Bidspirit auction | Important and Rare Chassidic Edition

Important and Rare Chassidic Edition of Sha’arei Tzion – Printed at the Request of the Ohev Yisrael, with His Approbation – Ostroh, 1825 * A collection of prayers and tikkunim, including Tikkun Chatzos with kabbalistic kavanos and customs, compiled by the kabbalist Rabbi Nosson Nota Hannover. Also includes the order of Tikkun Seudah and Sefer Yetzirah. Sha’arei Tzion became one of the most widely used prayer compilations ever published, appearing in hundreds of editions — an almost unparalleled phenomenon in the history of Hebrew printing. Printed on the reverse of the title page is the approbation of Rabbi Avraham Yehoshua Heschel of Apta and Mezibush, author of Ohev Yisrael. Printed on the reverse of the title page is the approbation of Rabbi Avraham Yehoshua Heschel of Apta and Mezibush, author of Ohev Yisrael. Indeed, the entire main text of this edition was printed in square Hebrew type (aside from the introductions, instructions, and similar material), thus fulfilling the heartfelt wish of the holy tzaddik. The approbation of the Apter Rav was granted in 1823 for “the renowned scholar Rabbi Yaakov Pinchas, ” son of Rabbi Avraham Dov of Khmelnyk and son-in-law of Rabbi Baruch of Mezibush, grandson of the Baal Shem Tov. Following the approbation is a printed deed of sale by Rabbi Nachshon Yosef Yechiel, son of the above-mentioned Rabbi Yaakov Pinchas, selling the printing rights to two prominent benefactors from Sudlikov. The document was written in Berditchev in 1824. An exceptionally rare edition. To the best of Zaidy’s knowledge, a complete copy has not appeared at auction for many years. Ostroh, 1825. Page Count: [2], 168 leaves. Height: 16.8 cm. Condition: Good overall. Minor defects to a few leaves. Noticeable handling stains throughout many leaves, but without wear. Small holes in the first and last leaves. Antique leather binding with embossed decoration (spine defective). Bibliography: Yaari, Hebrew Printing in Ostroh (Alei Sefer, vol. 2), no. 86. - - - - - - - - - Rabbi Nosson Nota Hannover, author of Sha’arei Tzion (d. 1683) , was a disciple of the renowned kabbalist Rabbi Shimshon of Ostropol. After surviving the Chmielnicki massacres of 1648–1649, he traveled to Italy, where he studied with the kabbalist Rabbi Chaim HaKohen of Aleppo, a disciple of Rabbi Chaim Vital, of whom he writes, “From him I received wondrous wisdom.” There he also met the great kabbalist Rabbi Nosson Shapira, author of Matzas Shimurim, who had brought with him from Jerusalem “bundles and bundles of the writings of the Arizal.” Drawing upon those teachings and manuscripts, Rabbi Hannover compiled the prayers that form the basis of Sha’arei Tzion.