Vetziva HaCohen: Rare Chassidic Sefer, Sde-Lavan 1823
The will of Rabbi Aharon Shmuel HaCohen of Stepan to his sons, spiced with Biblical explanations and explanations on the sayings from the Baal Shem Tov and his disciples.
This first edition was published in Sde-Lavan, Ukraine in the year 1823, and part of the title page is printed in red ink. It is an exceptionally rare sefer as only three Sefarim in total were published in Sde-Lavan. Bibliographers were unaware of the existence of this printing press for many years.
There is a signature from Rabbi Moshe MiGeza Zvi on the title page.
Rabbi Aharon Shmuel HaCohen of Stepan (1739 – 1813) was a descendant of Rabbi Naftali Hirsch Katz of Posen, author of Smichus Chachamim, and a close disciple of both the Maggid of Mezritch and Rabbi Pinchas Koritz whom he quotes in his sefer. He also brings down thoughts from the Baal Shem Tov, Rabbi Zev Wolfe of Zhitomir and Rabbi Yitzchak Eizik of Koritz, author of Bris Kehunas Olam. His sefer is chock full of interesting content and sporadic details of his life.
Rabbi Moshe MiGeza Zvi (1774 – 1844) was a disciple of the Chozeh of Lublin. He immigrated to Eretz Yisrael where he was a founder of Jerusalem's Chassidic settlement and a leader of Kollel Hachassidim. His will was published titled Tzava'as Rabbi Aharon Moshe MiGeza Zvi.
There is a seal from Rabbi Yitzchak Wetheim of Bender on page 21a.
Stefansky, Chassidus 193
[2], 16, 20-47, 47-74 leaves | 20 cm | Blue paper | New leather binding | Light restorations