Bidspirit auction | Chiber L'Taharah by the Admo”r

Chiber L'Taharah by the Admo”r of Hornosteipel. Berdichov, 1898. First Edition. - Chiber L'Taharah  - an important work on purity of the body and purity of the hands by the patriarch of the Hornosteipel dynasty, Rabbi Mordechai Dov Twerski. First edition from the author's lifetime. The book is divided into two sections. The first section is Klei Brachah  - elucidation on the Shulchan Aruch Ta”z and Magen Avraham, and the halachahs of ritual hand-washing. The second section is Mikveh Yisrael - the halachahs of mikvehs, an anthology all the opinions cited in Beit Yosef , and using these to elucidate the words of the Shulchan Aruch, the Ta”z and the Sha”ch . In his great humility, he published this book anonymously. The Admo”r Rabbi Mordechai Dov Twerski [1840-1903] was the patriarch of the Hornosteipel dynasty. He was a grandson of the Admo”r Rabbi Yisrael of Cherkes, son of the maggid of Chernobyl. By instruction of his grandfather, Rabbi Mordechai began to conduct himself as an Admo”r in Hornosteipel, where many Chassidim gathered around him. After his grandfather's passing, many Cherkes Chassidim flocked to him. The Admo”r Rabbi Mordechai Dov Twerski was also famous as one of the leading rabbinic instructors of his generation, and corresponded in matters of halachic responsa with the leading rabbis in his own country as well as in other countries, such as the Mahari”l Diskin, Rabbi Chaim Berlin, and others. Rabbi Mordechai Dov was a son-in-law of the author of Divrei Chaim of Sanz. He excelled from youth in his intelligence and in his reverence, which preceded his wisdom. He was known as an exalted gaon in halachah and Kabbalah. His father-in-law, the Divrei Chaim, attested about him that he studies Torah for its own sake. His disciples included R' Peretz Kanievsky, father of Rabbi Ya'akov Yisrael, author of Kehillat Ya'akov , known as ”the Steipler” after his native town of Hornosteipel. The Steipler was born in 1899 as a result of the blessing of Rabbi Mordechai Dov Twerski, and he therefore wore a shtreimel until the end of his life, and his son, Sar HaTorah Rabbi Chaim Kanievsky, also occasionally wears a shtreimel. His books include: Torei Zahav , the Emek She'elah responsa, Emek HaChochmah , and  ” Kad HaZahav” - a manuscript on Kabbalistic matters that was lost and not printed. Rabbi Mordechai Dov would distribute a fortune to charitable causes. Once he needed a large sum for a charitable cause, and went to visit a wealthy person in Kiev. His host took him for a tour of his palace and showed him all the expensive furniture and paintings. The Rebbe asked what type of wood each piece of furniture was made of - ”What type of wood is this cupboard made of?” and ”In which country was it produced?” For each painting, he asked the name of the artist, and how much it cost. His host was happy that for the first time he had found a Rebbe who takes interest in this-worldly matters just as he does, and he really enjoyed the time he spent with him at each and every object. This was a wonder to him, because Rabbi Mordechai Dov was known for his tremendous diligence at an especially lofty level - it was said that he studied twenty hours at a time; even while reading kvittlach, he was involved in Torah study. After the long walk through the wealthy man's palace, he asked the Rebbe what the reason was for his visit to his home. The Rebbe responded that he needs a substantial sum for charitable purposes. The wealthy man immediately removed the entire sum from his pocket and gave it to the Rebbe with pleasure. He then asked the Rebbe why he had taken such an interest in all the expensive objects and furniture in his home. The Rebbe explained that sometimes when he asks a person for a substantial sum for charity, a constriction immediately captures the latter's mind and he thinks that he has nothing. This is the way of the evil inclination, that with fulfillment of a mitzvah, he inserts a feeling of constriction. So I wanted to give you the confidence that you are an extraordinarily wealthy person, because you clearly spent so much for the paintings and the furniture. I wanted all the treasures to be engraved in your heart at the time of the donation so that you could donate as befits such a wealthy man, and with a generous heart. We will mention what was written by Rabbi Mordechai Dov in his book Pele Yoetz al HaTorah  in the Torah portion of VaYigash - that every time a person desires something, and he overcomes it and withdraws from the desire, it is considered as if he has fasted, and each and every time he overcomes and overcomes yet again, it is considered as if he fasted a whole day and another whole day. Before us is a first edition of the important halachic work from one of the leading Admo”rs of his generation. Halachic compositions by Admo”rs of this scale are rare. 55, [1], 86 leaves, 28 cm. Fine condition.