Auction 101 Part 2 Chassidut and Kabbalah | Jerusalem Printings | Letters and Manuscripts | Objects
Yitav Lev – First Edition – Sighet, 1875
Opening: $500
Sold for: $938
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. Five parts in four volumes.
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 good 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.
In Shemot-Vayikra volume, on front and back endpapers and on title page of Shemot, ownership inscriptions and stamp of R. Yekutiel Yehudah Bergfeld, Rabbi of Nimigea, and other stamps of R. "Moshe Klein Satmar".
Inscription on last leaf of Bamidbar volume signed by "David Yitzchak Werzberger" [shochet in Tiachiv]. At beginning of volume, stamp of his nephew, R. Naftali Yaakov HaKohen, Rabbi of Haifa.
Four volumes. Bereshit: [4], 4-141 leaves. Lacking leaves 2-3 and [2] leaves at the end. Shemot-Vayikra: 91 leaves; [3], 55, [2] leaves. Errata for Shemot at end of Vayikra. Bamidbar: [2], 80 leaves. Errata bound after title page. Devarim: [1], 52, 55-70, [1] leaves. 23.5 cm. Condition Varies; first two volumes in good-fair condition, last two volumes in fair condition. Stains, many stains to Bamidbar volume. Light wear and creases. Tears and open tears, affecting text in a few places. Worming, affecting text, mainly to last two volumes (much worming in Devarim volume), partially repaired with tape. New leather bindings (non-uniform).