Zera Kodesh. Rabbi Naftali of Ropshitz. Two Parts, Lemberg 1868. First Editon

Zera Kodesh. Rabbi Naftali of Ropshitz. Two Parts, Lemberg 1868. First Editon

Zera Kodesh on the Torah and festivals, by Rabbi Naftali Horowitz of Ropshitz. Lemberg, 1868. Two parts. First Edition. 

Specifications: Part one: on the five books of the Torah. [2], 100 [24] leaves. Part two: Homiletics on the months and the festivals and on the Pesach Haggadah. [1], 120 leaves. 

22 cm. Stefansky Chassidut 208.

Unique Features: First edition of the well known book of one of the great Chassidic teachers of all time. 

Content: An especially interesting introduction from Rabbi Chaim Halberstam of Sanz, who learned Chassidut from the author. He writes that he once thought that the book should not be printed at all, as he knew that the holy author was not prepared for his teachings to be printed in his lifetime,. However, he later thought that just as the great Rabbis of the time used many cunning methods to print Rabbi Chaim Vital's writings, despite his refusal to print any of them, even those he received from the Ari, so too, the writings of the author before us should also be printed. The publishers note that the Rebbe of Sanz gave the book the name Zera Kodesh. With an approbation from Rabbi Yosef Shaul Nathansohn, who refers to the author as, 'The holy Rabbi, the wonder of the generation.' 

Background: Rabbi Naftali Zvi Horowitz was born on Shavuot 1760, the day the Ba'al Shem Tov died. He learned from his grandfather Rabbi Yitzchak of Hamburg, and from Rabbi Meshulam Igra of Tismenitz. He was drawn to Chassidut from a young age and became the primary student of Rabbi Elimelech of Lizhensk. He studied from the Chozeh of Lublin, the Maggid of Koznitz and Rabbi Menachem Mendel of Riminov, and travelled to many Rebbes. At the recommendation of Rabbi Mendel of Riminov, he was appointed as Rabbi of Ropshitz, a position which he held for many years, and by which name he was known from then on. He later served as Rabbi of Linsk (where his father had served as Rabbi), Strzyżów and Sanok. Following the death of his Rabbis, he began to serve as a Rebbe in 1815. He was one of the great Galician Rebbes and considered to be among the greatest disciples of the Chozeh of Lublin. He was famous for his shrewdness and for his witty comments. He died in Lancut in 1827 where he was buried, his descendants served as Rebbes of Ropshitz.

Several books were written about him, Sefer Ohel Naftali which was first published in 1911, and later in many other editions, and more recently the book Rabbi Naftali Zvi M'Ropshitz by Shlomo Tal and the book Toldot Beit Ropshitz-Dzikov by Yitzchak Alfasi.

Condition: Fine. Aging stains. New leather binding.