Yismach Moshe – Lviv, 1848-1861 – First Edition

Yismach Moshe – Lviv, 1848-1861 – First Edition
Complete set of the book Yismach Moshe on the Torah – Chassidic and Kabbalistic homiletics, following the order of the weekly Torah portions, by R. Moshe Teitelbaum, rabbi of Ujhel (Sátoraljaújhely). Parts I-V, on the Books of Bereshit, Shemot, Vayikra, Bamidbar and Devarim. Lviv: Franz Galinski, 1848-1861. First edition of all five parts, with a separate title page for each part. Five volumes.
The Yismach Moshe series was prepared for print by the author's grandson and close disciple, Rebbe Yekutiel Yehuda Teitelbaum, rabbi of Sighet, author of Yitav Lev; his glosses and additions, introduced with the words "so said the editor", are included in several places.
A brief foreword by the Yitav Lev was printed at the beginning of the Bereshit volume. Approbations by the Divrei Chaim and the Yitav Lev were printed at the beginning of the Bamidbar and Devarim volumes.
The author, R. Moshe Teitelbaum, rabbi of Ujhel (1759-1841), was the progenitor of the Sighet and Satmar dynasties, as well as other prominent Chassidic dynasties. Renowned already in his youth as an outstanding Torah scholar, he had the merit of studying in the Beit Midrash of the Vilna Gaon, and holding Torah discussions with him (see: HaGaon HaKadosh Baal Yismach Moshe, by R. Yosef Moshe Sofer, Brooklyn, 1984, pp. 25-26). He served as rabbi of Shinova (Sieniawa) and Ujhel. He embraced Chassidut in his later years, and became a disciple of the Chozeh of Lublin and the Ohev Yisrael of Apta. In 1808, he was appointed rabbi of Ujhel and began disseminating Chassidut in Hungary. He was renowned in his times as rebbe and wonder-worker and frequently gave out amulets. His books include: Responsa Heshiv Moshe on halachah, Yismach Moshe on the Torah and Tefillah LeMoshe on Tehillim.
Title page of Book of Shemot printed in gold and black. Signature on said title page: "Betzalel Wein---".
Five volumes. Bereshit: [1], 117 leaves; Shemot: 90 leaves; Vayikra: 42 leaves; Bamidbar: [1], 49 leaves; Devarim: 72, [1] leaves. Approx. 24 cm. Condition varies, good to fair-good. Stains, including dampstains and dark stains. Minor marginal tears. Signature on title page of first volume (scraped off, with minor damage to text). Erased stamp and signature on title page of vol. II. Vol. III – leaves trimmed close to text in several places. Worming, affecting text, repaired with strips of tape. Vol. IV – open tears to title page, not affecting text, repaired with tape, and open tear to leaf 44, affecting text. Vol. V – worming to title page, not affecting text, and open tear to leaf 2, not affecting text (title page of vol. V may have been supplied from a different copy). New, elegant leather bindings.
Stefansky Chassidut, nos. 239, 240.