Atzei Chaim on the Torah and on the Festivals – First Editions – Sighet, 1927-1934

Atzei Chaim on the Torah and on the Festivals – First Editions – Sighet, 1927-1934

Atzei Chaim on the Torah and Atzei Chaim on the festivals, by Rebbe Chaim Tzvi Teitelbaum, Av Beit Din of Sighet:

1. Atzei Chaim on the Torah, two parts – Part I following the Aggadah approach, and Part II following the Derush approach. Sighet: Abraham Kaufmann and sons and Pannonia Rosenthal brothers, 1927. First edition.

The book was first published by the author’s son-in-law, R. Chaim Yitzchak Eizik Halberstam, Av Beit Din of Solotvyno, with the help of his relative (the author’s nephew) R. Yekutiel Yehudah Gross, dayan and posek in Sighet (formerly Av Beit Din of Berbești). At the beginning of the book is an introduction by “the holy author’s sons” [apparently written by his great sons-in-law, R. Yechezkel Shraga Halberstam of Chișinău and Rebbe Yekutiel Yehudah Halberstam of Klausenburg], in which they congratulate their brother-in-law [the author’s son] on attaining his father’s post as Rabbi of Sighet: “Thanks and blessing to the people of Sighet… who unanimously and lovingly accepted our brother-in-law… R. Yekutiel Yehudah Teitelbaum to our holy fathers’ position” [the son of the author, Rebbe Yekutiel Yehudah Teitelbaum, Av Beit Din of Sighet (born 1912, perished in the Holocaust 1944), who was appointed to serve in his father’s position at the age of 14].

[3], 2-127; [2], 2-50 leaves. 24.5 cm. Good condition. Stains and light wear. Original binding, with leather spine and corners, worn and lightly damaged.

2. Atzei Chaim on the festivals. Sighet (Sighetu Marmației): A. Kaufmann and sons, 1934. First edition.

Sermons for Rosh Hashanah, Shabbat Teshuvah, Yom Kippur, Sukkot, Chanukah, the four parashiot, Purim, Shabbat HaGadol, Pesach and Shavuot. At the beginning of the books is the introduction of the author’s son, Rebbe Yekutiel Yehudah Teitelbaum, Av Beit Din of Sighet (born 1912, perished in the Holocaust 1944), in which he writes: “I hereby beg our friend’s people to bring blessing to their houses and buy this holy book at its full price… to attain blessing from heaven, to be doubly blessed, and may our eyes see the rebuilding of Zion and Jerusalem…”

[3], 2-158 leaves. 24.5 cm. Good condition. Light stains. New binding.

Rebbe Chaim Tzvi Teitelbaum, Av Beit Din of Sighet, author of Atzei Chaim (1880-1926), son of Rebbe Chananya Yom Tov Lipa Teitelbaum, author of Kedushat Yom Tov, and son-in-law of Rebbe Shalom Eliezer Halberstam of Ratzfert (son of the Divrei Chaim of Sanz). He frequented the courts of the Tzaddikim of his generation, in particular his uncles Rebbe Yechezkel Shraga of Shinova and Rebbe Baruch of Gorlitz, as well as Rebbe Yehoshua Rokeach of Belz. He was an outstanding Torah scholar, exceptionally holy and God-fearing. Reputedly, he never forgot anything he learned. After his father's passing in 1904, at the young age of 24, he was appointed rabbi and Rebbe of Sighet (capital of the Maramureș County) and became known as one of the leaders of Hungarian Jewry and the Orthodox Bureau of the country. He was very influential, and his opinion regarding the appointment of rabbis, dayanim and shochatim was conclusive in Hungarian Orthodox communities, especially in communities with a dominant constituency of Sighet Chassidim (Sighet was the largest and principal Chassidic court in Maramureș). His younger brother was Rebbe Yoel Teitelbaum of Satmar.