Never Seen at Auction: Bnei Yissachar - Personal Copy of the Wonder-Worker and Kabbalist Rabbi Mendel

Never Seen at Auction: Bnei Yissachar - Personal Copy of the Wonder-Worker and Kabbalist Rabbi Mendel

Sefer Bnei Yissachar, 2 parts - one of the most important Sifrei Chassidut, authored by the sacred Admo"r Rabbi Tzvi Elimelech of Dinov, who is known by the name of this sefer. Lvov, Yehoshua Wilf Press, 1920. Personal copy that belonged to the tzaddik Rabbi Chaim Moshe Mendel, one of the leading Ashkenazic Kabbalists of the previous generation. To the best of our knowledge, Rabbi Mendel's sefarim have never been offered at auction. 

Owner's notation on the front protective leaf: 'Rabbi Moshe Mendel shlit"a. Rabbi Mendel made handwritten notes of several drushim  at the beginning of the sefer,  and inside the sefer, he drew a circle next to those same drushim. Rabbi Mendel also wrote several words and gematria calculations with Kabbalistic significance - nachamu nachamu , rachamim and more, as well as a name for prayer, a total of approximately [35] handwritten words and many more gematria calculations. A kvittel for prayer is found among the leaves of the sefer for a childless couple, R' Shimon Tzvi (Rabinowitz) son of Chavah, and Rachel Leah (née Cheshin) daughter of Golda.

One of the most important Chassidic sefarim, known to have been written entirely according to Kabbalah, and full of sacred Names, this sefer was studied by tzaddikei hador, evident from the many usage marks on almost each and every leaf in the sefer, alongside proofreading marks in the sheets of the leaves, in his own hand.

Touching phenomenon: In Sefer Her'ah LeAnav (Bnei Brak, 2011), in a chapter entitled 'Ashkevatei D'Rebbi' there is a description of how Rabbi Mendel knew the date of his passing, and even hinted to it to his close associates, the chazzan Chaim Eliezer Hershtik and others. It is touching to see that in his sefer, Bnei Yissachar here, in the margins of the leaves, Rabbi Mendel often noted in secret markings of circles or V-shapes - the chapter with the largest number of marks [none other comes close] is the Ma'amar Chodshei Tammuz-Av [approximately 10 marks in this chapter alone] and indeed, it was in the bitter month of Tammuz that he returned his soul to its Maker!

Refer to the Hebrew catalog text for a brief biography of the G-dly Kabbalist and renowned wonder-worker Rabbi Moshe Chaim Mendel.

[1], 12[4]; [1], 124 leaf. 24 cm.

Overall moderate-fine condition. The sefer is full of usage marks, attesting to much study over the years by the Kabbalist. Worming perforations. Tears (some with lack), adhesions. Several detached leaves. Old binding, partially detached.