Bnei Yissaschar – Part I – Zhovkva, 1850 – First Edition

Bnei Yissaschar – Part I – Zhovkva, 1850 – First Edition
Bnei Yissaschar, Chassidic and Kabbalistic essays on the festivals and months of the year, Part I – Shabbat and the months of Nissan-Elul, by Rebbe Tzvi Elimelech Shapiro Rabbi of Dinov. Zhovkva: Saul Meyerhoffer, 1850. First edition.
Part I only, on the months of Nissan-Elul, with Maamarei HaShabbatot. Part II, with essays on the months of Tishrei-Adar, was printed in Lviv that year, and is not included here (the Bibliography of the Hebrew Book presumes that part II was printed separately, since the typeface is different and there is a blank page at the end of part I).
Reputedly, the author would experience exceptional holiness and elevation during Chanukah. He once wished to question his prime teacher the Chozeh of Lublin as to the cause of this phenomenon, and even before he had a chance to ask, his teacher explained: You originate from the tribe of Yissachar, and in your earlier incarnation you were a member of the Beit Din of the Chashmonaim, which is why you experience extra holiness during Chanukah. He therefore named his book Bnei Yissaschar. It is recorded that the Divrei Chaim of Sanz once closeted himself in his room on Rosh Hashanah before the shofar blowing, studying the book Bnei Yissaschar for several hours with great intensity, as a preparation for the shofar blowing (foreword to Yod'ei Binah, by R. Elazar Tzvi Shapiro, son of the Bnei Yissachar; Beit Shlomo, New York 2005 edition, p. 15; Shai Agnon, Sefer Sofer VeSipur, p. 457).
Rebbe Tzvi Elimelech Langsam-Shapiro (1783-1841), a most prominent Chassidic leader, close disciple of R. Mendele of Rimanov and disciple of the Chozeh of Lublin, as well as of the Rebbe of Apta and the Maggid of Kozhnitz. From a young age, he served as rabbi of various Galician towns, yet is primarily renowned as rabbi of Dinov (Dynów), where he was later appointed rebbe in 1815. He also served as rabbi of Munkacs (Mukachevo). He authored dozens of compositions on halachah and aggadah, Chassidut and Kabbalah. His magnum opus is the book Bnei Yissaschar. His descendants branched out into many dynasties of rabbis and rebbes: Dinov, Munkacs, Bikovsk and more.
[1], 24; 72 leaves. Without part II on Tishrei-Nissan. 23 cm. Fair condition. Stains, including dampstains, and wear. Tears and open tears to title page and following leaf, affecting text and title page border, repaired with paper. Tears to a few others leaves. Worming, affecting text, mostly repaired with paper. Margins trimmed with damage to headings in several places. Inscriptions. New binding.
Stefansky Chassidut, no. 91.