Chassidut. Inscribed by the Author! Pekudat HaMelech – inscribed by Rabbi Yisroel Nachman of Drohovitz ...

Chassidut. Inscribed by the Author! Pekudat HaMelech – inscribed by Rabbi Yisroel Nachman of Drohovitz, disciple of the Maggid of Mezeritsch.

S efer Pekudat Hamelech – section one: novellae on the Rambam’s Mishnah L’Melech. Section two: Lengthy eulogy for Rabbi Meshulem Igra.

The title page bears an inscription signed by the author to Rabbi Refael Ashkenazi av”d Izmir, author of Mareh HaGadol, Mareh Einayim and others.

Underneath the border of the title page: Signature of his son, Rabbi Nissim Avraham Ashkenazi, who was also a prominent Izmir sage, author of Nechmad L’Mareh and more.

Rabbi Yisroel Nachman of Drohovitz was born in Stanislav, Galicia. He was named for the Baal Shem Tov, as he writes in this work on leaf 19b (of the second pagination). “Words of the holy, renowned Rabbi Yisroel Baal Shem Tov of Mezibuz, that my name is from him.” His father was a disciple of the Besh"t.

On his way to Eretz Yisroel, he met with the Chida in Italy and greatly admired him. T he Chida learned a lot about the Besh"t and the Chassidic movement from him. He consulted with the Chida regarding the printing of this book (refer to the introduction) and the Chida mentions him in his Chomat Anach on Shir Hashirim:  "I heard from the great light…Yisroel Nachman…in the name of Harav Hachassid, his father… Yosef z”l, disciple of the Rav Hachassid Yisroel Besh”t z”l.”

In this section, the author quotes ideas from the Besh”t, such as on leaves 19b; 22a; 36b, and quotes Rabbi Baruch of Kossov (28a;42b).

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Leghorn [1804], first edition.

[5], 27, 24-36: [1], 52 leaves. 20 cm.

Missing two leaves of approbation at the beginning of the work and last leaf. Detached title page. Worming holes, old binding in disrepair without spine. Poor condition.

Stefansky, Chassidut #476.