Orach LaChaim – Berditchev, 1817 – First Edition

Orach LaChaim – Berditchev, 1817 – First Edition
Orach LaChaim, kabbalistic and Chassidic homiletics on the Torah, in five parts, by Rebbe Avraham Chaim of Zlotchov. [Berditchev (Berdychiv): R. Yisrael Bak, 1817]. First edition.
Interesting approbations by Chassidic leaders: R. Levi Yitzchak of Berditchev (who writes: "This book was written by a titan among giants, and was written in purity and holiness"); R. Yisrael of Kozhnitz; R. Yaakov Yitzchak, the Chozeh of Lublin (who writes: "Although I do not usually conduct myself in greatness, because a person knows himself and I am neither a rabbi or a Maggid, however… out of my love of G-d, I greatly love every Jew and most certainly tzaddikim, therefore I am writing an approbation…"); R. Avraham Yehoshua Heshel of Apta; R. Chaim Thirer (author of Sidduro shel Shabbat).
The author, R. Avraham Chaim of Zlotchov (ca. 1726-1816; Encyclopedia L'Chassidut, I, pp. 80-81), was one of the greatest Torah scholars and Chassidim in his generation. He was the son of R. Gedalia Rabbi of Zhovkva, and the son-in-law of R. Pinchas Horowitz, the Haflaah. Through his second marriage he came to be the son-in-law of R. Yissachar Dov of Zlotchov, the author of Bat Eini. He was a disciple of the Maggid of Mezeritch, of R. Yechiel Michel of Zlotchov, of the Haflaah and of his brother R. Shmuel Shmelke of Nikolsburg.
This book opens with a long foreword by R. Efraim Zalman Margolies of Brody, which ends with praise for the author: "…He was great in Torah and Chassidut, spent much of the day in prayer, involved himself extensively in charity and good deeds and brought many to repentance. He was proficient in the hidden facets of the Torah". R. Avraham Chaim once sent a letter to the Ohev Yisrael of Apta requesting that the Ohev Yisrael pray for his recovery, to which the Ohev Yisrael replied that he was surprised by the request, since a person such as R. Avraham Chaim can certainly pray for himself and be sure that his prayers will be answered (Igrot HaOhev Yisrael, Igeret 23b). The author himself prepared the book Orach Chaim for print, between 1804 and 1814, and received approbations from many leading Chassidic masters. However, he did not merit seeing his book in print; it was finally printed in 1817, a year after his passing.
Ownership inscription extending over several leaves (5-9 of first sequence): "For the Mishnayot group of the Beit Midrash of the rabbi of Roman" (R. Yaakov Dov Ber of Roman, Romania, frequented the courts of Rebbe Yisrael of Ruzhin and his son Rebbe Avraham Yaakov of Sadigura, immigrated to Safed in 1836 and built a Beit Midrash). Ownership inscription on p. 52b of first sequence: "Belongs to the Beit Midrash donated by R. He[---] to [---]".
52; 59; 29; 37; 31 leaves. 23.5 cm. Most leaves with wide margins. Fair condition. Stains, including significant, large dampstains to many leaves, with minor mold stains in several places. Wear. Margins of title page, first and final leaves trimmed, slightly affecting text. Margins of these leaves repaired and widened with paper (these leaves were presumably supplied from a different copy). Tears in several other places, not affecting text. Worming to several leaves. Inscriptions. Stamps. New leather binding.
Stefansky Chassidut, no. 34.