Siddur with Kavanos of the Arizal
Zolkova, 1781
“One who puts his heart to pray from this siddur…his prayer is not returned empty-handed”
(Title page of Siddur)
Personal copy of Rabbi Shmuel Zanvil Brandwein of Stretin!
The present siddur was the first Kabbalistic siddur integrating the kavanos (intentions) of the Arizal into the prayer text. It was likewise the first Ashkenazic siddur published with the prevalent Chassidic version of Nusach Sefard (with Hodu prior to Baruch she’amar, Nakdishach, Kesser, etc.)
The kabbalist Harav Moshe Osterer, leader of the group of kabbalists of the Kloiz in Brody, extolled the significance of this work in his approbation to this siddur. He explained that although the Arizal’s kavanos had already been printed in earlier texts, they had formerly appeared independent of the prayer text, making it difficult to refer to these kavanos during prayer. The present siddur was the
first time kabbalistic intentions were integrated directly into the prayer text.
Zolkova, 1781. [7], 144, 143-192, [2] leaves. Page size: 20.7 cm. Complete copy in good condition. Signs of use in margins and several mild stains. Title page and several pages professionally restored. Miniscule hole on margin in the last third of siddur. Attractive new half-leather binding with impressive spine.
Provenance: Kestenboum auction. Stefansky, Sifrei Yesod #424
This siddur was widely used amongst Chassidic congregations, and the choice siddur of the Baal Shem Tov’s talmidim and their chassidim.
This copy belonged to the Admor Rabbi Shmuel Zanvil Brandwein of Stretin. Leaf 30a bears his stamp. The siddur contains few handwritten amendments apparently from a well versed Kabballa sage.
The Admor Rabbi Shmuel Zanvil Brandwein of Stretin (1815-1887) was the son of the Admor Rabbi Yehuda Tzvi of Stretin, a talmid of the famed Saraf of Starlisk who served as the sandak of Rabbi Shmuel Zanvil at the bris, the Saraf proclaimed that Rabbi Shmuel Zanvil possessed an exalted soul, and indeed, he assisted many with his blessings bringing salvations for those in need (Degel Machaneh Yehuda, 2012 p. 15). Following his father’s passing in 1844, Rabbi Shmuel Zanvil was crowned Admor of Stretin by Rabbi Yisrael of Ruzhin, yet the latter refused to fill this position.
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