Divrei Moshe (R. Moshe of Dolyna – Disciple of the Baal Shem Tov) – Medzhybizh, 1818 – First Edition

Divrei Moshe (R. Moshe of Dolyna – Disciple of the Baal Shem Tov) – Medzhybizh, 1818 – First Edition

Divrei Moshe, Chassidic and kabbalistic essays on the weekly Torah portions, by R. Moshe Shoham Rabbi of Dolyna. [Medzhybizh?: printer not indicated, ca. 1818]. First edition. With approbations by the Ohev Yisrael of Apta and R. Yitzchak of Radyvyliv, the author's son-in-law.
The kabbalist R. Moshe Shoham Rabbi of Dolyna (d. 1820) was one of the youngest disciples of the Baal Shem Tov and he quotes his teacher in his book. In 1786, he was appointed rabbi of Dolyna, through the efforts of R. Elimelech of Lizhensk. The Ohev Yisrael of Apta writes in his approbation that the author possesses great knowledge both in the revealed and esoteric realms of Torah. The Divrei Chaim of Sanz writes that he is an awesome G-dly person. In addition to this book, he also wrote the kabbalistic composition Saraf Pri Etz Chaim (Chernivtsi 1866) and the book Imrei Shoham (Kolomyia 1880) on Tractates Ketubot, Kiddushin and Bava Metzia. In the approbation of R. Yehuda Tzvi Steg Rabbi of Skolye to Imrei Shoham, he writes: "It is a great mitzvah to keep this book in the Jewish home, because it gives great protection, since he is a disciple of the Baal Shem Tov".

58; 6 leaves. 21 cm. Bluish paper. Most leaves in good condition. Stains. Worming and minor open tears to final leaves, slightly affecting text. New leather binding.

The place and year of printing are not indicated on the title page. According to the Bibliography of the Hebrew Book, the book was printed in Medzhybizh, ca. 1818. Friedberg (Bet Eked Sefarim, no. 448) writes that it was printed in Polonne in 1801, but this is incorrect (see: Wunder, The Hebrew Printing in Polonne, Alei Sefer, V, p. 156). According to Alfasi, Encyclopedia L'Chassidut, III, p. 319, the book was printed between 1822-1823.