Me'or Einayim / Yismach Lev - Slavita, 1798 - First Edition - Lacking Copies

Me'or Einayim, Chassidic articles on the Torah, by Rebbe Menachem Nachum [Twersky] of Chernobyl. Slavita, [1798]. First edition. Bound with: Yismach Lev [Part 2 of Me'or Einayim], commentary on aggadot and midrashei Chazal [arranged according to the order of the Talmudic tractates], by Rebbe Menachem Nachum [Twersky] of Chernobyl. Slavita, [1798]. [Printed by Rabbi Moshe Shapira]. First edition.
Me'or Einayim is one of the most basic books of the Chassidic movement and one of the earliest Chassidic books presenting the teachings of the Ba'al Shem Tov and of the Magid of Mezritch. The author, the Magid Rebbe Menachem Nachum of Chernobyl (1730-1798, Encyclopedia L'Chassidut Vol. 3, pp. 168-175), one of the founders of Chassidism and the first Rebbe of the Chernobyl dynasty who merited studying directly from the Besht and was a close disciple of the Magid of Mezritch. He served as a magid in Norinsk, Pohrebyshche and Chernobyl. His disciples convinced him to print his Torah thoughts and he appointed his disciple Rabbi Eliyahu ben R' Ze'ev Wolf Katz to print the writings "in the handsome elegant printing press which was established in Slavita…" [the printing press of Rabbi Moshe Shapira which was still in its initial stages].
Reputedly, the book was originally 18 times longer but at the time it was edited, Rabbi Nachum of Chernobyl instructed his disciples to burn many leaves and left only the words which "the shechina spoke from his throat".The book was divided by his disciples into two parts, one on the Torah and Likutim which was named Me'or Einayim and the second part - explanations of Talmudical aggadot called Yismach Lev. The two parts were printed simultaneously in Slavita in the same year. In later editions, the two parts were combined into one. Rabbi Nachum of Chernobyl died while in the midst of preparing his book for printing.Chassidic leaders valued the importance and holiness of this book and would study it every day and cherished it as protection. The Chozeh of Lublin and Rabbi Yitzchak of Skvira [the author's grandson] are quoted as saying that the book has hidden properties to light a person's soul, similar to the holy Zohar. Rabbi Yitzchak Isaac of Komarno asserted that "The book Me'or Einayim should constantly remain before your eyes, and all its words are lofty and holy".
Lacking copies: Me'or Einayim: 7-160 leaves (lacking 8 leaves at the beginning - originally: [2], 160 leaves). Yismach Lev: [1], 25 leaves (lacking 9 leaves at the end - originally: [1], 33, [1] leaves). 19 cm. Good-fair condition. Restored wear damages and worming to margins. Minor damages to text on several leaves. New handsome leather binding (missing leaves are replaced with photocopies). Placed in a fine slipcase.
Stefansky Chassidut, no. 308; no. 237.