Bidspirit auction | Yitav Lev – First Edition

Yitav Lev – First Edition – Sighet, 1875 – All Five Parts in One Volume – Fine Copy, With Colorful Title Cover - Yitav Lev, Chassidic, homiletical and ethical discourses on the Five Books of the Torah, [by Rebbe Yekutiel Yehudah Teitelbaum, Rabbi of Sighet]. Sighet: Maramaroscher Actien-Buchdruckerei, 1875. First edition. Five parts in one volume. Fine copy. Colorful title cover and main title page for Bereshit, and five abbreviated divisional title pages for each book of the Torah. The book was printed anonymously in the author's lifetime. The book title is an acronym alluding to the name of the author – ”Yitav” stands for Yekutiel Yehudah Teitelbaum. In his introduction, the author explains why he published his work anonymously. He cites the introduction of the Panim Meirot, who was in doubt ”whether it's better for a person not to reveal who the author is, or whether there is an obligation to mention the author…”. Rebbe Yekutiel Yehudah humbly offers a resolution: ”Regarding halachot that pertain to law, it is important to know who the author is and whether he can be relied upon… but regarding aggadah and ethics, what do we need to know the author's name for? The words are proven if they penetrate their listeners' hearts… So I decided it was better to conceal it, since I am ashamed to stand among the ranks of Torah scholars, since my soul knows my little worth…”. Rebbe Yekutiel Yehudah Teitelbaum, Rabbi of Sighet – the Yitav Lev (1808-1883), a close disciple of his grandfather the Yismach Moshe – Rebbe Moshe Teitelbaum Rabbi of Ujhel, and disciple of Rebbe Asher Yeshayah of Ropshitz. In 1833 he was appointed rabbi of Stropkov, and after the passing of his illustrious grandfather, he was selected to succeed him as Rabbi of Ujhel (Sátoraljaújhely), and was later appointed Rabbi of Gorlitz (Gorlice), Drohobych and finally Sighet (Sighetu Marmației), where he founded a large yeshiva and earned worldwide renown, with thousands of Chassidim flocking to seek his counsel and blessings. All parts in one volume. Bereshit: [5], 2-141, [2] leaves. Includes title cover (detached) in light purple. Shemot: [2], 3-91, [1] leaves. Vayikra: [4], 2-55, [1] leaves. Bamidbar: [2], 2-80, [1] leaves. Devarim: [2], 2-52, 55-70, [1] leaves. Light purple back cover (not printed). 24 cm. Overall good condition. Stains (many stains to some leaves). Few tears, and open tears to front wrapper, repaired with paper. Binding holes to margins of some leaves, slightly affecting text. Stamps in several places. New binding. The present copy includes the errata of all five books, which are lacking in many copies.