Bidspirit auction | Kosov–Vizhnitz, Rebbes and Ḥasidim —

Kosov–Vizhnitz, Rebbes and Ḥasidim — two distinguished volumes: Ahavat Shalom by the holy Rebbe of Kosov, and Migdal David by the Radbaz, from the autograph manuscript that belonged to the Tzemach Tzaddik of Vizhnitz. With the signatures of the “Vizhnitzer General” and his illustrious sons-in-law! - Kosov–Vizhnitz, Rebbes and Ḥasidim, two distinguished volumes: Sefer Ahavat Shalom by the holy Rebbe of Kosov זיע”א, and Sefer Migdal David by the Radbaz, from the autograph manuscript that belonged to the Tzemach Tzaddik of Vizhnitz זיע”א. With the signatures of the “Vizhnitzer General” and his illustrious sons-in-law! Sefer Ahavat Shalom By Rabbi Menachem Mendel of Kosov, progenitor of the Vizhnitz dynasty. Czernowitz 1883. With an approbation added by the author’s grandson, the Rebbe R. Menachem Mendel, the Tzemach Tzaddik of Vizhnitz; for this edition he writes: “להביא ברכה לתוך ביתכם”. Sefer Migdal David by the Radbaz — first printing! Published for the first time from an autograph manuscript that had rested in the treasury of the Rebbe the Tzemach Tzaddik of Vizhnitz זיע”א. Lemberg 1883 The book is adorned with the approbation of the Rebbe the Tzemach Tzaddik זיע”א, in which he recounts the history of the manuscript. At the end of the approbation he blesses the purchasers of the book: “וזכות המחבר הק' זצללה”ה יגין עליהם שלא תאונה אליהם שום רע ח”ו ושלום ושלוה יהיה במעונם ויתברכו ממקור הברכות בשפע ברכה והצלחה”. Migdal David is missing title page. Owners: The book belonged to the distinguished ḥasid and magnate Rabbi Yosef Mordechai Kahana of Dragomirești, a devoted follower of the holy Rebbe the Tzemach Tzaddik, grandson of the gaon and ḥasid Rabbi Yosef Mordechai Kahana, rabbinic judge of Sighet, son of the author of Kuntres ha-Sefeikot. Rabbi Yosef Mordechai the elder was among the great disciples of the holy author of Ahavat Shalom זיע”א, and was buried near him in Kosov after sensing that his end was near and coming to dwell in Kosov in the shadow of the Torat Ḥayim, to return his soul there… R. Yosef Mordechai merited to host his Rebbe the Tzemach Tzaddik in his home several times, once for three full weeks. The holy Rebbe the Imrei Ḥayim of Vizhnitz said of R. Yosef Mordechai: “He was not a Vizhnitzer ḥasid. He was the Vizhnitzer General!!” He was blessed with sons and scholarly sons-in-law. A eulogy describing his wondrous acts of kindness is printed in Imrei Yitzḥak by his son-in-law Rabbi Y. M. Schwartz, whose signature appears in this volume. He passed away with a good name on 20 Tevet 1913. Ownership inscriptions: On the title page appears “הק' צבי כהנא”, apparently his fourth son, the ḥasid R. Zvi Hirsch Kahana, head of the community in Inter-Vișeu. In the center of the flyleaf, between the two inscriptions of his sons-in-law, one can discern his own signature: “מרדכי יוסף כהנא”. On the flyleaf, his two sons-in-law, R. Yitzḥak Meir Schwartz and R. Menachem Mendel Schwartz, write in succession that this is the book of their esteemed father-in-law R. Yosef Mordechai Kahana: “שייך לכבוד אדוני חותני היקר והנכבד החסיד הנגיד כבוד שמו מפ(ו)ארים מוה”ר יוסף מרדכי כהנא, אני ח(ו)תנו הק' מנחם מענדיל שווארטץ”. “שייך לכבוד אדוני חותני היקר והנכבד החסיד הנגיד כבוד שמו מפארים מו”ה יוסף מרדכי כהנא, אני חתנו הק' יצחק מאיר שווארטץ”. R. Menachem Mendel Shapira–Schwartz, one of the great disciples of the holy author of the Yitav Lev, author of Hin Tzedek, Moznei Tzedek, Shelosha Ḥelkei Kapparah, reissued in Brooklyn 2001. R. Yitzḥak Meir ha-Kohen Schwartz, grandson of the author of Kol Aryeh, author of Imrei Yitzḥak and Kavod Shabbat. In his works he cites teachings of his father-in-law the ḥasid R. Yosef Mordechai. In Kavod Shabbat he brings his explanation on the Mishnah in Avot: ‘והוי מקבל את כל אדם בסבר פנים יפות’ — that there are guests whom one cannot truly receive with a pleasant countenance; at least let it be “בסבר” — that he act as if he is receiving him pleasantly, even if only outwardly… Inscription on the rear flyleaf: On the rear flyleaf appears a text unlike those of the two sons-in-law, and apparently in the hand of R. Yosef Mordechai Kahana himself: ”בעזהי”ת אכתוב פה איזה חידוש מה שנתן ה' בפי לא בזכותי כי אם בזכות אבותי שהלכו בדרכיו. במתני' איזה חכם המכיר את מקומו. הקשה ... כי משכיל יקרא חכם. ועוד מה חכמה צריך לזה. כי כתב משלי כציפור נודדת מק(ב)נה כן איש נודד ממקומו. כי זה חכם גדול שיזכה לשוב למקום שהנשמה שלו נחצבה משם. וזה שאמר בלשון היהי רצון שלפני תפילה ונזכה למקום שהנשמות חצובות משם. וזה איזה חכם המכיר את מקומו שנחצב משם, שלא טנפה במעשים רעים שיכל למקומה ודו”ק היטב כי נכון הוא בס”ד. אמת מארץ תצמח פירוש מי שהוא בעיניו כאפס ואין בחי' ארץ הוא יכול להיות איש אמת כי איזה חכם הלומד מכל אדם וכו'”.