Portrait of the Baal Shem of Michelstadt – Rabbi Sekl Loeb Wormser – Strasbourg, After 1833

Lithograph, portrait of R. Sekl Loeb Michelstadt, the Baal Shem of Michelstadt, in his lifetime. [Strasbourg, France, after 1833].

Caption on the portrait in Hebrew: "Portrait of the Gaon R. Sekl Loeb Rabbi and Baal Shem of Michelstadt", and in French: "S. Loeb – Grand Rabbin Professeur à Michelstadt".

Portrait signed at bottom right corner of mat: "Lith. de Simon fils à Strusbg" – Strasbourg lithography workshop of Frédéric-Émile Simon, who inherited the press from his father Frédéric Sigismond Simon in 1833.

R. Sekl (Yitzchak Aryeh) Loeb Wormser (1768-1847), descendant of the Luria-Ashkenazi family, descended from the Maharshal and the Arizal. He studied Torah under his father in Michelstadt, where he gained a reputation as a prodigy. He founded a yeshiva in Michelstadt, serving as its dean. Leading rabbis in his days sent him requests for prayer, including the Chatam Sofer and the Chidushei HaRim of Ger. On Rosh Hashanah of 1847, he prepared his disciples for his death and died the following day, on the Fast of Gedaliah.

Approx. 20.5X25.5 cm. Fair-good condition. Stains, creases and wear. Tears, repaired. Matted: 48.5X39.5 cm (not examined outside of mat).