Bidspirit auction | “Ateret Tiferet Yisrael” – Warsaw

“Ateret Tiferet Yisrael” – Warsaw 1871 By R. Yisrael Ḥarif “the Great” – disciple of the Baal Shem Tov. Segulah for protection and success – as promised by the sons of the Ruzhiner and the sons of the Maggid of Chernobyl. Extremely rare variant: a copy with historical additions revealing the story behind the printing sponsored by the Elder Rebbe of Sadigura – who devoted to it a discourse on the eve of Rosh Hashanah! - The Elder Rebbe of Sadigura, son the holy Ruzhiner, regarded bringing the book to print as a sacred and urgent mission. In his approbation he even promises that the book is endowed with “excellent protection and an abundance of peace and blessing.” Following him, his holy brothers of Shtefanesht and Tshortkov promised likewise. The holy Rabbi Aharon of Chernobyl writes in his approbation to this second printing: “to set blessing within their home and to guard them with their wives and their sons and their households in complete wellbeing, and to make them prosper like the good years for blessing.” Joining his words and adding their own are his brothers, the Maggid of Trisk and Rabbi David of Tolna. The “Tzemach Tzaddik” of Vizhnitz, as well as other tzaddikim and luminaries of the generation, likewise gave their approbations. For the first time, a copy is offered for sale that contains all the additions – and tells the whole story. The book was brought to print for the first time in Lemberg in 1865. On the title page it was written: “Brought to the printing house with the approval and command of the holy righteous one, foundation of the world, our master the Rebbe Rabbi Avraham Yaakov of Sadigura, by Rabbi Moshe Shor of Khotin.” Rabbi Moshe Shor purchased the printing rights from his townsman, the scholarly philanthropist R. A. Y. Sh. Yafeh, a descendant of the author, with the authorization of the rabbi of Khotin, an extraordinary genius and ḥasid, Rabbi Yisrael Mordechai, one of the close confidants of the holy Rebbe of Sadigura. At the end of the book, in this copy, appears a letter in the name of the holy Rebbe of Sadigura written on the eve of Rosh Hashanah 1864. This was still before the first printing, and it appears there were financial difficulties, and they were compelled to collect more from those who had paid advances. The rabbi of Khotin wrote a ruling that it was proper to do so, and the Elder Rebbe was asked to strengthen his words. He turned to the attendant Rabbi Moshe David Gutman and instructed him to write in his name a letter of encouragement for the ruling. The attendant replied that he would do so immediately after Rosh Hashanah. But the tzaddik did not agree, and gave a discourse on the greatness of printing the teachings of exalted tzaddikim in general. These words were printed in several publications as a kind of approbation to print the writings of earlier sages. Awesome holy words: “כמדומה לי שכל [עבודת] הערב ראש השנה אינו כדאי אילו חלילה על ידי יתעכב תקות המחבר ז”ל אפילו רגע אחד! איך לא יבינו כי זה ענין גדול יותר מענין תכריכין, כי תכריכין אינם רק לבוש לגוף – וזה נקרא נותן חיות בנפש, כאמרם שפתותיו דובבות בקבר... אנו רואים שכתב כתבי קודש טמונים וגנוזים כמה שנים ויותר, ואחר זה נולד רצון פתאומי להעלותם בדפוס... ועתה בינו נא אחרי שהצדיק עומד ומצפה רבות בשנים לבוא לזאת המדרגה.... ושחק הרב [לשון הכותב], הלא בשמים אין דפוס, ואם כן אין ביד מי לעזרו..., יאמינו נא לי כי גם אם לא יגיע לידי שום ספר רק שיהיה כוחי מעורב בזה הענין שעל ידי יבוא הענין לפועל אין לדבר זה שום טמיון”. The book was indeed printed, and there arose a demand for a second edition. Once again Rabbi Moshe Shor collected advance payments, hoping to print again in Galicia. But while occupied with the work, the printing license expired, and he was unable to obtain a new one. Therefore he moved the place of printing to Warsaw. Again he became entangled with those who had advanced funds, who were angered by the delay. At this point Rabbi Avraham Yeshaya Yafeh, the author’s grandson who had sold him the rights to print the manuscript, came to his assistance and helped finance the project. In return, Rabbi Moshe included in part of the copies the Torah novellae of the philanthropist and his correspondence with the sages of the generation [in a responsum of Rabbi Shlomo Kluger to him: “To the honor of my beloved friend, the sharp, outstanding, expert and discerning honored Rabbi Avraham Yeshaya”], his record of lineage, and other related matters. When the book was finally published, Rabbi Moshe Shor also included an apology to all those who had paid advances and had waited in vain, in which he explains what he had undergone. And here he adds: “And I see clearly that from God was this caused, to bring upon me the blessing of the holy righteous Rebbe of Sadigura to emend this holy book by means of the proofreader suited to correct all the errors that had fallen into the first printing, and therefore I accepted all the travails that befell me with great love and with exceeding affection.