She'erit Yisrael (Tzaddik of Vilednik) – First Edition – Lviv, 1864 – rare

She'erit Yisrael (Tzaddik of Vilednik) – First Edition – Lviv, 1864 – rare

She'erit Yisrael, selected essays – Shaar HaHitkashrut and homilies for the High Holidays, festivals and Shabbatot of the Shovavim period, by Rebbe Yisrael Dov Ber of Vilednik (Novi Velidnyky). Lviv, 1864. First edition. 

The author was one of the leading disciples of the maggid, R. Mordechai of Chernobyl, as stated on the title page of this book: "One of the foremost disciples of the great Rebbe… R. Mordechai of Chernobyl… from his earliest childhood until his passing, he cherished him greatly to the extent he revealed to him all his secret knowledge, and no secret was hidden from him…". In this book, he describes at length the virtue of repentance and of cleaving to Tzaddikim.

The "Tzaddik of Vilednik" – R. Yisrael Dov Ber (1789-1850), was known as a wonder-worker benefiting from Divine Inspiration. His renown increased greatly after the Tzemach Tzedek sent him an agunah whose husband had disappeared several years earlier, and he succeeded in revealing his location to her through Divine Inspiration.

Reputedly, he promised in his will that anyone visiting his gravesite in Vilednik would have his prayers answered, and "even if one is unable to come right up to the grave, one should hold the door handle and thereby merit salvation (Sipurei Niflaot MehaRav HaKadosh She'erit Yisrael, translated to Hebrew, New York 1996, p. 145). During the days surrounding his yahrzeit on 21st Tevet, the roads in Ukraine become crowded, despite the bitter cold Ukrainian winter. Whoever is unable to come in person sends a messenger to light an oil-lamp on his behalf on the grave – "Since until this day, people travel from afar to the holy site, and whoever has unwavering faith immediately has all his requests fulfilled, and many send olive oil to ignite on his grave…" (Sipurei Niflaot, first edition in Yiddish, Zhitomir 1901, p. 3).

During WWII, Vilednik was completely destroyed, and almost no complete buildings remained standing, apart from the structure over the Tzaddik's grave. When the Communist authorities realized that the tzaddik's gravesite attracts the crowds and strengthens their faith, they sealed the entrance and window of the structure. This did not deter the multitudes from pilgriming to his gravesite and hanging on to the metal bars affixed to the sealed door. On the contrary, it served to bolster their faith in the Tzaddik, as they witnessed how after two hundred years, his prophecy was fulfilled – even those who only held the handle of the gravesite merited salvations (Sipurei Niflaot of the She'erit Yisrael, p. 147).

Until this day, the gravesite of R. Yisrael Dov Ber of Vilednik serves as a pilgrimage destination for prayer and salvation. Jews from around the world flock to his grave (and various Tzedakah funds send messengers there to pray on behalf of their donors). The site was renovated by the Ohalei Tzadikim organization, and a guest house was built there for the many visitors.

[3], 16, 29, [2] leaves. Missing 4 last pages. Thin, high-quality paper. Good-fair condition.

New binding.

Stefansky Chassidut, no. 544.