Tzofnat Pane'ach – First Edition – Korets, 1782 – Copy of Rebbe David Tzvi Shlomo Biderman of Lelov

Tzofnat Pane'ach – First Edition – Korets, 1782 – Copy of Rebbe David Tzvi Shlomo Biderman of Lelov
Tzofnat Pane'ach, homilies on Shemot, by R. Yaakov Yosef HaKohen Katz Rabbi of Polonne, author of Toldot Yaakov Yosef. [Korets: Tzvi Hirsh Margolies and his son-in-law Shmuel son of Yissachar Ber, 1782]. First edition.
Copy of Rebbe David Tzvi Shlomo of Lelov-Jerusalem. The title page bears his stamp (with an illustration of the Western Wall and the cypress trees): "David Tzvi Shlomo son of R. Elazar Menachem Biderman, in Jerusalem". Earlier ownership inscription at the top of the title page (deleted): "Belongs to the great[?] rabbi[?] of --- 26th Nissan 1849".
Rebbe David Tzvi Shlomo Biderman (1844-1918) was the son of Rebbe Elazar Menachem Mendel of Lelov (1827-1883), leader of the Chassidic communities of Jerusalem. R. David Tzvi was holy and pure from his youth. In 1850, when his grandfather, Rebbe Moishe’le, travelled to Eretz Israel and took leave of Rebbe Yisrael of Ruzhin, the Ruzhiner said that the boy David has "shining, bright eyes". Over the years, R. David Tzvi Shlomo travelled from Jerusalem to Karlin and became one of the leading Chassidim of the Beit Aharon. His father, Rebbe Elazar Mendel, attested that he always saw the Shiviti before his eyes. The Yismach Yisrael of Aleksander dubbed him "a Sefer Torah". R. Chaim Shmuel of Chęciny said that for many years he was the "tzaddik of the generation". Upon his father’s death in 1883 he was appointed rebbe, and was the primary leader of the Chassidic community of Jerusalem.
The books of the Toldot Yaakov Yosef are the most important and authentic source of the Baal Shem Tov's teachings, containing hundreds of references to teachings the author personally heard from the Baal Shem Tov, emphasized throughout the book and beginning with the words "I heard from my master".
This book was especially cherished by Chassidic leaders, who ascribed great holiness to the author and to his books. The Maggid of Mezeritch commended the author as having merited revelation of Eliyahu and reached lofty heights. R. Pinchas of Korets attested that a book of such stature has never yet existed, and its teachings originate from Heaven. He would customarily say that all new books do not totally conform with the truth, except for the books of the rabbi of Polonne which are "teachings from Paradise", and that with each quotation "heard from my master" one can resurrect the dead (!).
The Chida in Shem HaGedolim writes about this book: "Tzofnat Pane'ach, innovative novellae… homily on the Torah portions of Shemot, delightful homily according to the Pardes approaches of interpretation. Authored by R. Yaakov Yosef, who often cited the introductions of his prominent teacher, R. Yisrael Baal Shem Tov. And we know that this rabbi already published Toldot Yaakov Yosef, and it is widely acclaimed. And there [in Tzofnat Pane'ach], it says that he authored Ben Porat Yosef. And Tzofnat Pane'ach was printed in Korets in 1782" (Maarechet Sefarim, Tzadi). From the words of the Chida, it appears that of all the books of the Toldot Yaakov Yosef, only this one was before him.
[1], 95 leaves. Approx. 31 cm. Good-fair condition. Stains and wear. Worming to inner margins of some leaves, with minor damage to text. Mildew stains to margins of last leaves. Old paper repairs to margins of several leaves. New binding.
Stefansky Chassidut, no. 505.