Chesed LeAvraham
Published by Rabbi Yisrael of Ruzhin, Grandson of the Author!
Czernowitz, 1851. First Edition.
Discourses on the Torah and additional topics, in the path of Chassidus and Kabbalah, by the holy tzaddik Rabbi Avraham HaMalach, son and prime disciple of the Maggid of Mezeritch.
First edition. A fine and elegant copy with wide margins, especially at the bottom of the leaves.
This is one of the Sifrei Yesod in Chassidus, particularly among all branches of the Ruzhin dynasty, descendants of the author, for whom this sefer was a constant presence at their table.
On the title page, it is noted that the sefer was printed
"at the command and under the auspices of the holy and pure Rebbe, light of the world, Moreinu Harav Yisrael of Ruzhin"!
At the beginning of the sefer there is a rare approbation from the holy Rebbe of Ruzhin, in which he recounts that a manuscript of this work had come into his possession by inheritance, but was stolen from him. In time, another copy was discovered in the archives of his mechutan, Rabbi Aharon of Chernobyl, and from that copy the sefer was published.
This extraordinary approbation was written less than a month before the Rebbe’s passing. Since he passed away during the course of the printing, the publisher added a second approbation, this one signed by two of his sons: Rabbi Shalom Yosef of Sadigura (who himself passed away less than a year later) and his brother, Rabbi Avraham Yaakov the First of Sadigura.
The author
Rabbi Avraham HaMalach (1741–1776), was the son of the holy Maggid Rabbi Dov Ber of Mezeritch. From his youth, he conducted himself with extraordinary abstinence and holiness and was revered by the greatest tzaddikim of his time. The Baal HaTanya, who was in some sense both his student and peer, refers to him as "the holy one".
Czernowitz, 1851. First edition. Wide margins, especially at the bottom of the leaves.
Page Count: [2], 40 leaves.
Condition: Good, with a few stains. Fine new leather binding.
Bibliography: Stefansky, Chassidus, no. 226.
The sefer also includes important discourses from great Chassidic tzaddikim of the 18th century:
- Seder Netilas Yadayim from the Maggid Rabbi Mordechai of Chernobyl (uncle of the Rebbe of Ruzhin),
- A commentary on the Ten Sefiros by a disciple of Rabbi Levi Yitzchak of Berditchev,
- A wondrous allusion on the secret of "Echad" in Krias Shema from Rabbi Dovid of Mykolaiv,
- Daily conduct and Seder Hayom from Rabbi Shalom Shachna, son of the author (father of the Rebbe of Ruzhin),
- Iggeret Kodesh from Rabbi Pinchas Shapira of Koritz,
- A teaching on the Sod HaMishkan and its construction, found in the writings of Rabbi Shmuel Kamincker,
- Chesed LeAvraham, discourses on the Torah, by Rabbi Avraham of Kalisk,
- Treasured selections from Rabbi Boruch of Mezhibuzh.
