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Siddur of Rabbi Shabtai of Rashkov, Disciple of the Baal Shem Tov – Korets, 1794 – First Edition – With Rare Leaf of Hodu and Kegavna – Incomplete Copy, With Handwritten Replacements by Rabbi Avraham Weisz of Munkacs (Grandfather of the Imrei Yosef, Rebbe of Spinka) - ”Prayers for the year-round”, with kavanot of the Arizal, prayers for weekdays, Shabbat and festivals, Nusach Sefard, compiled by the kabbalist R. Shabtai of Rashkov – disciple of the Baal Shem Tov. Korets, [1794]. First edition. Copy of R. Avraham Weisz, grandfather of the Imrei Yosef, rebbe of Spinka. The copy is lacking 31 leaves. Most of the contents of these leaves were replaced in a gathering of 17 leaves handwritten by R. Avraham Weisz, bound at the end of the book (expert report by his descendant R. Yitzchak Yeshaya Weisz enclosed, confirming the identification of the handwriting). This siddur is the first to contain kavanot and customs of R. Yisrael Baal Shem Tov – prime teacher of the compiler of this siddur, R. Shabtai of Rashkov. This siddur was deemed holy and revered by prominent Chassidic leaders (for more information about the prominence of this siddur and its author, see below). R. Avraham Weisz (1793-1860), shochet and bodek in Kalish (Kalisz) and later in Munkacs (Mukachevo). He was raised in the home of R. Yitzchak Eizik of Kaliv, after he was orphaned at the age of two. He later became a disciple and close associate of the Sar Beit HaZohar – R. Tzvi Hirsh of Zidichov. He composed many works on all fields of the Torah, yet they were ultimately lost in the Holocaust. He served as copyist for his teachers, rebbes of the Zidichov dynasty. In 1852, he immigrated to Eretz Israel; settling in Safed and later in Tiberias, where he was eventually buried. R. Avraham was the grandfather of the Imrei Yosef, rebbe of Spinka – his son, R. Shmuel Tzvi Weisz, head of the Munkacs Beit Din, was the father of the Imrei Yosef. His other sons were: R. Yitzchak Eizik Weisz, author of Beit Yitzchak, head of the Munkacs Beit Din and later rabbi of Svaliava (father-in-law of Rebbe Elimelech of Tosh); and R. Mordechai Weisz, who immigrated with his father to Tiberias and became one of the heads of the settlement there. At the end of the manuscript, signature and stamp (in Hebrew and Latin characters) of the grandson of R. Avraham (son of his son R. Mordechai): ”Chaim Avraham Weisz son of R. Mordechai Weisz”; ”Chaim Avraham Weis son of R. Mordechai of Munkacs, Jerusalem”; ”Weisz Abraham, Jerusalem”. The grandson's stamp is also found on p. 329a. Incomplete copy. 6-96, 101-263, [1] (printed leaf containing Hodu and Kegavna, included in some copies only), 261, 263-344; 62; 77, 85-87 leaves. Altogether lacking 31 leaves (originally: [2], 263, [1], 261-344; 62; 99 leaves) + 17 leaves, handwritten replacement of missing text (missing leaves later replaced in photocopy as well). 18 cm. Fair condition. Stains (including dark stains) and wear. Tears (including open tears) and worming to many leaves, affecting text, mostly repaired with paper. Some of handwritten leaves torn at edges and detached, with damage to text. Stamp. New binding, with leather spine. Most of book detached from binding. Stefansky Chassidut, no. 412. Siddur of Rabbi Shabtai of Rashkov The siddur of R. Shabtai of Rashkov is the first to contain kavanot and customs of his teacher R. Yisrael Baal Shem Tov. The title page states that ”Yichudim from the G-dly and holy Baal Shem Tov, whose name is renowned throughout the world” were added to this siddur. This siddur is the first to feature the custom innovated by the Baal Shem Tov, of reciting Viyehi Noam and Yoshev BeSeter Elyon seven times at the Chanukah candle lighting ceremony: ”And in the name of my teacher R. Yisrael Baal Shem, one should say seven times Viyehi Noam and Yoshev BeSeter in the ordinary way, and he would also recite these Psalms during the High Holidays and at any time of trouble…” (Vol. I, p. 336b). This is also the source of the Baal Shem Tov's custom of refraining from idle talk on Shavuot night until after the Kedushah prayer of Mussaf: ”In the name of my teacher, one must be very careful after the Tikkun in the night, not to interrupt with any mundane talk, until after Kedushah in Mussaf…” (Vol. II, p. 52b). The page before states: ”I received from my teacher, that when Shavuot falls on… one should focus during the reading of the Ten Commandments…”. Likewise, he quotes kavanot ”from my teacher, which one should focus on during the time of learning early in the morning, as well as kavanot for Hatarat Nedarim (annulment of a vow). The siddur and its author were deemed holy and highly regarded by Chassidim, and especially by great Chassidic leaders. Seder HaDorot HaChadash (Satmar 1941, p. 19a) states: ”R. Shabtai Rashkover, the holy kabbalist, composed a siddur with the kavanot of the Arizal, and it was printed a long time ago, and it is very rare…” (this was written in 1865).