Kol Aryeh, pilpul, homily and mussar on the Torah weekly portions, and selections on neviim and ketuvim and on aggadot, by R. Aryeh Leib Gliener - Reprover of Polonne. Korets, [1798]. First edition. Approbation by R. Levi Yitzchak of Berditchev.
R. Aryeh Leib Gliener - "Reprover of Polonne" (d. 1770, Encyclopedia L'Chassidut, I, pp. 325-326), was among the first disciples of the Baal Shem Tov and disseminator of his teachings. A holy wonder-worker. His influence brought the Toldot Yaakov Yosef and the Maggid of Mezeritch close to the Baal Shem Tov and his doctrine. He was renowned in his generation as a reputed orator and maggid "who during his lifetime traveled the world and spread the light of his Torah throughout the entire Jewish Diaspora". The force of his sermons inspired many Jews to repent (from the approbations to this book). His Torah thoughts are quoted extensively by the Toldot Yaakov Yosef.
Signatures on title page: "Aryeh Leib", "Leib Yehuda of Babruysk". Ownership inscription on front flyleaf: "Belongs to the famous rabbi… Yitzchak Eizik Rabbi of Stary Bykhov".
[1], 55 [i.e 65] leaves. 20 cm. Light bluish paper. Fair condition. Stains and wear. Many dark stains to some leaves. Large tears to title page affecting border and text (minor damage to title and significant damage to text on verso), repaired with paper with photocopy replacements. Tears to the four leaves following the title page and to the last leaf, affecting text, with photocopy and handwritten replacements. Stamp on title page. New leather binding.
Stefansky Chassidut, no. 518.

Otot HaShamamyim – Derishat Ari, on Shulchan Aruch. Part I: Laws of Mila and Tefillin, Shabbat, Yom Tov and Chol HaMoed. Part II: Laws of Niddah. By Rebbe Aryeb Leib HaLevi Rabbi of Strizov (Strzyżów). Zhitomir, 1805. Name of printer not indicated.
Approbations by R. Levi Yitzchak of Berditchev, the Maggid R. Yisrael of Kozhnitz, and Rebbe Moshe Teitelbaum (the Yismach Moshe) – the author's disciple.
The author, R. Aryeh Leib HaLevi (1736-1803, Encyclopedia L'Chassidut, I, p. 58) was a foremost Chassidic leader, rabbi of Strizov and other communities. He authored Derishat HaAri, Otot HaShamayim and Even Pina on Shulchan Aruch Even HaEzer. The Maggid of Kozhnitz writes in his approbation to this book: "…I knew him in the past, when he was in this community, and I perceived that he was an eminent rabbi…". Rebbe Moshe Teitelbaum, author of Yismach Moshe, cousin and close disciple of the author R. Aryeh Leib, refers to him reverently in his approbation: "The greatest amongst giants… my master and teacher….". R. Levi Yitzchak of Berditchev, in his approbation, extols the author's virtues: "His entire life, he did not depart from the tent of Torah, rendering his nights like days… and he studied Torah for the sake of Heaven, and dove into the mighty waters of the Talmud and halachic literature, in order to derive from them the laws…".
R. Yosef Shaul Nathansohn, author of Shoel UMeshiv, writes in his approbation to Responsa Heshiv Moshe by the Yismach Moshe: "He [=the Yismach Moshe] was a disciple of the great Torah scholar, author of Derishat Ari on Even HaEzer, and it appears that he learnt from him both revealed and hidden parts of the Torah, since the Derishat Ari was well-versed in Torah and Chassidism, no secret was hidden from him, and the Yismach Moshe received both Torah and practical Kabbalah from him".
In their foreword, the sons of the author relate to the unusual name given to the composition – Otot HaShamayim, asserting that although they do not know their father's reason for giving this name to his book, they are certain that he had a precise explanation for it, which he did not disclose. They add that his disciple, the Yismach Moshe, heard directly from the author that his compositions and the names he gave them were all based on Kabbalah.
93, 18 leaves. 19.5 cm. Good-fair condition. Stains. Dark stains (ink stains from printing) to a few leaves. Extensive worming to all leaves, affecting text, repaired with paper (book professionally restored). Stamps. New binding.
Only very few Hebrew books, including several Chassidic books, were printed in Zhitomir in the early 19th century (1804-1805), prior to the relocation of the Shapira printing press from Slavita to Zhitomir in 1847. This is one of the first books printed in Zhitomir.
Stefansky Chassidut, no. 36.

Or HaMeir, homilies and allusions on the Torah, the Megillot and Festivals, according to Chassidic and Kabbalistic teachings, by Rebbe Ze'ev Wolf of Zhitomir. [Korets, ca. 1810]. Third edition.
[1], 108 leaves. 20.5 cm. Bluish paper. Fair condition. Several leaves in poor condition. Stains and wear. Worming to many leaves, including title page, affecting text. Severe worming to some leaves. Marginal tear to title page. Tear to leaf 177, affecting text, with loss. New binding.
This work was printed between 1798-1810 in several similar editions, occasionally with variants. See: A. Tauber, Bibliographic Studies, pp. 36-39; Y. Yudlov, Ginzei Israel, no. 1140; Stefansky Chassidut, no. 26.

Pri HaAretz, profound Chassidic essays on the weekly Torah portions, by Rebbe Menachem Mendel of Vitebsk, with a selection of letters "sent from Eretz Israel to Russia". Kopust (Kopys): R. Yisrael Yoffe, prominent disciple of the Baal HaTanya, [1814]. First edition.
This book contains a collection of discourses which R. Menachem Mendel of Vitebsk delivered in Tiberias, following his immigration to Eretz Israel. The book was first printed in Kopust (Kopys), 1814. The title page states: "And they were collected together by the rabbi who was outstanding in Torah and fear of G-d, R. Elazar Zussman, scribe of the Holy Land, and from him it reached our hands". R. Elazar Zussman was the scribe of R. Menachem Mendel of Vitebsk, R. Avraham of Kalisk, and all the Chassidim who reached Eretz Israel in the famous 1777 immigration.
The identity of the writer of this book is subject to dispute. Some say the essays were recorded by his disciples, primarily R. Elazar Zussman, who also edited and arranged them for print (Beit Rebbi). Conversely, according to a tradition of Slonim Chassidim, the entire book was written by R. Menachem Mendel himself, while R. Elazar Zussman only edited and arranged it for print, adding the opening words "Patach HaRav" and "Shaal HaShoel" (Yesod HaMaala, I, p. 59). In the opinion of the researcher R. Yehoshua Mondshine, R. Elazar Zussman "was the one who wrote the letters of the righteous men and Chassidim from Eretz Israel, and it is evident that he also wrote the teachings of R. Menachem Mendel of Vitebsk in the holy book Pri HaAretz, and the numerous figures of speech he uses render it an almost impenetrable book" (HaMaasar HaRishon, Jerusalem 2012, p. 222). The two first leaves contain essays of the Torah thoughts of R. Avraham HaMalach.
The last nine leaves feature a selection of Igrot HaKodesh - letters of guidance in G-d's service, which R. Menachem Mendel of Vitebsk and R. Avraham of Kalisk sent from Eretz Israel to their disciples in Reisen (Belarus).
Pri HaAretz is one of the most profound and difficult to understand Chassidic books. The Yesod HaAvoda of Slonim declared that he wishes that in the times of Mashiach and in the World to Come he will be able to uphold the lofty levels described in this book. "We have a tradition from reliable people that this book never left the table of Rebbe Yisrael of Ruzhin, who would say that whoever is able to understand this book, is capable of combining the lower wisdom with the higher wisdom" (Yesod HaMaala, ibid).
[1], 27, [8] leaves. Lacking last leaf of Igrot Kodesh (originally: [1], 27, [9] leaves). 23 cm. Wide margins. Fair-good condition. Stains. Worming to all leaves, some affecting text. New binding.
Stefansky Chassidut, no. 477; Stefansky Classics, no. 384.

Four rare leaves from the first edition of Sipurei Maasiot by R. Nachman of Breslov (Bratslav). Ostroh, 1815.
Leaves 3-6 of errata for the first edition of Likutei Moharan, published by Moharnat (R. Natan of Breslov), which he inserted at the end of the first edition of Sipurei Maasiot. These leaves are rare, and did not appear in the copy sold in Kedem Auction 63 (item 123).
Sipurei Maasiot was published by the illustrious disciple of R. Nachman of Breslov – Moharnat – R. Natan Sternhartz of Nemirov, several years after his teacher's passing. At the end of the book, R. Natan included corrections and additions to the first edition of Likutei Moharan, which he had published in his teacher's lifetime (Ostroh, 1808). The two title pages of Sipurei Maasiot state that the book was printed in 1815, though R. Natan recorded in his memoir (Yemei Moharnat, p. 45b) that he published the book in 1816.
[4] leaves. 19.5 cm. Good-fair condition. Stains, dampstains and wear. Several marginal tears.
Stefansky Chassidut, no. 437.