VeCherev Pifiyot – Lviv, 1786 – Kabbalistic Book with Asterisks Like in Noam Elimelech Printed by the Same Printer ...

VeCherev Pifiyot – Lviv, 1786 – Kabbalistic Book with Asterisks Like in Noam Elimelech Printed by the Same Printer, Rabbi Shlomo Yarish – Signature of the Yitav Lev – Copy of His Grandson, Rebbe Yoel of Satmar

VeCherev Pifiyot – Ketem Paz and Gelilei Zahav, kabbalistic commentary to Keriat Shema and the Holy Names alluded in it – the 42-letter name and the 72-letter name, by R. Yeshaya HaLevi, leading kabbalist of the Brody Kloiz. Lviv: R. Shlomo Yarish, 1786.
Signature of Rebbe Yekutiel Yehuda Teitelbaum on the title page: "Yitav" (=initials of Yekutiel Yehuda Teitelbaum, as he would frequently sign; this is also the source of the name of his book – Yitav Lev).
This book was inherited by his grandson, Rebbe Yoel Teitelbaum of Satmar. The book bears two different stamps of the rebbe: "Rabbi of Karoly and the region", "Rabbi of Orsheva and the region".
This book was published in the printing firm of R. Shlomo Yarish (Rappoport), who notably printed the Noam Elimelech in 1788. Reputedly, its workers were holy men, amongst the 36 hidden tzaddikim of the generation (see: R. B. Landau, R. Elimelech MiLizhensk, Jerusalem, 1963, p. 311, who quotes an oral tradition [in the name of R. Moshe Halberstam], on the unique qualities of R. Shlomo Yarish's edition of the Noam Elimelech, which "was printed by G-d fearing workers, who worked in sanctity and purity, and some were amongst the 36 hidden Tzaddikim upon whom the world stands").
This book also includes the famous asterisks, just like the Noam Elimelech which R. Shlomo Yarish printed approximately a year later. Chassidic tradition ascribes great importance to these asterisks. The researcher R. Chaim Lieberman relates to these asterisks in his article on the first edition of Noam Elimelech (Ohel Rachel, I, New York, 1980, p. 63): "Polish Chassidim name this edition 'the Noam Elimelech with asterisks', and they hold it in extremely high regard, since they attribute hidden meaning and allusions to these asterisks…". Hadrat Kodesh, biography of R. Avraham Yehoshua Freund (rabbi of Năsăud; Jerusalem 1960, p. 47) states in his name: "He attested that there is hidden meaning in the asterisks printed in the first edition of Noam Elimelech; reputedly, Elazar (son of the Noam Elimelech) experienced revelations from Eliyahu as he was writing, and he marked those places with an asterisk, and they also say that the first printers and typesetters were amongst the 36 hidden Tzaddikim…". As mentioned, this book also features asterisks, as do other books printed by R. Shlomo Yarish (see article by Chaim Lieberman).
The book opens with many approbations by Galician rabbis and Torah scholars of the Brody Kloiz, who acclaim the author's erudition in Kabbalah, and his being the close disciple of the kabbalist R. Chaim Sanzer, foremost Torah scholar of the Brody Kloiz.
[2], 18 leaves; 36, [1] leaves. 20.5 cm. Good condition. Stains and wear (primarily to first and final leaves). New leather binding.

Rebbe Yekutiel Yehuda Teitelbaum (1808-1883), son of R. Elazar Nissan Teitelbaum Rabbi of Sighet, and son-in-law of R. Moshe David Ashkenazi – rabbi of Tolcsva who later immigrated to Safed. He was a close disciple of his grandfather the Yismach Moshe – Rebbe Moshe Teitelbaum Rabbi of Ujhel (Sátoraljaújhely), who drew him especially close and disclosed to him Heavenly revelations which he had perceived with Divine inspiration. He was also a disciple of Rebbe Asher Yeshaya of Ropshitz. In 1833 (at the age of 25), he was appointed rabbi of Stropkov, and after the passing of his illustrious grandfather, he was selected to succeed him as rabbi of Ujhel. He was then appointed rabbi of Gorlitz (Gorlice), and later of Drohobych. In 1858, he went to serve as rabbi of Sighet, capital of the Maramureș region, and founded there a large yeshiva, which numbered at its zenith two hundred students. Amongst his renowned disciples from that time was R. Shlomo Leib Tabak author of Erech Shai and head of the Sighet Beit Din. His grandson attested that "he was a merciful father to his disciples, carrying them on his shoulders as a nurse carries a suckling, and overseeing each one individually to ensure they studied Torah in holiness and purity". In Sighet, he gained worldwide renown, and thousands of Chassidim flocked to seek his counsel and wisdom, blessing and salvation. He was renowned for his exceptional holiness, and his grandson R. Yoel of Satmar attested that his holiness was never tainted. Numerous stories circulated of the wonders he performed, including incredible insights which were revealed to him with Divine Inspiration. He was reputed in his generation as one who could read the minds of those standing before him, and amazing stories were told of this ability. His epitaph reads: "The renowned rabbi, he edified upstanding and reputable disciples, left behind valuable compositions". He is renowned for his books: Yitav Lev on the Torah, Yitav Panim on the Festivals, Rav Tuv on the Torah and Responsa Avnei Tzedek.

Rebbe Yoel Teitelbaum of Satmar (1887-1979) was the youngest son of Rebbe Chananya Yom Tov Lipa, the Kedushat Yom Tov (1836-1904), and grandson of Rebbe Yekutiel Yehuda, the Yitav Lev (1808-1883), who both served as rabbis of Sighet (Sighetu Marmației) and were leaders of Chassidic Jewry in the Maramureș region.

He was renowned from his youth as a leading Torah scholar of his generation, for his perspicacity and intellectual capacities, as well as for his holiness and outstanding purity. At a young age, he was appointed rabbi of Irshava. In 1925, he was appointed rabbi of Karaly (Carei; in place of R. Shaul Brach who went to serve as rabbi of Kashoi), and in 1934, of Satmar (Satu Mare). In all the places he served as rabbi, he also maintained a large yeshiva and Chassidic court. He stood at the helm of the faithful, uncompromising Orthodox Jewry in the Maramureș region. He was one of the founding pillars of the Torah world in the generation following the Holocaust. After surviving the Holocaust, he emigrated to the United States, where he established the Satmar Chassidic community – the largest Chassidic community in the world. He served as president of the Eda HaCharedit in Jerusalem, and as leader of Orthodox Jewry in the United States and throughout the world. His writings were published in dozens of books: VaYoel Moshe, Responsa Divrei Yoel, Divrei Yoel on the Torah and more.