Likutei Halachot by Rabbi Natan of Breslov – Complete Set – First Editions

Likutei Halachot by Rabbi Natan of Breslov – Complete Set – First Editions
Likutei Halachot, explanations and novellae following the order of the four sections of Shulchan Aruch, based on the teachings of R. Nachman of Breslov, by R. Natan of Breslov (Moharnat), primary disciple of R. Nachman. [Iași]-Zhovkva-Lviv: [1843]-1861. All seven parts in seven volumes. First editions.
Likutei Halachot is one of the most important compositions of Breslov teachings, wherein R. Natan of Breslov gives Chassidic and kabbalistic explanations, together with practical guidelines of conduct in G-d's service, arranged in the order of the laws in Shulchan Aruch – following the unique method of his teacher, R. Nachman of Breslov. Moharnat testified that while compiling and writing these books he felt a "Divine shine". The son of R. Nachman Chazan of Tulchyn (who arranged the books for print) attested that his father also felt a Divine shine during the course of his work, compelling him at times to lay aside his quill and stop writing – see below.
Likutei Halachot was printed over the course of some twenty years. Only the first volume was printed in the lifetime of the author, R. Natan of Breslov, in the city of Iași, while the rest of the volumes were printed posthumously in Zhovkva and Lemberg (Lviv). Likutei Halachot was reprinted in many editions, from the years immediately following the first edition until today.
R. Natan's writings were arranged for print by his close disciple, R. Nachman Chazan of Tulchyn (1813-1884), who with great devotion copied the writings of his teacher R. Natan, prepared them for print, and published them. R. Nachman's son R. Avraham of Tulchyn, author of Biur HaLikutim, describes his father's single-minded devotion to the task of preparing the books for print, and attests that his father merited feeling a Divine shine during the course of his work: "The books Likutei Halachot… he reconciled himself to extreme deprivation for the course of many years and toiled greatly to copy all the six volumes so that they would be ready for print… He received no reimbursement or payment from Moharnat, not even the smallest amount… I heard him say that upon concluding the writing of the Likutei Halachot books, Moharnat once asked him if he felt Divine shine… To which he answered: Yes! And it was understood from his words that several times, due to the excitement and Divine shine which shone upon him, he was compelled to lay aside his quill and completely cease writing". R. Avraham further describes the difficulties his father encountered while publishing the first volume: "He then applied himself to print at least the first volume, Orach Chaim Part I, and for this task R. Natan gave him a bit, to cover the travel expenses to Iași in Wallachia. And his wife… travelled to Breslov to inform R. Natan that if he does not provide her with at least minimal sustenance, she and her children will die of starvation… My father himself, endeavored to reduce expenses throughout the journey, and at the beginning even travelled on foot some of the way, since the printing costs alone were beyond R. Natan's means, due to his extreme poverty and his concealment" (Kochvei Or, Jerusalem, 2009, pp. 282-283).
R. Natan Sternhartz of Nemirov (Nemyriv) – Moharnat of Breslov (1780-1844), was the primary disciple of Rebbe Nachman of Breslov and disseminator of his teachings, in time succeeding him as leader of the Breslov Chassidim. During his teacher's lifetime, he was the personification of a disciple, and just like R. Chaim Vital disseminated and revealed the teachings of the Arizal, R. Natan revealed and disseminated the teachings of R. Nachman throughout the world. He arranged and published his teacher's works (including: Likutei Moharan, Sefer HaMidot, Sipurei Maasiot, and others). Reputedly, R. Nachman declared that if not for R. Natan, not even one leaf of his writings would have survived. R. Natan's own compositions expound upon and explain the teachings of R. Nachman. His magnum opus is this book – Likutei Halachot. R. Natan was renowned from his youth as an exceptional Torah scholar, who devotedly and ardently served his Creator. His prayers and holiness were legendary. His biography is recorded in detail in Chayei Moharnat and in BaEsh UvaMayim – Toldot Moharnat, Jerusalem, 1996.
Seven volumes. Vol. I (Orach Chaim, Part I): [2], 117, [1] leaves. Vol. II (Orach Chaim, Part II): [1], 66; 108, [2] leaves. Including title page (most extant copies of this part lack title page). 108 leaves originally appearing at beginning of book, erroneously bound here after second sequence. Final [2] leaves – omissions from Likutei Halachot Orach Chaim and errata for part III of Orach Chaim (these leaves were not listed in the Bibliography of the Hebrew Book). Vol. III (Orach Chaim, part III): 54; 18; 5, [7], 14-47, 44-49, [2], 56-81, 71-74; 7-16 leaves. Significant misfoliation. Lacking title page, leaf 55 of first sequence, and approx. 6 leaves between final sequence and previous one. Vol. IV (Yoreh De'ah): [2], 256 leaves. Lacking 11 final leaves (257-267) of indexes. Printing error in leaves 3-4 (pages printed in wrong order). Vol. V (Even HaEzer): [2], 38; 10; 18 leaves. 18 leaves of indexes for Choshen Mishpat part II and Even HaEzer bound here instead of at end of Choshen Mishpat part II. Vol. VI (Choshen Mishpat, part I): [2], 79; 119 leaves. Vol. VII (Choshen Mishpat, part II): [2], 3, 5-23; [39]; [35] leaves.
Size varies, 20.5-25.5 cm. Condition varies, good-fair to fair. Stains. Dampstains. Tears in various places, repaired in part (some leaves professionally restored). Tears to some leaves with loss and damage to text (including damage to text and borders of some title pages). Leaves trimmed, with damage to text in several places. Worming, affecting text in some volumes (vol. III with significant worming to some leaves). Stamps and handwritten inscriptions in several volumes. Six of seven volumes with new, non-uniform leather bindings.
Regarding the place and year of printing of the first part, see: Alim LiTerufah (letters of Moharnat), Berdychiv 1896, letters 373-417; Sichot VeSipurim (Chazan), Jerusalem [1913], section 47; Neve Tzaddikim, Bnei Brak 1969, pp. 88, 98-112. See also: Yosef Weiss, HaSefer HaNisraf by R. Nachman of Breslov, Kiryat Sefer, 45, p. 270, note 77; Y. Yudlov, First Edition of Likutei Halachot on Orach Chaim, Kiryat Sefer, 62, pp. 933-935.
According to Yudlov, ibid., Part II of Orach Chaim was printed ca. 1847, and the title page was added (to some copies) later.
For further bibliographic details related to the different parts of this edition, see: G. Scholem, Eleh Shemot, Jerusalem 1928, pp. 9-11, no. 21-27.