Birkat David (Buchach) – Lviv, 1845 – First Edition

Birkat David (Buchach) – Lviv, 1845 – First Edition
Birkat David, Chassidic explanations on the Five Books of the Torah, by Rebbe Avraham David Wahrman of Buchach. Lviv, [1845]. First edition
The year of printing appears as 5565 (=1805) and 1800, and the name of the printer as Jihdas Rosanis. The name and the two dates (which contradict) are forged. The actual year of printing is hinted to in the closing note of the publisher, at the end of the book, where three words are emphasized and have the numerical value of the year 5605 (=1845). This type of forgery was common in Chassidic books printed in Galicia at that time, due to censorship prohibitions and the persecution of the Chassidim by the Haskalah movement (A. Yaari counts 16 books forged in this manner; see A. Yaari, The Printing Press of the Rabbanit Yehudit Rosanis in Lviv, Kiryat Sefer, XVII, 1940, p. 107, no. 43).
On the verso of the title page, the verse "Torat Hashem Temima" is printed in large letters, and below is a statement that the approbations were not printed "for the concealed reason". Apparently, the omission of approbations was also part of the effort to hide the printing details for the reasons stated above.
Rebbe Avraham David Wahrman, the "Gaon of Buchach" (1770-1840, Encyclopedia L'Chassidut, I, pp. 68-72), a leading Torah scholar and Chassidic figure, and prominent posek in his times. When he was only nine years old, R. Meshulam Igra discussed Torah thoughts with him and declared that this boy will become a phenomenal posek, an example to all the rabbis of his generation. After his marriage, he embraces Chassidut and became close to the most eminent rebbes of his times: R. Levi Yitzchak of Berditchev, R. Moshe Leib of Sassov, R. Chaim of Czernowitz and R. Tzvi Hirsh of Nadvorna. At the age of 20, he was appointed rabbi of the city of Yazlovets. Reputedly, R. Meir of Premishlan passed through the city and sensed holiness emanating from the place, which he attributed to the merit of R. Avraham David. In 1814, he was appointed rabbi of Buchach, succeeding his father-in-law and teacher R. Tzvi Hirsh Caro Rabbi of Buchach, author of Neta Shaashuim. He was renowned as an illustrious Torah prodigy and tzaddik. He wrote many books, including: Daat Kedoshim on Yoreh De'ah, Ezer MiKodesh on Even HaEzer, Kesef HaKodashim on Choshen Mishpat, Birkat David on the Torah, etc. His halachic works became classics in halachic rulings. His work Eshel Avraham on Orach Chaim was printed in many editions of the Shulchan Aruch and is cited thousands of times in the literature of the poskim (this book is usually called Eshel Avraham Buchach, to differentiate it from an earlier work with the same title).
Ownership inscription on verso of last leaf: "Belongs to the wealthy… R. Yosef Feuerstein of Chortkov".
[2], 182 leaves. 22 cm. Thick, high-quality, mostly bluish paper. Good condition. A few stains. Minor worming in a few places. New leather binding.
Stefansky Chassidut, no. 100.