Bidspirit auction | Bírat Migdal Oz — third

Bírat Migdal Oz — third part of the Yaavetz Siddur. Zhitomir 1874 — ownership signature of R. Shlomo Zalman Porush–Feldman - Bírat Migdal Oz, the third part of the Siddur of R. Yaakov Emden (the Yaavetz). Printed by Yitzchak Moshe Bakst, Zhitomir, 1874. With the approbations of the great Admorim granted already to the Berdichev 1836 edition: R. Mordechai of Chernobyl and R. Yisrael of Ruzhin. 182 leaves. Very good condition, with worming. Ownership: On the title page, the signature of R. Shlomo Zalman Porush, grandfather of R. Shlomo Zalman Auerbach, with his stamp-style signatures “Shlomo Zalman Feldman.” Indeed, the original family name was Feldman, and due to the exceptional piety and asceticism of his father R. Naftali Tzvi — who secluded himself for five years in Vilkomir in preparation for ascending to Eretz Yisrael — he became known as “Porush, ” which later became the well-known family name. R. Nachum of Shadik attested in his eulogy that he completed each year the Bavli, Yerushalmi, and the four sections of the Shulchan Aruch. He was buried on Har HaZeitim; his friend R. Nachum of Shadik passed away four days later. This kind of inscription is the key evidence for the family’s original surname. The work HaChayim ve-haShalom (p. 4 n. 6) cites testimony from R. Menachem Porush that he found an old book containing the signature “Shlomo Zalman Feldman” alongside “Shlomo Zalman b. R. Naftali Tzvi Porush” — and here is precisely such a book. R. Shlomo Zalman Porush (1845–1898): One of the prominent askanim of the Old Yishuv and a trusted aide to its leading rabbis. Son of R. Naftali Tzvi Perush, he arrived in Eretz Yisrael at age ten (1855). After his marriage he devoted himself to Torah and avodah in great asceticism, and later became deeply involved in public service. He was close to R. Shmuel Salant, the Maharil Diskin, and R. Meir Auerbach, who entrusted him with many communal missions. In 1870 he founded Chesed Institution “Shaarei Chesed”, the first gemach in Jerusalem; in 1876 he founded the “Degel HaTorah” Kollel; in 1882 he established Yeshivat Torat Chesed; he was active in the Chevra Kadisha Perushim, in the Vaad HaKlali, Yeshivat Etz Chaim, and other institutions. In 1883 he moved to the Zikhron Tuvia neighborhood. At the advice of R. Shmuel Salant he spent his days in the courtyard of the Hurva, assisting all who turned to him. He passed away in 1898 at the age of 53 and was buried on Har HaZeitim.