Auction 105 Books | Letters and Manuscripts | Esther Scrolls and Jewish Ceremonial Art
Yitav Lev – First Edition – Sighet, 1875 – All Five Parts in Two Volumes
Opening: $500
Sold for: $1,188
Including buyer's premium
Yitav Lev, Chassidic, homiletical and ethical discourses on the Five Books of the Torah, by Rebbe Yekutiel Yehudah Teitelbaum, Rabbi of Sighet. Sighet (Sighetu Marmației): Maramaroscher Actien-Buchdruckerei, 1875. First edition. All five parts in two volumes. Main title page at beginning of the first volume, and five abbreviated divisional title pages for each book of the Torah.
The book was printed anonymously in the author's lifetime. The book title is an acronym alluding to the name of the author – "Yitav" stands for Yekutiel Yehudah Teitelbaum.
In his introduction, the author explains why he published his work anonymously. He cites the introduction of the Panim Meirot, who was in doubt "whether it's better for a person not to reveal who the author is, or whether there is an obligation to mention the author…". Rebbe Yekutiel Yehudah humbly offers a resolution: "Regarding halachot that pertain to law, it is important to know who the author is and whether he can be relied upon… but regarding aggadah and ethics, what do we need to know the author's name for? The words are proven if they penetrate their listeners' hearts… So I decided it was better to conceal it, since I am ashamed to stand among the ranks of Torah scholars, since my soul knows my little worth…".
Rebbe Yekutiel Yehudah Teitelbaum, Rabbi of Sighet – the Yitav Lev (1808-1883), a close disciple of his grandfather the Yismach Moshe – Rebbe Moshe Teitelbaum Rabbi of Ujhel, and disciple of Rebbe Asher Yeshayah of Ropshitz. In 1833 he was appointed rabbi of Stropkov, and after the passing of his illustrious grandfather, he was selected to succeed him as Rabbi of Ujhel (Sátoraljaújhely), and was later appointed Rabbi of Gorlitz (Gorlice), Drohobych and finally Sighet (Sighetu Marmației), where he founded a large yeshiva and earned worldwide renown, with thousands of Chassidim flocking to seek his counsel and blessings.
Signatures in first volume: "Eizik Eber Weiss" – R. Yitzchak Avraham (Eizik Eber) Weiss son of R. Yaakov Bentzion Weiss of Tetch (Tiachiv). Torah scholar and follower of the Ateret Tzvi of Zidichov, d. 1906.
Stamps in first volume: "Aharon Menachem Gershon Weinstock, shochet" (R. Aharon Menachem Gershon-Gefen Weinstock, a Belz Chassid, son-in-law of R. Aharon HaKohen Gross of Brezno, d. 1980; a grandson of R. Menachem Gershon Grünwald Rabbi of Kerestir).
Signature in second volume, on Bamidbar title page of "Aviezri Zelig son of R. Mordechai".
Gloss in Devarim (leaf 7).
Two volumes. Volume I (Bereshit, Shemot, Vayikra): [3], 141, [2] leaves; 91 leaves (lacking errata of Shemot); [3], 55 leaves (lacking errata of Vayikra). Volume II (Bamidbar, Devarim): [4], 80 leaves (errata of Bamidbar, and title page and errata of Devarim, bound at beginning of Bamidbar); 52, 55-70 leaves. 24-25 cm. Varying condition; volume I in good-fair condition, volume II in fair-good to fair condition. Stains, including dampstains (traces of former dampness to first leaves of second volume). Wear and creases. Small marginal tears and open tears to several leaves. Worming. New leather bindings (uniform).
Chassidic Books
Chassidic Books