Important and Early Chassidic Manuscript
Torah from the First Rebbe of Sadigura and his Father Rebbe Yisrael of Ruzhin and other Tzaddikim.
Eretz Yisrael, c. 1870
Approximately 170 handwritten pages, featuring around 250 chiddushei Torah and heartwarming stories, written in a concise style, from the great tzaddikim of chassidus.
The majority of the chiddushim are “the Torah of our holy Rebbe, man of G-d, the exalted prince of Torah, the Mahara”i of Sag” – referring to the Admor Rabbi Avraham Yaakov of Sadigura. There are also many chiddushim from his father, Reb Yisrael of Ruzhin.
The writer also includes teachings from the holy Reb Dov Ber of Leova, and recounts an interesting story he personally heard during a visit to the home of Reb Dovid Moshe of Chortkov. In several places, he quotes teachings he heard from prominent chassidim.
At the beginning of most sections, the writer identifies the originator of the chiddush. See below a list of the tzaddikim whose words appear here.
The manuscript was written between 1866–1870, during the lifetime of the Rebbe of Sadigura, as the latest dated Torah teachings recorded therein were delivered in the year 1866 (leaves 18a and 19a, on the third page count). On the other hand, Reb Nachum Mordechai of Chortkov (son of Reb David Moshe), is mentioned with a blessing for life, and he passed away in 1870.
The manuscript was likely written in Tzfas or Teveria. On leaf 22a, the writer relates a story he personally heard from Reb Naftali Tzvi of Teveria, grandson of the Baal Shem Tov, who passed away in 1864.
The name of the writer is not recorded, but it is clear that he was one of the prominent chassidim of Eretz Yisrael. In several places he mentions his lineage from renowned tzaddikim – “Reb Leiber the Great” of Berditchev (22a), Reb Shlomo of Karlin (22a), and Reb Eliezer Ze’ev of Buchach (5b and elsewhere).
A sample review confirms that most of the contents were printed in the chassidic journal Sifsei Tzaddikim, issues 14–15, though it is possible that some sections were not published.
Eretz Yisrael, 1866–1870. Approx. 170 handwritten pages.
Small format: 16 cm.
Condition: Several leaves with missing text. Restored tears and holes throughout. Fine new leather binding.
– – – – – – – – – – – –
Tzaddikim Quoted in the Sefer
Reb Baruch of Mezhibuz, the Maggid of Kozhnitz, the Ohev Yisrael of Apta, Reb Mordechai of Chernobyl, Reb Tzvi of Smetritch, Reb Meir of Premishlan, Reb Tzvi Hirsch of Rimanov, Reb Eliezer Ze’ev of Buchach, Reb Levi Yitzchok of Berditchev, the Divrei Chaim of Sanz, Reb Tzvi Hirsch of Ziditchov, the Rebbe of Stratyn, Reb Tzvi Elimelech of Dinov, Reb Shmelke of Nikolsburg, Reb Zusha of Anipoli, Reb Shmuel of Kamenka, Reb Nachum of Chernobyl, Reb Pinchas of Koritz, Reb Mendel of Kosov, Reb Baruch of Teshan, Reb Raphael of Bershad (in the name of Reb Leiber the Great of Berditchev), Reb Shlomo of Karlin, the Baal HaTanya, Reb Naftali of Ropshitz – and many more.
From the Ruzhin dynasty: Reb Yisrael of Ruzhin, Reb Avraham Yaakov of Sadigura, Reb Dov Ber of Leova, Reb David Moshe of Chortkov, Reb Nachum Mordechai of Chortkov, and Reb Yitzchak of Bohush.
