Bidspirit auction | Extremely rare! Sefer Kedushas Levi

Extremely rare! Sefer Kedushas Levi – Zolkova, 1806 – Second edition printed by the author, with  an approbation of the 'Yeshuos Yaakov' of Levov The author, the holy Gaon, Rabbi Levi Yitzchak of Berditchev, printed his Sefer Kedushas Levi twice during his lifetime, containing only the “Kedushos” discourses for Chanukah and Purim. It was first printed in Slavita in 1798, and a second time in Zolkova in 1806. [After his passing (Tishrei 1810), his descendants first printed his discourses on the Torah portions (Berditchev, 1811), but without the “Kedushos” discourses for Chanukah and Purim. Only in the edition printed in Berditchev, 1816, were the discourses on the Torah portions first printed together with the “Kedushos” section for Chanukah and Purim, and thus all subsequent editions were printed until our time. Regarding the holiness of the Sefer and the blessing it brings to all who keep it in their home, Harav HaKadosh the Ohev Yisrael of Apta (in his approbation to the Berditchev 1816 edition) wrote: ובוודאי זכות הגאון בעל המחבר זלה”ה וקדושת ספריו הנ”ל יהיה למגן ומחסה בכל מקום אשר ימצאו... Similar words were written there as well by the author’s disciple, Harav Hachasid Rabbi Aharon of Zhytomyr, in his approbation to the 1816 edition. The Rabbanim of Munkacs as well (in their approbation to the Munkacs 1939 edition) write: ידוע ומקובל מצדיקי דור ודור אשר ספר הקדוש קדושת לוי מסוגל בכל בית להמתקת הדינים... The Sefer Kedushas Levi was written with great precision in the author’s own holy handwriting. (The Sefer was not written by disciples, like other Chassidic Sefarim, such as Noam Elimelech, Maor Einayim, and Or HaMeir, and others, but rather by the author himself, as is evident from his wording in many places, and so on, and also from the story below). In the above Munkacs edition it is related in the author’s biography about the holy Gaon, author of Minchas Elazar of Munkacs, that he exerted himself in reading the Sefer and would linger over its reading for an extended time, since ”in the holy Sefer Kedushas Levi there is hidden by allusion almost all the writings of the Arizal, and every word is built and perfected upon the foundations of the secrets of Torah; therefore one needs deliberation, depth, and contemplation to understand and grasp the discourse of His holy secret.....” In the Sefer before us are printed: commentary on the Aggadah of Sabai Devei Atuna; commentary by the author’s father and by the author on the words of the Gemara in Maseches Megillah, folio 12; the four “Kedushos” discourses for Purim; the discourse “Kelalos Yamim Tovim”; Halachic and Aggadic Chiddushim by the author’s sons, the holy Gaon Rabbi Yisrael, Av Beis Din of Pikiv (author of Toldos Yitzchak Ben Lo) and the holy Gaon Rabbi Meir, author of Kesser Torah; the five “Kedushos” discourses for Chanukah; the discourse “Kelalos HaNissim”; continuation of the commentaries on the Aggadah of Sabai Devei Atuna and Aggadah in Maseches Shabbos. In the present second edition were added: the publisher’s introduction, by the author’s disciple, Rabbi Yitzchak Shmuel HaLevi of Kolinitz; the author’s approbation given specifically for the present edition; an approbation by the author of Yeshuos Yaakov, Av Beis Din of Lemberg, given specifically for the present edition. The Yeshuos Yaakov writes in his approbation: “Regarding the printing of the Sefer Kedushas Levi, which was authored by HaGaon HaChasid... Rabbi Levi Yitzchak, Av Beis Din of the holy congregation of Berditchev. And behold this Sefer was already printed in 1798, and since many seek to benefit from its light, therefore it is proper to assist him…”. The publisher relates in his introduction to this edition: ... צויתי מפי כבוד המחבר הרב הגאון קדוש ה' מכובד, בראותי/בראותו כי נפוצו העם וישוטטו דורשי הספר וכמטמונים יחפשוהו ואיננו, כי אשר נדפסו בשנת תקנ”ח לפ”ק חלפו הלכו למו ספו תמו ואינם עוד, ויצוני ע”י ידידי האברך... ושלח לי הסכמתו ורשיונו [2], 44; 32 leaves. 18 cm. Good–fair condition. Tears to the margins of the first four leaves, affecting the text, restored with artistic restoration with completion of the missing text. Wear. Dampstains on some leaves. New leather binding. Stefansky, Chassidus, no. 508.