Bidspirit auction | Birkat Avraham on Kohelet –

Birkat Avraham on Kohelet – first edition Warsaw 1815, with the approbations of the Nesivos and Rabbi Akiva Eiger! - Birkat Avraham, A commentary on Megillat Kohelet, By Rabbi Avraham son of Tzvi Hirsch Katzenellenbogen of Łask, Warsaw 1815 – first edition. At the head of the book appear the approbations of R. Akiva Eger, R. Yaakov of Lissa, author of Chavot Da’at and Netivot HaMishpat, the Maharal Tzintz, and others. There are differences among the copies: in some, an additional leaf was added listing those who paid in advance, and another leaf with an introduction and apology by the author’s son including a blessing for his mother. In some copies, instead of the blessing for his mother, the approbation of Rabbi Moshe Shlomo Zalman, rabbi of Kraków, was added. In this copy, these two leaves are not present, as is the case in the copy recorded in Kohelet Moshe (Winer). The holy gaon Rabbi Avraham Avish Katzenellenbogen of Łask, great in Torah and head of a yeshivah, which he supported from his own pocket, for he had also been blessed with wealth. In later days, a fire broke out and consumed all he had, and he was left utterly destitute. Then he strengthened himself in Torah and wrote his books, hoping to publish them in his lifetime. He was called to serve as halakhic decisor and preacher in the city of Sochaczew, where he passed away, leaving behind a young son, R. Yehoshua Shmuel, before having brought his books to print. His son grew up and found his father’s writings prepared for publication, and obtained the approbations of the great sages of the generations. His biography and a review of the book Birkat Avraham may be found in the book Ir Łask VeChakhameha (P. Z. Gliksman, Łódź 1926). A fascinating approbation in the book is by: “My mechutan, the eminent rabbi our master Rabbi Avraham Katz of Łask, emissary of Jerusalem, may it be built and established, author of Ayiin Panim LaTorah and VeChishav Lo HaKohen.” Here it must be noted the confusion caused among bibliographers, because Rabbi Avraham Katz of Jerusalem was not his mechutan in the sense used today, but rather his wife's uncle! And it must be understood that the word mechutan did not in their days bear its modern meaning, but rather any familial connection formed through marriage, such as the husband of one’s aunt or the uncle of one’s wife – all were called mechutanim. The holy ḥasid Rabbi Avraham Katz was among the great men of Jerusalem and was sent as a fundraising emissary to the communities of the diaspora. On his book VeChishav Lo HaKohen the author of Pri Megadim gave his approbation, writing: “A holy man has passed before us, a messenger of Heaven from Jerusalem, the holy city, Avram – that is Avraham – who stands in his righteousness, the outstanding rabbi with tenfold excellence in lofty virtues and traits.” He also composed Veshav HaKohen and Beit Yaakov. New binding.