Shaar Naftali - Brno, 1757 - Prayers and Piyyutim from the Semichat Chachamim - Copy of the Rebbe of Oshpitzin ...

Shaar Naftali - Brno, 1757 - Prayers and Piyyutim from the Semichat Chachamim - Copy of the Rebbe of Oshpitzin, Son-in-Law of the Divrei Chaim of Sanz
Shaar Naftali, prayers and confessions, inspirational poems and ethics, piyyutim and Shabbat songs, by R. Naftali Katz author of Semichat Chachamim. Brno, [1757]. Only edition.
Many ownership stamps of Rebbe Elazar Rosenfeld of Oshpitzin (Oświęcim). Ownership inscription on the flyleaf: "This book belongs to the holy Tzaddik… of holy lineage, R. Elazar". An undeciphered signature on the title page: "Uri… (?)".
Rebbe Elazar HaLevi Rosenfeld of Oshpitzin (1861-1943) was the youngest son-in-law of the Divrei Chaim of Sanz and son of Rebbe Yehoshua of Kaminka (who was a son of R. Shalom of Kaminka). In 1885, he was appointed rabbi of Bochnia, succeeding his father as rebbe of Kaminka in 1897. In 1900, he went to serve as rabbi and rebbe in Oshpitzin. He immigrated to Eretz Israel in 1936, establishing his Beit Midrash in Jerusalem (the Oshpitzin Beit Midrash exists until this day on Chesed LeAvraham St., near Me'a Sh'earim), yet returned to Poland just before the outbreak of WWII, and perished in the Sosnowiec ghetto.
This book was published by the close disciple of R. Naftali Katz - the kabbalist R. Shlomo Rechnitz son of R. Yehuda Leib Mochiach. In his youth, he copied piyyutim and prayers composed by his teacher, and would recite them every night at midnight, with great fervor. In his foreword to this book, R. Shlomo Rechnitz relates a wondrous story of the encounter of his teacher the author with the Angel of Death, and how he overpowered it by donating four coins to charity. R. Shlomo further quotes testimonies from letters received from the Istanbul community, which describe the wondrous passing of R. Naftali Katz in 1718, on his way to Eretz Israel. On this occasion, his wondrous abilities and exceptional holiness were disclosed to one and all. The letters relate how he shouted at the Angel of Death and expelled him from his room in great wrath, closing the door and exclaiming: "Get out of here! Let me fall in the hands of G-d, only in His hands will I entrust my spirit and soul…".
[2], 37, [1] leaves. 20.5 cm. Fair condition. Stains and wear. Worming affecting text. Library copy. Non-original cloth binding.