Auction 78 Rare and Important Items
May 25, 2021
Israel
 8 Ramban St, Jerusalem.
The preview and the auction will be held at our offices in accordance with the instructions of the Ministry of Health, 8 Ramban St. Jerusalem
The auction has ended

LOT 43:

Ben Porat Yosef – Korets, 1781 – First Edition – With the Igeret HaKodesh which the Baal Shem Tov Sent to Eretz Israel

catalog
  Previous item
Next item 
Sold for: $2,600
Start price:
$ 1,000
Estimated price:
$4000-6000
Auction house commission: 25%
VAT: 17% On commission only
tags:

Ben Porat Yosef – Korets, 1781 – First Edition – With the Igeret HaKodesh which the Baal Shem Tov Sent to Eretz Israel
Ben Porat Yosef, homiletics on Bereshit, with responsa at the end, by R. Yaakov Yosef HaKohen Katz Rabbi of Polonne. The famous letter which the Baal Shem Tov sent to his brother-in-law R. Gershon of Kitov is printed for the first time at the end of this book. Korets: Tzvi Hirsh son of Aryeh Leib [Margolies] and his son-in-law Shmuel son of Yissachar Ber Segal, [1781]. First edition.
This is the author's second book, published approximately one year after his first book Toldot Yaakov Yosef. In this book, like in the previous one, the author quotes extensively teachings from his prime teacher, R. Yisrael Baal Shem Tov.
The famous letter which the Baal Shem Tov sent to his brother-in-law R. Gershon of Kitov in Jerusalem, is printed in this book for the first time. The Baal Shem Tov gave this letter to the author R. Yaakov Yosef of Polonne when the latter intended to immigrate to Eretz Israel, in 1751, so that he could relay it to R. Gershon of Kitov. After his travel plans were cancelled, the letter remained in R. Yaakov Yosef's possession, and he published it "to benefit the Jewish people". In this letter, the Baal Shem Tov narrates of the "ascent of the soul" which he performed on Rosh Hashana of 1746 and 1749, and relates: "And I asked Mashiach, when will the Master come, and he responded… when your teachings will be publicized and revealed to the world, and your wellsprings will spread outwards".
R. Uri of Strelisk related that R. Mordechai of Neshchiz would study the letter every day: "The Tzaddik of Neshchiz resolved to study it every day, without fail, literally like laying Tefillin", he also said in his name that this letter contains allusions to three Holy names "through which one can find out the time of the Redemption" (Imrei Kadosh HaShalem, Jerusalem 1961, p. 47, 40).
Handwritten inscriptions on the final page.
[1], 100 leaves. 31 cm. Fair condition. Stains. Large open tears to title page, affecting border and text on both sides, with loss, repaired with paper and photocopy replacement. Worming and large tears along inner margins of most leaves (and tears in other places), affecting text, repaired with paper (book professionally restored). New binding.
Stefansky Chassidut, no. 90.

catalog
  Previous item
Next item