Kitzur Tzitzat Novel Tzvi, polemic work by R. Yaakov Sasportas, against the false messiah Shabbetai Tzvi. Odessa, 1867. Third edition (based on the Altona 1757 edition, published by R. Yaakov Emden, the Yaavetz).
This copy was used extensively by Rebbe Yoel Teitelbaum of Satmar, while he was writing his famous work VaYoel Moshe against the Zionist movement and various "heralds of the Redemption", after the founding of the State of Israel.
In VaYoel Moshe (Maamar Shalosh Shevuot, section 175), the rebbe writes about R. Yaakov Sasportas and his battle against the false Messiah Shabbetai Tzvi, and mentions the present book: "… when the terrible confusion from the sect of Shabbetai Tzvi began, he at first managed to deceive almost the entire world, even outstanding Torah leaders of that time. R. Y. Sasportas, who was a prominent Torah leader of that time… he was the first to stand up firmly and wage war against him, and he risked his life to fight all those who opposed him because of this, and he later authored Tzitzat Novel Tzvi in four parts, in which he relates of all the events which transpired related to Shabbetai Tzvi…".
A letter from R. Menachem Mendel Greenberg, the rebbe's attendant, is pasted to the endpaper (of the new binding), testifying that he bought the book "for the rebbe of Satmar in 1958, when he was engaged in writing VaYoel Moshe and required this book, and he studied it in-depth for an extended period of time". Stamps of R. "Mendel Greenberg" on the title page. On the original endpaper, R. Mendel Greenberg inscribed a kvittel, with his name and the name of his mother, to be mentioned by the rebbe for blessing and salvation while studying this book: "Nissan Menachem Mendel son of Ettel Tzivia".
Earlier stamps of R. "Avraham Gershon Ash, residing here, Mush Chadash" – R. Avraham Gershon Ash (d. Adar 1942), rabbi of Mush Chadash (Novaya Mysh). After he immigrated to the United States, he served as rabbi of Reading (Pennsylvania) and was one of the leaders of the Union of Orthodox rabbis of the United States and Canada.
[1], 3-52 leaves (lacking leaf 2). 20.5 cm. Fair condition. Stains, including dampstains and tape stains. Acidic tape to edges of several leaves. Wear and tears. Stamp. New leather binding.
Rebbe Yoel Teitelbaum of Satmar (1887-1979) was the youngest son of Rebbe Chananya Yom Tov Lipa, the Kedushat Yom Tov (1836-1904), and grandson of Rebbe Yekutiel Yehuda, the Yitav Lev (1808-1883), who both served as rabbis of Sighet (Sighetu Marmației) and were leaders of Chassidic Jewry in the Maramureș region.
He was renowned from his youth as a leading Torah scholar of his generation, for his perspicacity and intellectual capacities, as well as for his holiness and outstanding purity. At a young age, he was appointed rabbi of Irshava. In 1925, he was appointed rabbi of Karaly (Carei; in place of R. Shaul Brach who went to serve as rabbi of Kashoi), and in 1934, of Satmar (Satu Mare). In all the places he served as rabbi, he also maintained a large yeshiva and Chassidic court. He stood at the helm of the faithful, uncompromising Orthodox Jewry in the Maramureș region. He was one of the founding pillars of the Torah world in the generation following the Holocaust. After surviving the Holocaust, he emigrated to the United States, where he established the Satmar Chassidic community – the largest Chassidic community in the world. He served as president of the Eda HaCharedit in Jerusalem, and as leader of Orthodox Jewry in the United States and throughout the world. His writings were published in dozens of books: VaYoel Moshe, Responsa Divrei Yoel, Divrei Yoel on the Torah and more.
The Holiness of Items of Tzaddikim – In the Teachings of Rebbe Yoel of Satmar
In his writings, Rebbe Yoel of Satmar repeatedly relates to the holiness contained in the possessions of a Tzaddik; and conversely to the prohibition of benefitting from the money of the wicked, warning not to accept funding from the Zionist state and the like.
In several places in his book Divrei Yoel on the Torah, the Rebbe describes the tremendous virtue of the belongings of the Tzaddik, which have the power to endow holiness for generations, since the "sparks of holiness" endure in them. Based on this concept, the Rebbe explains Yosef's influence on the Egyptians, who were sustained from his produce during the famine and drew from it "spiritual vibrancy": "…the property of Tzaddikim has the power to impart spiritual vibrancy…" (Divrei Yoel, Shemot, p. 33). Regarding the "aspect of holiness" contained in the belongings of Tzaddikim from "the root of their soul", he writes: "The possessions of Tzaddikim are precious to them… since they contain an aspect of the root of their soul… as they are particular not to steal…" (Divrei Yoel, Vayetze, p. 92).
