Handwritten Glosses by Rabbi Shalom Zelig of Nadvorna
Talmid of Baal Shem Tov
Sefer Damesek Eliezer al HaTorah with extensive marginalia by the Admor Rabbi Shalom Zelig of Nadvorna, father of the Admor Rabbi Tzvi Hirsh of Nadvorna, author of Tzamach Hashem Latzvi.
The chiddushim and annotations inserted into the margins of this sefer span both the Revealed and Hidden Torah, and include a remarkable note of the Admor’s calculations regarding the coming of Mashiach (see below).
Identification and Authentication of the Manuscript
Leaf 4a notes the Admor’s dwelling place “Nadvorna”. In the body of the marginalia (leaf 47a), the annotator explicitly states “
I, Shalom Zelig, wrote this”, revealing his identity as the Admor Rabbi Shalom Zelig of Nadvorna, father of Rabbi Tzvi Hirsh of Nadvorna, author of Tzamach Hashem Latzvi.
The handwriting on this manuscript is identical to the Admor’s handwritten glosses in Siddur Baal Shem Tov (see below).
The present sefer Damesek Eliezer passed by inheritance to the Admor Rabbi Tzvi Hirsh’s grandson and namesake, Rabbi Tzvi Hirsh Maggid of Pietrow, who mentions this sefer in his preface to his commentary Tzamach Hashem Latzvi on the Haggadah (Sighet, 1910):
“Being that I have in my possession the sefer Damesek Eliezer on the Mesorah that previously belonged to my grandfather Harav Hagaon Rabbi Shalom, who wrote on the leaves of the sefer wonderful words, I included them in this sefer, as well; and the father and son who see the chiddush shall rest in peace as their lips shall mouth [Torah in the grave].”
The above refers to the present manuscript, and the Admor Rabbi Tzvi Hirsh printed several annotations that appear as marginalia in the present sefer.
There is a famous siddur that belonged to the Baal Shem Tov Hakadosh in which his talmidim wrote their names in order to be mentioned by the Baal Shem Tov in his prayers. Rabbi Shalom Zelig inscribed his name before the brachah “Shema Koleinu”, signing it “Shalom Zelig ben Chay[a]”.
Rabbi Shalom Zelig of Nadvorna was born circa 1738. As a young child, he was brought to the Baal Shem Tov who lifted him in his arms and played with him. Rabbi Shalom Zelig was a genius both in the revealed and hidden Torah. He married the daughter of Rabbi Elimelech, maggid of Dhurovitch and scion of Rabbi Shaul Wohl. They merited a son, Rabbi Tzvi Hirsh, Author of Tzamach Hashem Latzvi who was a beacon of light for Klal Yisrael.
Sefer Damesek Eliezer Commentary on the Mesorah by Rabbi Eliezer, Av Beis Din of Pintchov. Yasnitz, 1723. First edition. Page Count: [4], 127, [2] leaves.
Page Size: 19 cm.
This sefer is bound together with Geza Yehudah (Offenbach, 1738 Title page and leaves 11-12 missing. The sefer was already bound together with Geza Yehudah while in Rabbi Shalom Zelig’s possession, as he notes in the marginalia of the present sefer (leaf 68a). There are handwritten glosses from the Admor also on the margins of Geza Yehudah.
When presenting his calculations of the time of the Redemption, the Admor inscribes on Leaf 91b: “I heard in the name of a great person an allusion to the Geulah and letters of “teiku” which are written in the Gemara regarding year 1756,” and he adds additional allusions and evidence.
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