Volume of Musar Books – Important Ownership, with the Signature of Rabbi Eliezer Horowitz, First Rebbe of Dzikov

Volume of Musar Books – Important Ownership, with the Signature of Rabbi Eliezer Horowitz, First Rebbe of Dzikov
Volume comprising eight books on fear of G-d, Midrash, Kabbalah and ethics, printed in Lviv and Russia-Poland, ca. 1830-1850.
On the title page of the book Yoreh Chata'im (Lviv, 1837), handwritten signature: "Eliezer" – signature of the first Rebbe of Dzikov, R. Eliezer Horowitz, son of Rebbe Naftali of Ropshitz. On the title page of Midrash Shocher Tov – Midrash Mishlei (bound at the beginning of this volume), stamp of his daughter's son-in-law, R. "Mordechai David Teitelbaum Rabbi of Stitshin". On the endpapers: Ownership inscriptions in Hebrew and Latin characters, attesting that the book belongs to "The rabbi, luminary of the Diaspora, of distinguished lineage… R. Elimelech… Stitshin".
This book was passed down from one generation to the next in the family of Rebbe Eliezer of Dzikov, through his grandson Rebbe Mordechai David of Stitshin. According to family tradition, the signature "Eliezer" is the signature of Rebbe Eliezer of Dzikov. Enclosed with the book is a note handwritten by Rebbe Alter Eliezer Kahana of Spinka-Zidichov (1937-2009), attesting that this is indeed the signature of his ancestor Rebbe Eliezer of Dzikov. Likewise, he writes that there used to be in this volume a signature or stamp of his ancestor Rebbe Chanina Horowitz of Ulanov (son-in-law of Rebbe Eliezer of Dzikov, and father-in-law of Rebbe Mordechai David Teitelbaum Rabbi of Stitshin).
This volume includes the following books: • Midrash Shocher Tov – Midrash Mishlei. Lemberg 1850. • Sefer HaBahir, attributed to the tanna R. Nechunia ben HaKana. [Place and year of printing not indicated – this edition is not listed in the Bibliography of the Hebrew Book, nor does it appear in the catalog of the NLI]. • Maaseh Hashem, anthology of Aggadot and miraculous stories, selected from the Zohar and other books, [Russia-Poland, ca. 1830]. • Sefer HaYirah, by Rabbenu Yonah Gerondi. Lviv, [1849]. • Totzaot Chaim, summary of Reshit Chochma. [Russia-Poland, ca. 1830]. • Yoreh Chata'im, summary of the laws of repentance from Sefer HaRoke'ach, and selections on ethical topics, by R. Yitzchak Elis. [Lviv, 1837]. • Ketav Yosher, ethics and practices according to Kabbalah, by R. Shmuel Ostrer of Brody. [Russia-Poland, ca. 1830]. • Torat HaAdam, ethics and Kabbalah, by R. Shmuel Ostrer of Brody. [Russia-Poland, ca. 1830].
The first Rebbe of the Dzikov dynasty, R. Eliezer Horowitz, rabbi of Dzikov (Tarnobrzeg; 1790-1861), third son of the renowned Rebbe Naftali of Ropshitz. He was the close disciple of his father, and of the "Saba" of Radoshitz, the Aryeh Debei Ila'i, R. Tzvi Hirsh of Ziditchov and R. Tzvi Hirsh of Rimanov. In his youth, he frequented the courts of the Chozeh of Lublin and the Maggid of Kozhnitz. He served as rebbe to thousands of followers, and was reputed as the perpetuator of his father's Chassidic legacy. The Tzaddikim of his generation praised him profusely. R. Moshe of Radomyshl, a disciple of Rebbe Elimelech of Lizhensk, testified regarding Rebbe Eliezer's way: "This is the way adopted by R. Elimelech of Lizhensk". Rebbe Meir of Premishlan attested: "Whenever Meir comes to Heaven, he finds that R. Eliezer is already there". He entertained close ties with the Divrei Chaim, Rebbe of Sanz, and their descendants married each other.
This book was bequeathed to his nephew and son-in-law, Rebbe Chanina Horowitz Rabbi of Ulanów (1822-1881; son of R. Yaakov Horowitz of Melitz, and grandson of R. Naftali Horowitz of Ropshitz), who was the father-in-law of Rebbe Tzvi Hirsh Shapiro Rabbi of Munkacs author of Darchei Teshuva, and of Rebbe Mordechai David Teitelbaum Rabbi of Stitshin, whose stamp appears in the first book of this volume.
Rebbe Mordechai David Teitelbaum (d. Kislev 1819 in Safed), son of R. Nachum Tzvi Teitelbaum (brother of the Yitav Lev and son of the Yismach Moshe). He served as rabbi of Stitshin (Szczucin) and Drohobych. He was the cousin of the Minchat Elazar Rebbe of Munkacs, and of the Kedushat Yom Tov Rebbe of Sighet. In 1902, he immigrated to Eretz Israel and settled in Meron and in Safed, and was known as the Rebbe of Drohobych. His son was Rebbe Yitzchak Teitelbaum of Husakov, father of Rebbe Mordechai David Teitelbaum – Rebbe of Husakov-Beer Sheva.
Eight books bound together: [20] leaves; 15 leaves; 19 leaves; [8] leaves; 20 leaves; [20] leaves; 8 leaves; 28 leaves. 18.5 cm. Some books on blueish-greenish paper. Condition varies, good-fair to fair. Stains and wear. Worming. Tears to several leaves. Original binding, damaged, with torn leather spine.