisrael Dov Ber, the Maggid of Stepan (d. Cheshvan 1851; a prominent rebbe, grandson of R. Michel of Zlotchov). In his second marriage, he married Rebbetzin Mushkat Gitel, descendant of R. Levi Yitzchak of Berditchev (Zichron Tov, p. 89). He succeeded his father-in-law as rebbe in Stepan in 1852, and many Chassidim flocked to his court. He was very closely associated with his illustrious uncle Rebbe Yitzchak of Neshchiz, frequenting his court and corresponding with him (Zichron Tov, p. 72, letter 11). In his approbation to Toldot Yitzchak, he writes about his holy uncle in exalted terms.
Bound at the end of the book are two handwritten leaves by an unknown writer. One leaf contains a copying of a section from Sefer HaGan VeDerech Moshe (first printed in Lviv 1792); the second leaf comprises homiletic teachings on Parashat VaEtchanan and Parashat Mas'ei (quoting a teaching heard in the name of the rabbi of Berditchev).
Handwritten dedication on the front endpaper (dated 1954).

Complete copy. [1], 303, [1]; 31 leaves (leaf following title page mistakenly bound after Book of Tehillim) + [2] handwritten leaves bound at end of book. 19 cm. Fair-good condition. Stains, including many dampstains. Tears, including open tears, wear and blemishes, affecting text in several places. Sellotape repairs. Margins trimmed with damage to page headings in several places. Several detached leaves. Old binding, damaged and partially detached.