Gezeiros Tach V'Tat: Rare Sefer Shivrei Luchos by Rabbi Yechiel Michel of Nemirov, Lublin
An important historical sefer recounting the Gezeiros Tach V'Tat, describing the holy Kabbalist Rabbi Yechiel Michel of Nemirov and his murder.
There are hints in the sefer alluding to techias hameisim (revival of the dead) and chevlei Mashiach that were destined to occur during these years but which morphed instead into the terrible Chmelnitzki Massacres of 1648 – 1649, known as the Gezeiros Tach V'Tat.
Rabbi Yechiel Michel's treatise commentating on "al tikri" in the Talmud was brought to print in Lublin 1680 by his nephew Rabbi Yitzchak Mochiach, Av Beis Din of Trebvla. In his introduction, he quotes his uncle who remarked in 1647 that the year 1648 ("Tach") would bring with it chevlei Mashiach, alluding to Chmiel(nitzki) which stands for the words Chevlei Mashiach Yavo'u La'olam (birthpangs of Mashiach will come to the world). He also writes that Rabbi Yechiel Michel told him in a dream that the decrees came about because they did not reproach the nation to repent at the time that had been worthy of redemption.
On the last page of the sefer there is a prayer to be saved from chevlei Mashiach with the words, "and save us from the sword and gusts of Ishmaelite and vandals," referring to the ruthless Cossacks.
Rabbi Yechiel Michel of Nemirov (1630 – 1648) was a prominent leader of his generation; a Torah genius who was well versed in both the revealed and hidden aspects of Torah. He was a descendant of Rashi and many Torah leaders and Admorim traced their lineage back to his family. He was one of the first to be murdered in the Gezeiros Tach V'Tat, slaughtered along with six thousand members of Nemirov.
This copy was purchased thirty years ago in the Sotheby's Auction, the only time it has ever appeared for sale.
[37] Leaves | 19 cm | Luntzer- Walmedona collection | Minor marginal restorations | New leather binding | Fine condition
