Birkat David by the Gaon of Butchatch. Lvov 1845. First Edition. 

Birkat David by the Gaon of Butchatch. Lvov 1845. First Edition. 

Rare Chassidic book.

Birkat David is an explanatory Chassidic work on the Book of Bereishit, authored by Rabbi Avraham David Wohrman of Butchatch. Lvov, 1845. First Edition.

Two contradictory dates appear on the title page. Both are actually falsified and untrue. The true date of printing is hinted in to us at the end of the book, through the words ‘Tehilla Le’Elokei David’ – 1845.

This type of falsification appeared in Chassidic books that were printed in Galicia, due to censorship and persecution of the Maskilim against the Chassisdim. See A. Ya’ari, Rabbanit Yehudit Razanisch in Lvov, Kiryat Sefer, 17, 700, page 107, no.43).

The Admor R abbi Avraham David Wohrman of Butchach (1771-1840), was one of the great Torah leaders of his generation and a leading Halachic authority. He was a disciple of Rabbi Meshulem Igrah and the Maggid of Nadvorna. He was very closely connected through elevated spiritual matters of Torah learning and service of G-d, to Rabbi Chaim of Czernowitz zt”l, author of ‘Sidduro Shel Shabbat’.

When he was 9 years old, Rabbi Avraham David met Rabbi Meshulem Igrah and they conversed in Torah learning. Rabbi Meshulem was amazed and proclaimed that this young boy would become a Torah giant, teacher of all the generation’s Rabbis. Following his marriage, Rabbi Avraham David connected to Chassidut and became close with great Chassidic masters, Rabbi Levi Yitzchak of Berditchev, Rabbi Moshe Leib Sassov, Rabbi Chaim of Czernnowitz and Rabbi Zvi Hirsch of Nadvorna. When he was only 20 years old, Rabbi Avraham David was appointed Av Bet Din of Yazlowitz.

In 1814 he succeeded his father-in-law and teacher, Rabbi Zvi Hirsch Caro, author of ‘Neta Sha’ashuim’ as Av Bet Din of Butchach. Rabbi Avraham David was renowned as a genius and most righteous Rabbi. He authored a number of works, including Da’as Kedoshim al Yoreh De’ah and Ezer Mekudash on Even Ha’ezer.

182 pages.

Good condition apart from the first few pages, that are torn at the bottom, with no damage to the text.

Stefansky, Chassidut 100.

Rare.