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Lot : 52
Beer Mayim Chaim by Rabbi Chaim of Czernowitz Complete and Distinguished Set in Magnificent Bindings!Mohilev-Sudilkov, 1818-1825. First Edition.
Beer Mayim Chaim by Rabbi Chaim of Czernowitz
Complete and Distinguished Set in Magnificent Bindings!
Mohilev-Sudilkov, 1818-1825. First Edition.
Chamisha Chumshei Torah with Be’er Mayim Chaim, authored by the holy Rabbi Chaim of Czernowitz, who served as Av Beis Din in several distinguished communities before settling in the holy city of Tzfat during his final years.
A complete and attractive 5 volume set, from the regal library of Rabbi Nachum Bernyu of Sadigura.
All five volumes remain in their custom made richly decorated leather bindings, stamped and ornamented by the craftsmen who bound the books of his remarkable private library. These bindings are undoubtedly one of the finest examples of bindings from his collection.
His grandfather, Rabbi Yisrael of Ruzhin, spoke with exceptional praise of Be’er Mayim Chaim, and it is likely the reason Rabbi Nachum Bernyu cherished it.
Rabbi Chaim of Czernowitz (1760–1817), author of Be’er Mayim Chaim and Sidduro Shel Shabbos, was one of the greatest luminaries of Chassidus, and a genius in both the revealed and hidden dimensions of Torah. In Chassidus, he was the primary disciple of Rabbi Yechiel Michel of Zlotchov, who held him in especially great esteem.
He served as Rav in the communities of Czernowitz, Botoshan, and Kishinev in Romania, and was one of the main disseminators of Chassidus throughout Romania and Bukovina. Toward the end of 1813, he fulfilled his lifelong dream of settling in Eretz Yisrael, establishing his home in Tzfat, where he remained until his passing.
He became known in the Chassidic world primarily through his sefer Be’er Mayim Chaim, a work ablaze with spiritual passion, guiding the reader in avodas Hashem according to the path of Torah and Chassidus. Filled with the foundational teachings of Chassidic thought, it quickly secured its place as one of the sifrei yesod of Chassidus, its words described by the Apter Rav as “sweeter than honey.”
After the author’s passing, the manuscript was sent from Tzfat to Rabbi Mordechai of Kremnitz, son of the Admor Rabbi Yechiel Michel of Zlotchov, the author’s teacher. In his approbation to the sefer, he writes: “When the manuscripts reached me… I accepted upon myself the task of having them copied and arranged… for I witnessed and knew the deep affection and friendship that my revered father, the holy and renowned chassid… Rabbi Yechiel Michel, of blessed memory, bore toward him. He cherished him more than all others; he was the apple of his eye, and loved him greatly.”
Printing date:
Although all of the title pages bear the date 1820, this was apparently done to mislead the censor, and the actual dates of printing remain uncertain. The volume on Sefer Shemos was printed first, in 1818 (as indicated by the printers and the approbation of Rabbi Mordechai of Kremnitz), while the remaining volumes were printed in Sudilkov between 1820 and 1825.
Mohilev-Sudilkov, 1818-1825. First Edition.
Page Count: Bereishis: [2], 5-354 leaves. Shemos: 282, 12, 19–38 leaves. Vayikrah: 120, 8, 10 leaves. Bamidbar: 16, 19–181 leaves. Devarim: [1], 172 leaves.
Size: 20.7 cm.
Condition: Good. Printed on blue and greenish paper, with portions of the title pages printed in red ink.
Bibliography: Stefansky, Chassidus 216; Stefansky, Sifrei Yesod 388.
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Royal Provenance – From the Library of Rabbi Nachum Bernyu Friedman of Sadigura
A holy and distinguished set from the royal library of one of the most illustrious figures of the Ruzhin dynasty, Rabbi Nachum Bernyu Friedman of Sadigura (1844–1883), son of Rabbi Shalom Yosef of Ruzhin, grandson of Rabbi Yisrael of Ruzhin, and son-in-law of his uncle, Rabbi Avraham Yaakov of Sadigura.
The entire set retains all of the identifying features of his unique and magnificent library:
- All volumes are bound in original decorative leather bindings from his library.
- His autograph signature is featured on every front flyleaf.
- His “Minchas Shai” ownership stamp is featured, accompanied by a handwritten “Minchas Shai” inscription.
- His royal lion seal is impressed on every title page.
- His distinctive red-and-gold bookplate is on the inside front cover of each volume.
