Bat Ayin (Ovruch) – First Edition – Jerusalem, 1847 – Includes Leaf with Pre-Subscribers from the Chassidic ...

Bat Ayin (Ovruch) – First Edition – Jerusalem, 1847 – Includes Leaf with Pre-Subscribers from the Chassidic Settlement in Eretz Israel

Bat Ayin on the Torah, by Rebbe Avraham Dov of Ovruch. Jerusalem: R. Yisrael Bak, [1847]. First edition.
This book is a classic text of Chassidic thought and contains the holiness of Eretz Israel. It was written by the disciples of the author, but it was carefully edited by Rebbe Avraham Dov after Rebbe Mordechai of Chernobyl instructed him to print it. The first edition of the book was printed specifically in Eretz Israel and not in the diaspora, following the instructions of Rebbe Yisrael of Ruzhin, mentioned in the publisher's preface. The 1869 Zhitomir edition contains several additional lines in the author's introduction, where he writes that the holiness of Eretz Israel is included in his book: "I called this book Bat Ayin, since that title has the same numerical value as my name… and because I have included the holiness of Eretz Israel in my writings, and the land is referred to as being under the constant scrutiny of G-d's watchful eyes" (ayin in Hebrew).
In his approbation to the 1869 edition, Rebbe Aharon of Chernobyl blesses anyone who purchases the book with reward for all their toil.

The author, Rebbe Avraham Dov of Ovruch (1765-1841), was a renowned Chassidic master and disciple of R. Nachum of Chernobyl and his son R. Mordechai, as well as of R. Zusha of Anipoli and R. Levi Yitzchak of Berditchev. He served as Rabbi of Ovruch for 40 years and was known as "the holy rabbi of Ovruch". In 1833 he immigrated to Eretz Israel, and established his Beit Midrash in Safed, where he became the leader of the Chassidic communities. Miraculous stories are told of his deliverance from the tragic earthquake in 1837, which took place during the late afternoon Minchah prayers in the synagogues. The Rebbe warned his Chassidim not to leave the synagogue, and he himself lay on the floor of the Beit Midrash while the surrounding congregation held on to his belt. The entire building collapsed with the exception of the narrow area in which the Rebbe and his followers lay.

Sometime later, the Rebbe related that he recognized that the earthquake was not a natural event, since the stones were cast to the sides and did not fall directly to the ground in spite of their weight. He understood that great power had been granted to the forces of evil, and he therefore lay submissively on the ground in fulfillment of the verse "Hide a moment until the fury passes". After the earthquake, he restored the Safed community and did not allow the holy city to be left abandoned. He died of a plague in Safed in 1841, which ceased after his passing. Many miraculous stories are told of his lofty holiness and the wonders he performed for the Jewish people. His book Bat Ayin is considered a classic text of Chassidic thought.
Stamps of the "New Mishnah Society of Huși" (Romania).

[2], 125, [1] leaves. 20.5 cm. Good-fair condition. Stains, including large dampstains, and marginal inkstains to title page. Light wear. Small marginal tears to several leaves. Worming, affecting text (extensive worming to last leaf, partially repaired with paper filling). New binding.

Including final leaf with list of pre-subscribers from Eretz Israel, not present in some copies. This leaf serves as a unique historical documentation of the members of the Chassidic settlement in Jerusalem, Safed, Tiberias and Hebron in the mid-19th century. Among others, the list of residents of Safed includes the family members of the author, and the list of residents of Jerusalem includes "R. Yisrael Madpis" (R. Yisrael Bak, printer of the present book).
Shortly after this edition was printed in Jerusalem, another edition of the book was printed in Zhitomir, 1850. The Zhitomir printer was evidently unaware that the book had already been printed in Jerusalem. The Zhitomir edition was based on another manuscript, leading to variants between the editions (see: N. Ben-Menachem, Kiryat Sefer, XXXVII, 1962, pp. 401-402; BeShaarei Sefer, Jerusalem 1967, pp. 49-53).

Sh. Halevy, no. 38.