Bidspirit auction | The Personal Yom Kippur Machzor

The Personal Yom Kippur Machzor of the Gerrer Rebbe, the “Pnei Menachem, ” Used by Him in His Divine Service on the Holiest Day, with Additions in His Holy Handwriting – Part I - The Personal Yom Kippur Machzor of the Gerrer Rebbe, the “Pnei Menachem” – Used by Him in His Divine Service on the Holiest Day of the Year, with Extensive Additions in His Holy Handwriting Machzor for Yom Kippur – Machzor Kol Bo HaShalem, with commentary by the sages of Ashkenaz, Nusach Sefard. Jerusalem, 1981. Before us is one of the most personal and moving sacred objects from the spiritual world of the Gerrer Rebbe, the “Pnei Menachem.” The complete Machzor comprised approximately one thousand pages. The Rebbe divided it into four separate volumes in order to facilitate its use during the lengthy Yom Kippur prayers. On the binding of each volume his name was embossed: “Machzor LeYom HaKippurim – Alter, ” indicating that the set was specially bound for his personal use. The present volume contains Minchah for Erev Yom Kippur, Kol Nidrei, and the Maariv service. At the beginning and end of the volume, the Rebbe wrote in his holy handwriting: “With Hashem’s help, in His abundant goodness and kindness, Hashem has favored me, ” followed by his signature: “Pinchas Menachem Alter, of the holy city of Jerusalem, may it be rebuilt and established speedily in our days.” He further wrote: “I received [this], with Hashem’s help, from my son R. Y.D., shlita, Tevet 5746 [1985–1986].” This inscription, in whole or in part, appears no fewer than five times in the present volume – on each of the first four leaves and again on the final leaf. The Rebbe’s Personal Resolutions for His Yom Kippur Avodah The principal distinction of this Machzor, however, lies in a remarkable list of spiritual principles that the Rebbe wrote for himself, so that they would remain before his eyes throughout his service on the holiest day of the year: “With Hashem’s help: To endeavor to pray, recite blessings, study, and do everything for the sake of Heaven and to bring satisfaction to Hashem – and to be ashamed before Him.” On the penultimate leaf, the Rebbe additionally inscribed the sacred Divine Names Havayah and Ehyeh in his own holy handwriting. Beneath them, he once again wrote the same personal resolution appearing at the beginning of the volume: “With Hashem’s help: To endeavor to pray, recite blessings, study, and do everything for the sake of Heaven and to bring satisfaction to Hashem – and to be ashamed before Him.” In addition, the Rebbe recorded seven concise and fundamental principles in his own holy handwriting, reflecting his innermost spiritual world: 1) Hashem has greater compassion upon me than anyone who could have compassion upon me, and He protects me even when I do not protect myself. 2) All good that comes from anyone is entirely from Hashem; they are all His emissaries. 3) All goodness is bestowed through Hashem’s kindness, and not because we are deserving. 4) Hashem knows whether our trust in Him is complete, and nothing can be concealed from Him. 5) Nothing can be added to or subtracted from Hashem’s decree, except through prayer to Him. 6) To endeavor to fulfill the teaching of Chazal: “Make your will like His will, ” etc. 7) To rejoice and thank Hashem that He did not make me a non-Jew. These are not merely scholarly annotations. They constitute a personal program of spiritual conduct, written by the Rebbe for himself to accompany him throughout his Yom Kippur avodah. The inscriptions open a rare window into the inner world of one of the great Jewish leaders of the previous generation, revealing the fundamental principles that he sought to contemplate repeatedly during the most exalted hours of the year. Psalm 97 – Entirely Handwritten by the Rebbe On the rear flyleaf of the volume, the Rebbe wrote: “Psalm 97 before Kol Nidrei.” He did not suffice with this brief instruction. Rather, he copied out the entire Psalm in his own holy handwriting, even adding vowel points to portions of the verses. In several Chassidic communities, this Psalm is recited as the holy day begins, at the commencement of the evening service. What greater segulah for the acceptance of one’s prayers than to recite the entire Psalm directly from the holy handwriting of the Pnei Menachem himself? Before us is an extraordinary sacred object – the Rebbe’s personal prayer book for the holiest day of the Jewish year. Its pages served as a living instrument of his Divine service, containing personal resolutions, reminders, Psalms, sacred Names and additions, all inscribed in his own holy handwriting. Items of this nature, which so directly reflect the private spiritual avodah of a Rebbe during prayer, are exceedingly rare and rank among the most intimate and moving documents associated with the great Torah and Chassidic leaders of recent generations. [3], pp. 3–226. Approx. 16 cm. Condition: Good.