Meohr Einayim
First Edition.
Slavita, 1798
Fundamental Chassidic Sefer
Volume 1: Meohr Einayim – Commentary on Torah and anthology of lessons by the Baal Shem Tov
Volume 2: Yismach Lev – Commentary on Aggadah and Pirkei Avos with Kavanas Hamikveh
By the Admor Rabbi Menachem Nachum of Chernobyl (1730-1789), disciple of the Baal Shem Tov and progenitor of the Chernobyl dynasty.
The Admor Rabbi Menachem Nachum personally instructed his disciple to print this sefer in Slavita (see below).
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Great Chassidic masters extolled the praises of the sefer Meohr Einayim as the “Entryway and beginning of Chassidus” (The Admor Rabbi Yisrael of Ruzhin).
The Admor Levi Yitzchak of Berditchev attests in his approbation that “All his words are the words of the Living G-d.”
The Admor Rabbi Yitzchak of Skver quoted the Chozeh of Lublin who expressed “I found such wondrous words in these three works , the Zohar,
Ohr Hachaim and Meohr Einayim” (
Sippurim U’maamarim Yekarim, Zhitomir, 1903 p. 9).
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The first pages of the sefer feature an impressive collection of rare endorsements by the great progenitors of Chassidus, disciples of the Maggid of Mezritch, among them the Admorim Rabbi Zusha of Anipoli; Rabbi Yaakov Shimon of Shepitovka; Rabbi Levi Yitzchak of Berditchev; Rabbi Asher Tzvi of Ostroh, author of Maayan Hachochmah; and Rabbi Yehuda Leib Hakohein of Anipoli, author of Ohr Haganuz.
The publisher relates in the foreword to this sefer that Rabbi Menachem Nachum of Chernobyl personally requested that his talmidim print his sefer in Slavita. “He placed his trust in him saying, ‘Take this sefer, and with your acquisition, you shall benefit the masses, and the merits of the public shall be in your merit, when you print it in the beautiful, glorified press founded in Slavita.’”
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Meohr Einayim
was one of the earliest Chassidic works published in Slavita, appearing alongside other Chassidic classics as
Rav Yaivy (1792);
Noam Elimelech (1794);
Tanya (1796); and
Kedushas Levi (1798).
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Slavita, 1798. First edition. Rabbi Moshe Shapira Press. Page Count: Volume 1: [2] 159 leaves; Volume 2: [1] 34 leaves.
Page Size: 19.5 cm.
Condition: Good. Title page and several other leaves lightly restored. Title cropped on several leaves. Ornate new leather binding; preserved in matching case.
Bibliography: Stefansky, Sifrei Yesod #382.
Stefansky, Chassidus #308, 237.
It is interesting to note that the Admor Rabbi Zusha of Anipoli signed his approbation to this sefer as follows: “Sunday, 23 Cheshvan, to the sedra of ‘And behold Aharon’s staff blossomed, ’” a perplexing statement as this verse appears in Parshas Korach which is read a full six months later. Another Admor remarked that, here, Rabbi Zusha alluded to Rabbi Menachem Nachum’s grandson, the Admor Rabbi Aharon of Belz who was crowned Admor many years later on Sunday, 24 Cheshvan, and on this day “The staff of Aharon blossomed” (Admorei Belz Vol. 4 p. 78).
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