Or HaChochmah – Łaszczów, 1815 – First Edition – Segulah for Easy Birth – Two Parts in One Volume

Or HaChochmah – Łaszczów, 1815 – First Edition – Segulah for Easy Birth – Two Parts in One Volume
Or HaChochmah, Chassidic and kabbalistic essays on the Torah portions, by the kabbalist R. Uri Feivel of Krisnipoli (Chervonohgrad) and Dubienka. Łaszczów, Yehuda Leib Rubinstein and Moshe Zicker, [1815]. First edition. Two parts in one volume.
This book is considered a segulah for an easy birth. R. Moshe Tzvi Landau of Kleinwardein writes in his work "Shulchan Melachim" on the laws pertaining to birthing mothers: "It has already become a widespread custom to place a book wrapped in cloth beneath the head of the woman in labor, customarily the holy book Noam Elimelech and the holy book Or HaChochmah" (this is quoted in halachic literature). It is also reported that R. Yeshaya Zilberstein of Waitzen would send a copy of Or HaChochmah to women in labor, to place beneath their pillow as a segulah for an easy birth.
The author, the kabbalist R. Uri Feivel of Krisnipoli and Dubienka (d. between 1804-1808), was a close disciple of R. Kehat of Werish, who was a disciple of the Baal Shem Tov. R. Uri Feivel's son, in his description of his father in the foreword to this book, recalls him as a prolific author who also wrote a composition on the Torah consisting of 15 explanations for each verse, as well as works on the Five Megillot, Tikunei Zohar, Idrot, Sifra DeTzniuta, Sefer Yetzira, "awesome, concealed and impenetrable commentaries", yet all were destroyed in a fire. R. Meir Rabbi of Brody describes the author in his approbation: "He never departed from the tent of Torah, delving into its revealed and hidden realms, and he feared G-d out of love; most of his knowledge and study pertained to Kabbalah".
Many inscriptions throughout the book (in part II) – some deleted or trimmed: "For the kloiz of the rabbi of Chernobyl, here in Berditchev". On the final page: "Belongs to the Beit Midrash --- Dubno".
Two parts in one volume. [2], 76, 46; [1], 60, 59-103 leaves. 20.5 cm. Fair-good condition. Stains. Extensive worming, with significant damage to text, repaired with paper. Marginal open tears to title pages of both parts and to other leaves, mostly repaired with paper. Both title pages and several other leaves presumably supplied from other copies. Leaves trimmed with damage to headings. Stamps (partially rubbed out) in several places. New leather binding.