Chassidut, first edition. Vayikra and Bamidbar, with Be’er Mayim Chayim commentary. Sudilkov, 1820.

Chassidut, first edition. Vayikra and Bamidbar, with Be’er Mayim Chayim commentary. Sudilkov, 1820.
Chumash VaYikra, with Targum Onkelos, Rashi and Baal HaTurim commentaries, and with the Be'er Mayim Chaim commentary, by R. Chaim Thirer Rabbi of Czernowitz (Chernivtsi). Sudylkiv, [1820]. First edition.

Printed on the title page in large red type: "In Mohilev". The true place of printing appears above, printed in small black type: "Printed in Sudylkiv". This edition also contains the commentary on the Masorah, Minchat Kalil, by R. Or Shraga Feivush Rabbi of Dubrowna, son-in-law of the Gaon of Vilna (copied from the chumash Aderet Eliyahu – Dubrowna, 1804).

Be'er Mayim Chaim is one of the most prominent classic books of Chassidic thought. The Rebbe of Belz the Sar Shalom said that the first book of ethics he studied was Be'er Mayim Chaim. The Ohev Israel of Apta wrote in his approbation (printed in the Bereshit volume): "We are well aware of the desire and wish of that Tzaddik, who yearned his entire life to benefit the public with his holy teachings… and he brought many to repentance… and may we benefit from the merit of the author…". R. Mordechai of Kremnitz (son of the Maggid of Zlotchov) writes in his approbation (printed in the Bereshit volume) of the extraordinary love his father felt towards the author.

The author, Rebbe Chaim Thirer of Czernowitz (ca. 1740 – Kislev 1814), was a Chassidic leader, disciple of the Maggid of Zlotchov, and served as rabbi of Mohyliv-Podilskyi, Botoşani, Kishinev (Chișinău) and Czernowitz. He had the reputation of a holy man, and wondrous tales about him abound. According to Chassidic tradition, after his immersion before Shabbat, his form would allegedly change and he would grow taller by a handbreadth. Near the end of his life, he immigrated to Eretz Israel and settled in Safed in 1813, where he composed Shaar HaTefillah and was later buried. His fundamental works Sidduro shel Shabbat, Shaar HaTefillah and Be'er Mayim Chaim are unique for their clarity and conviction, as well as the enthusiastic Chassidic emotion which they exude. His books were distributed and published in many editions and are considered foundations of Chassidic teachings.