Avodat HaLevi (Strashelye) – Complete Set – First Edition, Lviv-Warsaw, 1842-1866 – With Lengthy Responsum ...

Avodat HaLevi (Strashelye) – Complete Set – First Edition, Lviv-Warsaw, 1842-1866 – With Lengthy Responsum Bibliographically Unrecorded

Avodat HaLevi, Chassidic homilies on the Torah portions and festivals, haftarot, Megillot, letters, various selections and halachic responsa by R. Aharon HaLevi Segal Horowitz of Strashelye. [Lviv]-Warsaw, [1842-1866]. Complete set – all four parts. First edition.

R. Aharon of Strashelye's books were not reprinted for many years, and are therefore considered rare. In the present set, a lengthy responsum (18 leaves) is bound twice, which is bibliographically unrecorded – at the end of Part II (selections and responsa) and at the end of Part IV (Devarim).

R. Aharon HaLevi Segal Horowitz (1766?-1829), a prominent disciple of the Alter Rebbe for thirty years. From the age of 17, he did not part from his teacher, and became his confidant and close attendant. When the Baal HaTanya moved to Liadi in 1802, he followed him there, to remain close to his teacher. During most of his teacher's tenure as rebbe, he was the close friend of the Rebbe's son, R. Dov Ber, the Mitteler Rebbe of Lubavitch. Together they offered guidance in service of God to the young men who frequented the Rebbe's court, and both wrote letters to the Chassidim in matters of service of God. The conflict between him and the Mitteler Rebbe began ca. 1809, for various reasons, together with a certain tension between him and his teacher, the Baal HaTanya, which caused him to return to his hometown Osveya. His teacher was deeply sorrowed by his departure, exclaiming "One of my eyes has been gouged out".

After the passing of the Alter Rebbe in 1813, a fierce controversy erupted between R. Aharon and the Mitteler Rebbe regarding the spiritual heritage of the Alter Rebbe – a profound intellectual debate on the Chabad doctrine of service of God. Letters, booklets and books were written and printed on both sides, in which each one exposited his method and approach, and criticized that of the opponent's. Thus, two courts following the teachings of the Baal HaTanya developed. R. Aharon served as rebbe in Strashelye (Starosel'ye), whilst the Mitteler Rebbe served as Rebbe in Lubavitch. Several of the Baal HaTanya's foremost disciples adopted the path of R. Aharon, headed by R. Avraham Sheines, son-in-law of the Baal HaTanya. In 1820, R. Aharon published in Shklow his first composition - Shaarei HaYichud VeHaEmunah, a commentary on Shaar HaYichud VeHaEmunah in the Tanya. In 1821 he printed his second work, Shaarei Avodah, a commentary to Likutei Amarim and Igeret HaTeshuvah in the Tanya. His books Avodat HaLevi on the Torah and festivals, including in-depth responsa, were published posthumously.

Four parts in four volumes. • Volume I (Bereshit-Vayikra, festivals and Megillot – Lviv, 1842): [2], 93, [1]; 76; 56 leaves. • (Selections and Responsa – Lviv, 1842): [1], 35, [2], 45-106; 18 leaves (lengthy responsum). • Volume 3 (Bamidbar – Warsaw, 1866): [2], 76 leaves. • Volume 4 (Devarim – Warsaw, 1866): [3], 2-62; 18, [2] leaves (corrigenda); 18 leaves (lengthy responsum). 22.5-24 cm. Good to good-fair condition. Stains, creases and wear. Damage and light tears (open tears affecting text to title page and some other leaves in Part II). Stamp. New bindings.