Handwritten manuscript.
Kovetz Maasiyos with Decorative Title Pages. Čkyně, Czechoslovakia, 1859
Includes sermon for weddings by Rabbi Akiva Shalom Chayut, author of Siddur Ikvei Shalom.
As noted in the first title pages, the present manuscript was copied in Čkyně, which lies in south Czechoslovakia approximately 120 kilometers from Prague.
The manuscript contains three sections, each with an illustrated title page:
1. Story of the Nazarite y”sh – who was sent from the Holy Land and Jerusalem.
Maase Yeshu (tales of Yeshu) or Maase Talui (tales of the Hanged One), as this story is colloquially called, was written anonymously. It recounts the life story of Yeshu the Nazarite from his birth until his death by hanging at the hands of the Roman general, based on written sources and legends that were retold by the masses throughout the generations.
Many Jews opposed the publication of this story, which is why it remains mostly preserved in handwritten copies. (See Eisenstein, Otzar Vikuchim Vol. 2 p. 226)
This section has 2 illustrated title pages.
2. Story of Yosef de la Reina – Story of the legendary kabbalist Rabbi Yosef de la Reina who endeavored to bring on the redemption and Messiah, by killing the angel Samael (Satan).
Harav Yosef Yisrael Deitch, author of Ben Garni, writes in Parshas Tazria regarding this fascinating episode:
“I heard from my father…zy”a who cited his master the Chasam Sofer z”l, that the incense that [Rabbi Yosef] smelled -which is, the thought in Rabbi Yosef de la Reina’s mind how he will inform the world that he was the one who had brought about the redemption. This thought caused his entire scheme to fail.”
3. Wedding Sermon by Harav Akiva Shalom Chayut of Tulchin
This sermon was sent by Harav Akiva Shalom as a wedding gift to a bridegroom with the latter’s name intertwined into the 13-word dedication that was copied on the title page of the present book.
Harav Akiva Shalom Chayut of Tulchin (1815-1868) was Av Beis Din of Dubova and author of Siddur Ikvei Shalom. A staunch chassid and close confidante of the Admor Harav Dovid of Tolna, he was an undisputed genius and one of the sharpest and most erudite scholars in his generation, to the extent that Harav Shlomo Kluger once confessed, “No one ever surpassed me except Rabbi Akiva.” Upon the recommendation of Harav Shlomo Kluger, Harav Akiva Shalom traveled to the Admor Harav Meir of Premishlan. His written legacy includes his famous kabbalistic Siddur Ikvei Shalom (Lublin, 1896).
To the best of our research, this sermon is not found in any other source.
Čkyně, 1859. [1], 17: 9, [1]: 7 leaves. Total 62 handwritten sides. Page size: 17 cm. Every section has a separate illustrated title page. Several stains and wear. Attractive new half-leather binding.
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