Yitav Panim on the Festivals (by the Yitav Lev) – First Edition, Lemberg-Munkacs, 1881-1883 - Both Parts – ...

Yitav Panim on the Festivals (by the Yitav Lev) – First Edition, Lemberg-Munkacs, 1881-1883 - Both Parts – Inscriptions and Signatures

Yitav Panim, Chassidic homilies and discourses on the festivals, by Rebbe Yekutiel Yehudah Teitelbaum, Av Beit Din of Sighet, author of Yitav Lev. Part I – Lemberg (Lviv): Yaakov Meshulam Nik and U. W. Salat, 1881; Part II – Munkacs: Pinchas Blayer, 1883. Two parts in two volumes.

First edition, printed in the lifetime of the author, Rebbe Yekutiel Yehudah Teitelbaum, Av Beit Din of Sighet, author of Yitav Lev. Part II of the book was published a few days before he passed away, in Elul 1883, and when the new book was brought to his sickbed, he kissed it on every side, “shed tears of happiness that he merited to see it” – see below. This book was edited and published by his grandson from his daughter, Rebbe Moshe David Teitelbaum, Av Beit Din of Magyarlápos, who recounts in the introduction to Responsa Avnei Tzedek (Lemberg, 1885): "and fortunate am I that he appointed me over his household and lovingly revealed to me his treasury, and entrusted me with his book Yitav Panim to arrange and print, the second part of which was published in full while he was still alive, a few days before his passing away; and when I brought it to his bed, he rejoiced, kissed it on every side, and shed tears of happiness that he merited to see it. And afterwards he called me close to his perfect bed, and his face shone like the sun, and he said to me: My dear son, I give you my blessing and great thanks for having fulfilled my long-held desire. May God repay your labor and may your wages be full…” (see also Rebbe Moshe David Teitelbaum’s introduction to Yismach Moshe, Sighet, 1898).

The author’s name is not mentioned on the title page (as with his previous book, Yitav Lev), but is alluded to in the initials of the book’s name: Yitav stands for Yekutiel Yehudah Teitelbaum.

Chassidic discourses and homilies for the festivals: Part I – for Rosh Hashanah, Shabbat Teshuvah, 13 Attributes, Yom Kippur, Sukkot and Chanukkah; Part II – Shovavim, Four Parashiyot, Purim, Shabbat HaGadol, Pesach, Shavuot, Bein HaMetzarim, 15th of Av and the month of Elul.

Distinguished copies:

Part I has ownership inscriptions of the famous Chassid R. Yisrael Tzvi Weiss of Zidichov and Sighet (from the family of Rebbes of Zidichov, Rozlo and Sambur), and of his brother-in-law R. Mordechai son of R. Aharon Yehudah Mai, Av Beit Din of Szügy. On the title page to Part I (and at the beginning of leaf 2) are the inscriptions: “Belongs to R. Yisrael Tzvi Weiss of Sighet”, “belongs to R. Yisrael Tzvi Weiss of Sighet… Parashat Vaera 5652 [1892]”, “I received this holy book as a Bar Mitzvah gift from my dear old world-famous brother-in-law, the Tzaddik R. Yisrael Tzvi Weiss. I am his brother-in-law who esteem him, Mordechai son of Aharon Yehudah Mai… Sighet”.

The famous Chassid R. Yisrael Tzvi Weiss of Zidichov-Sighet (1824-1910), son of the Chassid R. Yaakov Ben Tzion Weiss of Sighet-Tiachiv (1805-1887, follower of the Sar Beit HaZohar of Zidichov, led the High Holiday prayer service in his Beit Midrash. He was a stepson of Rebbe Yehudah Tzvi of Rozlo, and he frequented his Rebbe, R. Yitzchak Eizik of Zidichov). R. Yisrael Tzvi was son-in-law of Rebbe Yechiel Michel Eichenstein of Sambur, author of Ateret Zekenim (son of R. Moshe of Sambur, author of Tefillah LeMoshe, brother of the Sar Beit HaZohar). After his marriage, he joined the household of his father-in-law R. Moshe of Sambur. The Kedushat Yom Tov of Sighet attested that R. Yisrael Tzvi was worthy of being given Kvittels. He led the prayer service in the Kloiz of Zidichov Chassidim in Sighet (see further: Beit Yosef Lehavah, Bnei Brak, 2000, pp. 365-367; Alei Zikaron, 56, pp. 26-27).

The author of the self-dedication is R. Mordechai (Markusz) Mai, author of Beit Mordechai (1872-1941), son of R. Aharon Yehudah Mai, Av Beit Din of Szügy and Szirák (ca. 1830-1901). On the title page and in the leaves of the book appear his stamps (in Latin characters): “Mai. Markusz”.

Inscriptions on endpapers of Part II: “May the merit of the author of this holy book protect us… Yekutiel Yehudah Mandel”; “I bought this book… Meir David Mandel”. Signature in the title page: “Aryeh…”. Short glosses on the margins of some leaves in Part II.

Two parts in two volumes. Part I: [1], 163, [2]. Part II: [1], 160, [1] leaves. 24.5-25 cm. Good condition. Stains and wear. Marginal tears reinforced with tape on some pages. Stamps. New bindings.

Rebbe Yekutiel Yehuda Teitelbaum Rabbi of Sighet – the Yitav Lev (1808-1883), son of R. Elazar Nisan Teitelbaum Rabbi of Sighet, and son-in-law of R. Moshe David Ashkenazi – rabbi of Tolcsva who immigrated to Safed. He was a close disciple of his grandfather the Yismach Moshe – Rebbe Moshe Teitelbaum Rabbi of Ujhel, who drew him especially close and disclosed to him Heavenly revelations which he had perceived with Divine inspiration. He was also a disciple of Rebbe Asher Yeshaya of Ropshitz. In 1833 (at the age of 25), he was appointed rabbi of Stropkov, and after the passing of his illustrious grandfather, he was selected to succeed him as rabbi of Ujhel. He was then appointed rabbi of Gorlitz (Gorlice), and later of Drohobych. In 1858, he went to serve as rabbi of Sighet (Sighetu Marmației), capital of the Maramureș region, and founded there a large yeshiva, which numbered at its zenith two hundred students. Amongst his renowned disciples from that time was R. Shlomo Leib Tabak author of Erech Shai and head of the Sighet Beit Din. His grandson attested that "he was a merciful father to his disciples, carrying them on his shoulders as a nurse carries a suckling, and overseeing each one individually to ensure they studied Torah in holiness and purity". In Sighet, he earned worldwide renown, and thousands of Chassidim flocked to seek his counsel and wisdom, blessings and salvation. He was renowned for his exceptional holiness, and his grandson R. Yoel of Satmar attested that his holiness was never tainted. Numerous stories circulated of the wonders he performed, including incredible insights which were revealed to him with Divine Inspiration and through his exceptional wisdom. He was reputed in his generation as one who could read the minds of those standing before him, and amazing stories were told of this ability. His epitaph reads: "The renowned rabbi, he edified upstanding and reputable disciples, left behind valuable compositions". He is renowned for his books: Yitav Lev on the Torah, Yitav Panim on the Festivals, Rav Tuv on the Torah and Responsa Avnei Tzedek.