Set of Ohr HaChamah. Kabbalah. Pedigree Copies. Printed in a Wondrous Way by the Rebbe of Shinova

Set of Ohr HaChamah. Kabbalah. Pedigree Copies. Printed in a Wondrous Way by the Rebbe of Shinova

"And the merit of the sanctified author, zlh"h, will protect them physically and spiritually, with children, health and abundant sustenance, and they will merit the coming of Mashiach" (The Divrei Chaim's blessing for purchasers of this book)

Ohr HaChamah is an extremely important elucidation of the Zohar by Kabbalist Rabbi Avraham Azoulay (I), author of Chessed L'Avraham, and the Chid"a's great-great-grandfather. Three volumes: Bereishit, Shemot, Vayikra, all first editions. Jerusalem, 1876-1879. (The other parts were printed about twenty years later and are offered as a separate lot in this auction.)

These are copies owned by two tzaddikei-yessod-olam: The Admo"r Rabbi Yitzchak David Biderman of Lelov (two owner's stamps; his signature is in the picture in the Vayikra section); the books were then acquired by the wondrous gaon Rabbi Ya'akov Loberbaum (II), grandson of the gaon Rabbi Ya'akov Loberbaum of Lissa, author of Chavat Da'at, one of the most precious members of the Safed community, with handwritten Kabbalistic notations, apparently Rabbi Ya'akov Loberbaum's penmanship.

During the Shinova Rebbe's famous visit to the Land of Israel, he miraculously became aware of the sanctified manuscript that had previously been in the Chid"a's possession (he mentions it in Shem HaGedolim) after which all trace of it was lost. The Shinova Rebbe, who saw the manuscript in the possession of a local merchant, spent a fortune to redeem it. He also gave money to the printers to print this book he considered so important. The Divrei Chaim of Sanz's approbation, given in the last months of his life, is displayed at the beginning of the first volume. He was the Shinova Rebbe's father. The last page of the book already refers to him as deceased.

The author Divrei Chaim of Sanz, like his son, considered this book very important and wrote about wondrous matters in his approbation before us: "Is his name not renowned in the sacred books ... sweet light and delightful wondrous illumination that covers and lights up everything in the world" and the Divrei Chaim concludes his approbation with tremendous blessings for whoever purchases the book: "They shall be blessed with much goodness and the merit of the sanctified author, zlh"h, will protect them physically and spiritually, with children, health and abundant sustenance, and they will merit the coming of Mashiach."

Refer to the Hebrew catalog text for brief biographies of the Admo"r Rabbi Yitzchak David Biderman of Lelov and Rabbi Ya'akov Loberbaum of Kalisch.

Part I: Bereshit. 1876. [1], 2, 136 leaf. The publisher mentions on the last page that it was Rabbi Yechezkel Shraga Halberstam of Shinova who initiated this printing.

Part II: Shemot. 1879. [2] 209 [1] leaf with a table of pictures.

Part III: Vayikra. 1879. [2], 90 leaf, 2 leaf [2]: pictures, for the portions Vayikra and Acharei Mot.

Approximately 34 cm. Overall fine condition.