Vetziva HaCohen: Rare Chassidic Sefer
Sde-Lavan, 1823
The will of Rabbi Aharon Shmuel HaCohen of Stepin, disciple of the Maggid of Mezeritch and Rabbi Pinchas of Koritz, to his sons, spiced with explanations on Tanach and on sayings from the Baal Shem Tov and his disciples.
Rabbi Aharon Shmuel HaCohen of Stepin (1739 – 1813) was a prime disciple of both the Maggid of Mezritch and Rabbi Pinchas of Koritz and he quotes them in his sefer. He also brings down Torah teachings from the Baal Shem Tov, Rabbi Zev Wolfe of Zhitomir and Rabbi Yitzchak Eizik of Koritz, author of Bris Kehunas Olam.
He was a descendant of the Maharal of Prague and Rabbi Naftali Katz, author of Smichas Chachamim, and he also quotes them.
The sefer is full of interesting content with occasional intriguing details of his life. In his final years he moved to Sde Lavan, where his father had served as Rav, and he passed away there.
An exceptionally rare sefer!
Throughout the entire history of the Jewish community in the Ukrainian town of Sde Lavan, fewer than five (!) Hebrew sefarim were ever printed there, each one an extraordinary rarity!
Sde Lavan, 1823. First edition, of extraordinary rarity.
Page Count: [2], 16, 20–47, 47–74, 76–77 leaves.
Bibliography: Stefansky, Sifrei Chassidus, no. 193.
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All of the author’s works are either rare treasures, or have been lost entirely!
The present sefer is the only one of his works to have reached us in its complete form. He also authored Koreh Meirosh on Midrash Rabbah (Berditchev 1811), but it was never completed in print – only the first 100 leaves were published. The manuscript containing the remainder of the sefer was tragically destroyed in a fire some years later.
Another of his works is a sefer of teshuvos and pilpulim titled Even HaRoshah which was never printed, and its fate remains unknown. However, it is clear that the author intended to publish it. In preparation for its printing, he issued a special printed page containing a letter of endorsement he received from his relative and supporter, the renowned defender of Yisrael, Rabbi Levi Yitzchok of Berditchev, whom he refers to as “my mechutan”. The original page did not survive, but a copy of it is known today (Mazkeret LeGedolei Ostroha, p. 256).
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The Kehilla of Sde-Lavan
This community was small in number yet great in stature. As testimony to its importance, when the townspeople wished to appoint the Ohev Yisrael as their Rav, he ultimately declined due to his advanced age and many burdens. However, to appease the community members, he made a special trip to visit them as a sign of affection. (Igros Ohev Yisrael of Apta, letter 21).
At the beginning of the present sefer is a rare approbation from the holy Rabbi Shimmele of Zhelikhov, given during a visit he made to the community while en route to his rebbe, the Ohev Yisrael.
Printed in large, impressive red letters on the title page is the name of the printing location: "Sde Lavan". This unique name is not the actual name of the town, which is called "Bila Tserkva" – literally “White Church”. As the original name bore Christian connotations, Jews would distort it intentionally, referring to it instead as “Sde Lavan” – a "white field". (This is in the same way that some would say “Sakmar” instead of “Satmar, ” which too is a name of avodah zara.)
