Mishnat Avraham – Zhitomir, 1868 – Copy of the Imrei Yosef, First Rebbe of Spinka, with His Signature

Mishnat Avraham – Zhitomir, 1868 – Copy of the Imrei Yosef, First Rebbe of Spinka, with His Signature

Mishnat Avraham, on the laws of Sefer Torah, Tefillin and Mezuzot, by R. Avraham son of R. Tzvi Yoffe. Zhitomir: Avraham Shalom Shadov, 1868. First edition, published by the sons of the author R. Mordechai Tzvi Yoffe posek in Zhitomir, R. Yehoshua Zalman Yoffe and R. Moshe Yoffe shochet in Zhitomir.
The title page states that the teachings were compiled from halachic literature and from manuscript responsa of R. Avraham Gershon of Kitov (brother-in-law of the Baal Shem Tov), R. Shabtai of Rashkov (scribe of the Baal Shem Tov), R. Yaakov of Smila (disciple of the Baal HaTanya) and R. Menachem Mendel of Lubavitch (the Tzemach Tzedek).
Copy of R. Yosef Meir Weiss, the Imrei Yosef, first rebbe of Spinka, with his full signature at the top of the title page: "Yosef Meir son of R. Shmuel Tzvi of Munkacs". Stamp of his great-grandson Rebbe Nachman Kahana, rabbi of Karlsburg, with a handwritten inscription stating that Rebbe Kahana is an offspring of Rebbe Yosef Meir Weiss.

The first rebbe of Spinka, R. Yosef Meir Weiss, author of Imrei Yosef (1838-1909), founder of the Spinka Chassidic dynasty. Son of R. Shmuel Tzvi Weiss, head of the Munkacs Beit Din. A prominent Torah scholar and Chassidic leader, disciple of the Maharam Ash, R. Meir Eisenstädter, rabbi of Ungvar and his son R. Menachem Eisenstädter, rabbi of Ungvar. He also studied under Rebbe Shmuel Shmelke of Selish, author of Tzror HaChaim, and under his uncle R. Yitzchak Eizik Weisz of Svaliava.
He embraced Chassidut at a young age, frequenting as a young boy the court of the Sar Shalom of Belz, who declared already then that he had "a beautiful brain". He would also travel to the courts of Rebbe Menachem Mendel of Vizhnitz and the Divrei Chaim of Sanz, though his prime teacher was his relative Rebbe Yitzchak Eizik of Zidichov, who considered him his most prominent disciple and would spend several hours a day studying with him.

In 1870, his teacher R. Yitzchak Eizik of Zidichov appointed him as rebbe, yet he refused to lead Chassidim as long as his teacher was alive. Only during 1876 did he begin leading Chassidim in his town Spinka, Maramureș region, upon the directive of the Divrei Chaim of Sanz. His fame spread rapidly throughout Hungary and Galicia, and thousands of Chassidim became his followers, including prominent Torah leaders such as R. Shalom Mordechai Schwadron of Berzan, and others. Likewise, he maintained close ties with the Tzadikim of his times, Rebbe Yekutiel Yehuda Halberstam of Sighet, the Yitav Lev, R. Yechezkel Shraga of Shinova, the Divrei Yechezkel, and others.
R. Yosef Meir Weiss was renowned for his exceptional knowledge of both revealed Torah and kabbalah. The Divrei Chaim of Sanz cherished him and drew him close, and would discuss kabbalah extensively with him, something he would not do with anyone else (A. Surasky, Shoshelet Spinka, p. 97). The Spinka Chassidut followed the Zidichov rite both in prayer and in practice. His prayers, which greatly inspired his Chassidim, were known to be tremendously, superhumanly powerful. Wondrous stories are related about him, and he earned the reputation of a wonder-worker whose blessings and advice were pronounced with Divine Inspiration. His son, Rebbe Yitzchak Eizik attested that he performed great wonders with his blessings and prayers, helping barren women conceive and healing the sick; to the extent he could almost declare that no word he uttered went unanswered (Asara Maamarot foreword to the book Imrei Yosef). Even after his passing, his gravesite served as focal point for prayer and salvation. In 1972, his was reinterred in Eretz Israel, in the special section for Spinka Chassidim in the Segulah cemetery in Petach Tikva.
His great-grandson was Rebbe Nachman Kahana of Bnei Brak (1905-1976), son of R. Tzvi Hirsh Kahana of Spinka (son of R. Nachman Kahana of Spinka author of Orchot Chaim, son-in-law of the Imrei Yosef). He served as rabbi in Karlsburg (present day: Alba Iulia), and after the Holocaust, immigrated to Eretz Israel, settling in Masmiyya and Bnei Brak. A prominent Torah scholar and Chassidic leader, he associated with the Torah leaders of his time, including the Chazon Ish. The Steipler considered him a leading halachic authority and one of the Tzadikim of the generation, after hearing that the Chazon Ish highly regarded him for his Torah and piety.

[4], 5-86 leaves. 27 cm. Fair-good condition. Dark stains. Wear and tears. Marginal paper repairs to title page. Minor worming. Stamps. New binding.