Bidspirit auction | Abudarham – Prague, 1784 –

Abudarham – Prague, 1784 – The Copy of the Holy Gaon Rabbi Avraham of Ciechanów - Sefer Abudarham, commentary on the prayers, blessings and their customs, by Rabbeinu David Abudarham. Prague, 1784. Printed with the approbation of the Gaon Rabbi Yechezkel Landau, author of Noda BiYehudah. A copy of exceptional provenance: On the title page appears the well-known stamp of the holy Gaon Rabbi Avraham of Ciechanów: ”אברהם ב”מ רפאל ז”ל” [Avraham, son of the late R. Raphael]. The Prince of Torah – Rabbi Avraham of Ciechanów The holy Gaon Rabbi Avraham Landau of Ciechanów [תקמ”ד–תרל”ה], one of the foremost Torah giants and tzaddikim of Poland, was renowned in his generation for his extraordinary mastery of the revealed Torah, alongside his exceptional righteousness and sanctity. In תק”פ he was appointed Rabbi of Ciechanów, a position he held for approximately fifty-five years, until his passing. In the realm of revealed Torah, he was a disciple of the Gaon Rabbi Aryeh Leib Zinz. In the ways of Chassidut, he frequented the courts of the holy Rabbi Fishel of Stryków and the holy Rabbi Simcha Bunim of Peshischa. In time, he became one of the illustrious figures of Polish Chassidut, and great Torah scholars and tzaddikim flocked to him. The esteem in which he was held by the leading sages of his generation was extraordinary. It is related in the name of the Gaon Rabbi Moshe of Kutno that Rabbi Akiva Eiger extolled his greatness and referred to him as ”אריה דבי עילאי”, and would even rise from his seat when Rabbi Avraham was mentioned in his presence. It is related in the name of the Tchebiner Rav that the holy Rabbi Chaim Halberstam, author of Divrei Chaim of Sanz, said of him that he knew the Torah ”כנתינתן מסיני” – as it was given at Sinai. The holy Rebbe of Kotzk described him as possessing the countenance of a ”מלאך אלקים” – an angel of God. A particularly close friendship existed between him and the author of Chiddushei HaRim. In one of his responsa concerning the permitting of agunot to remarry, the Chiddushei HaRim wrote that he did not wish to rely upon his own opinion alone and requested that the matter be presented to ”כבוד הרב הגאון הצדיק אבדק”ק טשעכנוב”. He added that even if Rabbi Avraham did not wish to write a formal responsum, it would suffice for him merely to express his agreement orally. Even in the following generation, his name remained synonymous with Torah greatness and sanctity. The holy Rabbi Avraham Bornstein, author of Avnei Nezer, wrote in his approbation to Zechuta DeAvraham: ”דברי איש אלקים הגאון הקדוש מטשעכנוב אין צריכים שום הסכמה משום אדם” – “The words of the man of God, the holy Gaon of Ciechanów, require no approbation from any person.” Many of the great tzaddikim of Poland flocked to Rabbi Avraham of Ciechanów, among them the holy Rabbi Yechiel Meir of Gostynin, known as the “Good Jew of Gostynin.” Among Rabbi Avraham’s sons was the holy Rabbi Dov Berish of Biała, and from his family emerged important Chassidic dynasties, including the houses of Stryków and Alexander. The present volume is therefore of particular importance, having belonged to Rabbi Avraham of Ciechanów, one of the foremost halachic authorities and tzaddikim of nineteenth-century Poland, and bearing on its title page his personal and well-known stamp: ”אברהם ב”מ רפאל ז”ל”. Prague, תקמ”ד [1784]. [2], 118, [1] leaves. 20 cm. Overall condition: Very good. Restorations to the final leaves.