LaYesharim Tehillah, a morality play by R. Moshe Chaim Luzzatto, the Ramchal. [Amsterdam]: sons of Shlomo Katz Proops, [1743].

Half-title (with title of work in red), followed by title page (partly in red). On the title page: "Poem for the wedding day of the wise R. Yaakov de Chaves and the modest, praiseworthy virgin bride Ms. Rachel da Veiga Enriques".

LaYesharim Tehillah is one of three plays written by the Ramchal (the other two are Maaseh Shimshon and Migdal Oz) and is considered one of his most important literary works. The heroine of the play is Tehillah (Praise), daughter of Hamon (Multitude), who is designated to wed Yosher (Rectitude), son of Emet (Truth), but due to the conquest of the city by the army of Mevuchah (Confusion), erroneously the designated groom Yosher was exchanged with Rahav (Pride), son of the maidservant Sichlut (Folly). Side characters include Rahav's friend Tarmit (Deceit), Yosher's friend Sechel (Intellect), Yosher's wetnurse Savlanut (Patience), and others. With a masterly use of language, the work addresses issues of ethics and philosophy in an accessible and interesting guise. In his introduction to the play, the Ramchal writes: "There is nothing like a parable to sprout truth and to teach knowledge, to bring the hidden into the light, to open unseeing eyes...".

The Ramchal printed only 50 copies of this work, in celebration of the marriage of his friend R. Yaakov de Chaves, to give to the bride and groom and to their relatives. In his introduction to the second edition (Berlin, 1780), the publisher Shlomo Dubno writes: "This book was printed by the author himself in Amsterdam, in 1743, and he only printed 50 copies that were all brought to the libraries of wealthy Sephardi individuals in Amsterdam. Therefore, one seeking the book cannot obtain it unless he musters up a large sum, so I have reprinted it". Due to the popularity of the work, it has been printed many times.

This edition of LaYesharim Tehillah has a particularly high bibliophilic value. Printed on high-quality paper with very wide margins, it is one of the greatest achievements of 18th-century Hebrew printing in Amsterdam.

A leaf is mounted inside the front board and on the endpaper with an original handwritten poem in honor of the groom Yaakov and the bride Rachel, with the couple's name in acrostic, by Shlomo Abendalak. The leaf is cut in the middle, with the larger top part mounted inside the front board, and the smaller bottom part mounted on the endpaper (on the bottom of the endpaper is mounted a photocopy of an official document attesting to the couple's marriage).

Enclosed is a leaf printed (by Proops) especially for the couple's wedding, with a riddle in honor of the wedding by Yaakov son of Avraham Bashan. The top-center of the leaf features an illustration, followed by the riddle poem (a manuscript leaf of this riddle is found in the Bibliotheca Rosenthaliana, Amsterdam, no. PI-A-19). [Yaakov son of Avraham Bashan was one of the proofreaders of Mesilat Yesharim, which the Ramchal had earlier printed in Amsterdam, 1740].

[42] leaves. 29.5 cm. Gilt edges (partly faded). Thick, high-quality paper. Overall good condition. Stains. Original binding, with decorated leather spine. Wear and defects to spine.

Bookplate of Mozes Heiman Gans.

Manuscript, homilies for Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur, by R. Moshe Teitelbaum Rabbi of Ujhel (Sátoraljaújhely) – author of Yismach Moshe. Written by scribes, with about ten glosses and editorial transition sentences handwritten by his grandson and disciple Rebbe Yekutiel Yehudah Teitelbaum Rabbi of Sighet (Sighetu Marmației) – the Yitav Lev [Gorlice/Sighet, ca. 1848-1861]. With dozens of glosses by the grandson and disciple of the Yitav Lev, Rebbe Moshe David Teitelbaum Rabbi of Laposch [Târgu Lăpuș, first decade of 1900s].

The contents of this manuscript were published in several parts of the Yismach Moshe series. The leaves of this manuscript were in the possession of the Yitav Lev and his grandson and disciple Rebbe Moshe David Teitelbaum (see below). Both edited portions of this manuscript and printed them in the Yismach Moshe books which they published. These leaves therefore contain their handwritten glosses and notes, occasionally on the same page, side by side.

When the Yitav Lev prepared his grandfather's series of books on the Torah for print, he selected several sections from the present manuscript and published them in the Yismach Moshe books (Lviv, 1849-1861). Rebbe Moshe David later extracted sections from these leaves relating to the Book of Tehillim, and published them in the Tefillah LeMoshe commentary on Tehillim by the Yismach Moshe (Cracow, 1880). One of the present leaves contains the Hanhagot Tovot (good practices) by the Yismach Moshe, which were printed in the commentary on Tehillim. Rebbe Moshe David later edited and published all the other sections (most of the present manuscript) in a work titled Tochachat Chaim Amirah Ne'imah (high holiday homilies), printed in Yismach Moshe (on Neviim, Ketuvim, Megillot and various topics; Sighet 1908). One section was placed in Yayin HaRekach, as part of the same book.

While preparing the book for print, the Yitav Lev added in the manuscript several glosses as well as introductory and transitional sentences in his handwriting (most of which appear in the printed version). R. Moshe David subsequently also added his own glosses, additions, introductory and transition sentences, in the portions which he edited.

One of the present leaves contains a gloss handwritten by the Yitav Lev, which was omitted in print. Several leaves contain sentences which he placed in parentheses or crossed out, indicating that they should not be printed, presumably due to censorship constraints. One of the censored passages reads: "I delivered this entire sermon on Rosh Hashanah 1788, when decrees were frequent and troubles were unremitting, especially the taking of Jews as soldiers [in reference to forced conscription of Jews to the army, towards the end of the reign of Emperor Joseph II], where their beards were shaven and their clothing changed for soldiers' uniforms. May G-d have mercy on His people".

Rebbe Moshe Teitelbaum, Rabbi of Ujhel (1759-1841), was an illustrious Chassidic leader in Hungary and Galicia. An outstanding Torah scholar and kabbalist, sharp and well-versed in all facets of Torah, revealed as well as hidden. During his lifetime he was renowned as a holy wonder-worker benefiting from divine inspiration. He first served as Rabbi of Shinova (Sieniawa) from 1785-1808, and in 1808, was appointed Rabbi of Ujhel (Satoraljaujhely) and the region. R. Moshe was originally an opponent of Chassidut, and in his youth, he travelled to Vilna to study Torah under the Vilna Gaon (R. B. Landau, HaGaon HeChassid MiVilna, p. 291, in the name of R. Zalman Weber; the Klausenburg Rebbe cites an interesting testimony from that visit, related by his great-grandfather the Yismach Moshe, regarding the conduct of the Vilna with his disciples – Responsa Divrei Yatziv, Part IV, Yoreh Deah, section 131). Over the years, R. Moshe gravitated towards Chassidut, influenced by his son-in-law R. Aryeh Leib Lipschitz of Vishnitza (Nowy Wiśnicz), author of Responsa Aryeh DeVei Ila'i, who convinced him to travel to the Chozeh of Lublin. There, R. Moshe he became aware of clear manifestations of ruach hakodesh, and from that point on he became the Chozeh's close disciple, devoting himself to the Chassidic way and disseminating its teachings. This transformation took place while he was still serving as Rabbi of Shinova. He also travelled to the Ohev Yisrael of Apta. Starting in 1815, he began to distribute amulets to those in need of salvation, thereby performing countless wonders. Reputedly, he hesitated whether to continue making amulets until he heard a pronouncement from Heaven: "Do not fear, for I am with you" (Tehillah LeMoshe). To this day, most of the amulets and shemirot in Ashkenazic lands can be traced to the amulets of the Yismach Moshe, including the printed shemirot for children and child-bearing women and for plague. The renowned Kerestir amulets, inscribed by Chassidic rebbes for safeguarding home and property, also originate from his text.

His published writings include the well-known books of homilies – Yismach Moshe on the Torah, Megillot and on Talmudic Aggadot, Tefillah LeMoshe on Tehillim, Responsa Heshiv Moshe and other books. His Maayan Tahor, with the laws of niddah in Yiddish for Jewish women, was appended to many siddurim.

Rebbe Yekutiel Yehudah Teitelbaum – the Yitav Lev (1808-1883), son of R. Elazar Nissan Teitelbaum Rabbi of Sighet, and son-in-law of R. Moshe David Ashkenazi – the Rabbi of Tolcsva who later immigrated to Safed. He was a close disciple of his grandfather the Yismach Moshe – Rebbe Moshe Teitelbaum Rabbi of Ujhel, who drew him especially close and disclosed to him heavenly revelations which he had perceived with divine inspiration. He was also a disciple of Rebbe Asher Yeshayah of Ropshitz. In 1833 (at the age of 25), he was appointed Rabbi of Stropkov, and after the passing of his illustrious grandfather, he was selected to succeed him as Rabbi of Ujhel. He was then appointed Rabbi of Gorlitz (Gorlice), and later of Drohobych. In 1858, he went on to serve as Rabbi of Sighet, capital of the Maramureș region, where he founded a large yeshiva, numbering two hundred students at its zenith. Among his renowned disciples from that time was R. Shlomo Leib Tabak, author of Erech Shai and head of the Sighet Beit Din. His grandson attested that "he was a merciful father to his disciples, carrying them on his shoulders as a nurse carries an infant, overseeing each one individually to ensure they studied Torah in holiness and purity". In Sighet, he gained worldwide renown, and thousands of Chassidim flocked to seek his counsel and wisdom, blessing and salvation. He was renowned for his exceptional holiness, and his grandson Rebbe Yoel of Satmar attested that his holiness was never tainted. Numerous stories circulated of the wonders he performed, including incredible insights which were revealed to him with divine inspiration. He was reputed in his generation as one who could read the minds of those standing before him, and wondrous stories were told of this ability. His epitaph reads: "The renowned rabbi, edified proper and upstanding disciples, left behind valuable compositions". He is known for his books: Yitav Lev on the Torah, Yitav Panim on the festivals, Rav Tuv on the Torah and Responsa Avnei Tzedek.

Rebbe Moshe David Teitelbaum (1855-1935), grandson and close disciple of the Yitav Lev of Sighet. Together with his grandfather, he published Tefillah LeMoshe on Tehillim by their ancestor the Yismach Moshe. In 1906-1908, he published two volumes of Yismach Moshe on Neviim and Ketuvim and other topics. Likewise, he edited and published some of the works of his grandfather the Yitav Lev. In 1882, he was appointed Rabbi and yeshiva dean of Laposch (present-day Târgu Lăpuş, Romania). In his final years, he settled in the United States, where he served as the Rebbe of Volova.

[23] leaves (46 written pages), including some consecutive leaves (numbered: 15-16; 23-36; several leaves unnumbered). 42 cm. Varying condition; most leaves in good condition and several leaves in fair-poor condition. Large open tears to 9 leaves, significantly affecting text. Stains (including dampstains) and wear.

Throughout his life, the Yismach Moshe composed novellae on all parts of the Torah – Halachah, Aggadah, Derush and Chassidut. He wrote these novellae sporadically, on pieces of paper, rather than in an organized fashion. After his passing, his writings passed to the Yitav Lev, his grandson and disciple, who had a scribe copy them methodically. After the writings were copied, the Yitav Lev began editing and arranging the novellae by topic. While editing, he added glosses, introductory and transitional sentences, and many references. From these writings, the Yitav Lev printed the Yismach Moshe series on the Torah portions, between 1849-1861. In time, when the Yitav Lev became busy with his rabbinical position, his yeshiva and Torah dissemination to his many disciples, he handed over the rest of the writings to his son-in-law, R. Yisrael Yaakov Yukel Teitelbaum Rabbi of Gorlitz and to his grandson R. Moshe David Teitelbaum Rabbi of Laposch, for them to edit and arrange other works of the Yismach Moshe for print. R. Yisrael Yaakov Yukel Teitelbaum of Gorlitz edited Responsa Heshiv Moshe (Lviv, 1866). R. Moshe David Teitelbaum of Laposch edited Tefillah LeMoshe on Tehillim (Cracow, 1880), and in 1906 and 1908, he edited and published two new volumes of Yismach Moshe, comprising ten smaller works on Neviim, Ketuvim, Megillot, Aggadot and more.

The present leaves were used in the preparation of several books of the Yismach Moshe, and show the initial stages of editing – prior to the topical arrangement and division into different books. Traces of this editorial process are to be found in the handwritten editing notes of his holy descendants, as appear on the present leaves.

An Account of the Yismach Moshe's Preaching

Rebbe Moshe David Teitelbaum Rabbi of Laposch, editor and publisher of the high holiday sermons of the Yismach Moshe (from the present leaves), describes the sermons of the YIsmach Moshe during those days:

"When the Days of Repentance began, from Elul until after Sukkot, his main work was to inspire the people to repent… Every single Shabbat of the month of Elul, the first day of Selichot, both days of Rosh Hashanah, Shabbat Shuvah, and the day of recital of the Attributes of Mercy, on Erev Yom Kippur before Kol Nidrei, and before Neilah, and on Hoshana Rabba… his entire goal in these many sermons was just to instruct the people on the ways of G-d and the actions to perform… Unimaginable was his great might and force when he opened his holy mouth to admonish with his pleasant guidance originating from a faithful place, a holy and pure heart… His fiery words burst into sparks and pierced the innards of the thousands of listeners, whose heart melted like water… And he listed the sins people would commit, and to what extent they tarnish one's soul and root in the heights of heaven.

"Fear and trembling beset them when they saw the great terror of such a holy man. Each one reckoned with his Maker, 'if the cedars are on fire, what of the moss', such a lowly person as I?... If they were stone, they dissolved from his groaning, crying and emotion… And rivers of tears emerged from his eyes when he mourned over the destruction of the Temple and the people of G-d scattered and separated among the nations… Tears emerged like streams upon the cheeks of the listeners, the pillars of the synagogue crumbled, the walls of the house of study trembled from his lion-like roars: "Till when will You not have mercy on Judah? Till when will there be crying in Zion and mourning in Jerusalem? [A small part of the quality of his sermons you may see in Yismach Moshe… and in this work in Tochachat Chaim]. And 'Moshe would speak and G-d would respond with thunder', ever increasing… He never burped or yawned… or needed to wipe his nose or the like, as is usually the case for people crying. Although he was advanced in age and his sermon would extend for hours, he never tired or wavered…

"Once he said that anyone who listens to his sermon should trust in G-d that his soul would not be abandoned to hell…

"There was no man, woman or child whose heart was not torn into a thousand pieces, repenting and regretting with their entire heart, soul and might, and this brought satisfaction to his holy soul…".

Public-private letter (an identical letter sent to several individuals) from Rebbe Menachem Mendel Schneerson, the Lubavitcher Rebbe. Brooklyn, New York, Chanukah 1950.

Copy of a typewritten letter on the official stationery of the Merkos L'Inyonei Chinuch (the educational organization responsible for spreading Chabad Judaism in the United States, directed by the Rebbe from its founding in 1941), with a copy of the Rebbe's signature, with several lines added by hand at the edge.

Written approx. ten months after the passing of the Rebbe Rayatz and about a month and a half before the Rebbe's accession to leadership of the Chabad movement – addressed to the shochet R. Avraham Sender Nemtzov.

The letter originally accompanied a booklet for Chanukah (with the discourse Baruch SheAsah Nisim by the Tzemach Tzedek, discourses and selected customs). In it the Rebbe stresses the need to illuminate the environment with the light of the Torah and Chassidic teachings, adding that the Rebbe Rayatz "here too taught the way for each and every one of us, for throughout every day of his life in this world, he would continuously light the candles of Jewish men and women… He would add a candle to his illumination from time to time and from year to year. This illumination of his was at the doorway of his home (but) the outer doorway, for the candles to illuminate the marketplace, a place of deep darkness for the sun had set…".

The Rebbe concludes "with a Chanukah blessing, for the light to increase in brightness until morning, that is the day of redemption", adding several references and sources in the margins.

On the margins of the leaf is a lengthy addition (over 40 words) handwritten by the Rebbe: "Possibly the virtue of the eight (days of Chanukah) is that it also rectifies the eight general types of terefot…". He references several sources that discuss the significance of the number eight (Berachot 4b, Likutei Torah and Siftei Kohen on the Torah). To the best of our knowledge, this addition has never before been printed.

[1] leaf. 28 cm. Good condition. Folding marks and light creases.

The main text of the letter is printed in Igrot Kodesh (IV, 845), without the handwritten addition.