Bidspirit auction | First Sefer of the Tosh

First Sefer of the Tosh Chassidus! Pe'er Meshulam on the Holy Rebbe of Tosh Miskolc, 1937 * Biographical accounts, practices, and wondrous tales about the holy Admor Rabbi Meshulam Feish Segal Lowy, Av Beis Din of Tosh and the founder of its illustrious dynasty. Authored by Rabbi Yisrael Altir Weiss, grandson of Rabbi Yehuda Aryeh Weiss of Svalyava. This sefer is exceptionally rare, and is the first printed work dedicated solely to the Tosh Chassidus. In the beginning of the sefer, there is a beautiful and rare poignant endorsement from the Rebbe’s son, Rabbi Elimelech of Tosh, who writes that he had long refrained from publishing his father’s writings for undisclosed reasons. However, due to the publisher’s undertaking to publish the work following his recovery from a severe illness (see below), he now consented and granted his approval. He testifies: “I have reviewed it from beginning to end, and it pleased me greatly. I saw that all the matters recorded therein are true and correct, for all these things have been known to me since my childhood.” This is followed by an approbation from the holy Rabbi Yisrael Tzvi Rotenberg of Kosson, author of Ohr Malei, himself a grandson of the first Tosh Rebbe. He writes, “Who has not heard of the sanctity of our grandfather, the holy gaon of Tosh, and of his fiery avodah…” The holy Admor Rabbi Meshulam Feish of Tosh (1816–1873) was one of the great tzaddikim of Hungary. In his youth, he was drawn to the circle of chassidim in Ujhely, disciples of the saintly Rabbi Yitzchak Eizik of Kaliv. Renowned for his holiness and righteousness, thousands flocked to him. His direct descendant, the Admor Rabbi Meshulam Feish (II) of Tosh was one of the great Chassidic leaders in recent generations and was named after him. The publisher relates in his introduction that the writings of the Rebbe were lost, and thus this sefer is the first to recount the Rebbe's life and conduct. Miskolc, 1937. First Edition. Page Count: 46 pp. + front and back wrapper. The wrapper is not recorded in the Bibliographic Institute and does not appear in the National Library of Israel. Size: Small format. Condition: Good, with minor restoration to the final pages. Luxurious new leather binding. On page 29 there is a handwritten addition (in pencil). _____________________ The Miracle Behind the Sefer's Publication In his introduction, the compiler Rabbi Yisrael Alter Weiss recounts that in 1934 he fell gravely ill, and the doctors had despaired of his life. Yet he did not give up hope. He sent a messenger with a kvittel (prayer note) to pray at the grave of the Rebbe of Tosh, and immediately afterward his condition improved until he became like a new person. “I truly felt and saw that only in the merit of the great tzaddik, the holy Rebbe, was my judgment swayed toward life, and I was granted more years.” (p. 6) In gratitude for this miraculous recovery, he wished to publish the Rebbe’s Torah writings as a gesture of gratitude and keep his voice alive through his words. However, due to the difficult times, the manuscripts were lost. Therefore, he gathered and printed the Rebbe’s biography and customs.