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“I am certain that when this work spreads, it will bring the Redemption closer!” Sha'ar HaTefillah by Be'er Mayim Chaim First Edition. Sudilkov, 1825. * Sha'ar HaTefillah containing esoteric explanations on the avodah of tefillah according to Chassidus and Kabbalah. It was written by Rabbi Chaim of Czernowitz, author of Be’er Mayim Chaim and Sidduro Shel Shabbos. This sefer became one of the foundational sefarim of Chassidus in the avodah of tefillah, and it was reprinted many times due to its great popularity. The Apter Rav described its words as “sweeter than honey.” The publisher, the author’s disciple, Rabbi Tzvi Gershon of Botoshan, wrote an introduction to the sefer in which he cites the author’s own words regarding his work: “I am certain that when this work spreads throughout the world, it will bring the Redemption closer!” The author attributed great sanctity to this work, since he wrote it upon the holy soil of Eretz Yisrael, unlike his two earlier works, which were written in the Diaspora. Rabbi Mordechai of Kremenitz, son of Rabbi Yechiel Michel of Zlotshov, writes in his approbation: “The holy gaon composed it while suffused with holiness in the sacred Land of Life.” The sefer is divided into ten chapters, founded upon the ten expressions of prayer, in accordance with the words of Rabbi Yochanan in Devarim Rabbah: “Prayer is referred to by ten different expressions, and they are: sha’avah, tza’akah, ” and so forth. The sefer begins with the famous teshuva defending the custom of the recital of “L'shem Yichud” by chassidim before performing mitzvos, written sharply and with great erudition, in response to those who opposed the practice. (Parenthetically, the Noam Elimelech, in his sefer Tzetel Katan, wrote that one should accustom himself to the recitation of L'shem Yichud, “and in the course of time, he will feel a great spiritual light through this recitation.”) This teshuva is lacking in some copies and is present here. Until today, it was accepted that the sefer was printed in Sudilkov in 1825. However, in light of a reassessment conducted by Zaidy, it appears that the first part was printed in Mohilev already around 1818, and the second part was completed in Sudilkov in 1825. (See below.) The author, Rabbi Chaim of Czernowitz, author of Be’er Mayim Chaim (1760–1818), was one of the giants of Chassidus in the third generation after the Baal Shem Tov. He acquired Chassidus from Rabbi Yechiel Michel of Zlotchov, who was his primary rebbi. He served as Rav in the communities of Czernowitz, Botoshan, Mohilev, and Kishinev in Romania, and was one of the preeminent disseminators of Chassidus in Romania and Bukovina. Toward the end of 1813, he fulfilled his lifelong dream of traveling to Eretz Yisrael, where he settled in Tzfas and dwelled there until his passing five years later. He is known in the world of Chassidus by his classics: Be’er Mayim Chaim on the Torah, overflowing with principles of Chassidic thought; Sidduro Shel Shabbos, the sefer yesod on Shabbos in the teachings of Chassidus; Sha'ar HaTefillah before us, with profound explanations on the greatness of prayer in Chassidic thought; and Eretz HaChaim, on various books of Nach and on maseches Brachos. Mohilev-Sudilkov, 1825. First edition. Page Count : 10, 102, 113–115 leaves. Size : 20.5 cm. Condition : Good. Minor restoration to the first three leaves. Isolated holes. Stains at the corners. New leather binding. Bibliography : Stefansky, Sifrei Chassidus, no. 583. - - - - - - - - - - - - Bibliographic Discovery! A Renewed Clarification of the Place of Printing – Mohilev or Sudilkov On the title page of the sefer, the place of printing appears in large letters: “In Mohilev.” Yet preceding this, in smaller letters, are the words: “גדרוקט אין סדילקאב” (printed in Sudilkov). On the basis of this wording, various bibliographers determined that the place of printing was Sudilkov. However, a renewed examination of the typographic and historical features of the sefer indicates that the first portion of the work was likely printed in Mohilev around 1818, while the rest was printed in Sudilkov around 1825! In order to substantiate this conclusion, one must first review the historical background of the printing of the writings of the Be’er Mayim Chaim and the activity of the printing presses in Mohilev and Sudilkov. The Publication of the Be’er Mayim Chaim's Writings and the History of the Mohilev Press A printer named Rabbi Tzvi Ze’ev Rabin Stein operated a printing press in Mohilev, and he collaborated with the Be’er Mayim Chaim, the Rav of Mohilev. Already in 1812, the sefer Galya Raza was printed in his press, financed jointly by the Be’er Mayim Chaim and the printer. In its introduction, the  Be’er Mayim Chaim praises the printer as “unique among those engaged in the sacred labor of printing.” In 1813, Sidduro Shel Shabbos was likewise printed there,