Bidspirit auction | The Zohar of the Imrei

The Zohar of the Imrei Chaim of Vizhnitz From the Kloiz of the Tzemach Tzaddik of Vizhnitz in Tzfas Sefer HaZohar on Sefer Bereishis, attributed to Rashb”i. Printed in Yerushalayim, 1844 — the first Zohar ever printed in Eretz HaKodesh. This copy bears the stamp of the kloiz of the gaon ha’kadosh R’ Menachem Mendel of Vizhnitz ZY”A — during his lifetime . This beis medrash, established by Rabbeinu in Tzfas, was especially dear to him. For its upkeep he gathered funds and established there an important chaburah of lomdim, under the supervision of R’ Moshe Zeiger (the Cherag). An inscription records that the sefer was donated to the beis medrash of the Vizhnitzer Rebbe from the estate of R’ Noach b”r Dov of Radovitz in the year 1876. On the forzatz appears the stamp of the Rebbe’s grandson, the Admor R’ Chaim Meir Hager, Baal Imrei Chaim of Vizhnitz ZTzok”l, together with several hagahos in ksav yad. From the Kloiz of Tzfas to the Hands of the Imrei Chaim The city of Tzfas suffered great destruction during the War of 1948. The Imrei Chaim came to Eretz Yisroel only after the war, and it is known that he visited Tzfas. It would appear that this Zohar was discovered by him during that visit, and from then onward remained in his possession and use for many years.