Siddur Kavanot HaAri, by Rabbi Shabtai of Raszków – Lemberg, 1866 – Signature of Rabbi Meshulam Segal Lowy – First ...

Siddur Kavanot HaAri, by Rabbi Shabtai of Raszków – Lemberg, 1866 – Signature of Rabbi Meshulam Segal Lowy – First Tosher Rabbi – Copy of the Author of Imrei Yosef of Spinka – Glosses of the Rebbe and of his Son-in-Law R. Nachman Kahana, Rabbi of Spinka, Author of Orchot Chaim
"Seder Tefilla for the entire year with Kavanot HaAri", two parts in one volume, for weekdays and for the Holidays, by R. Shabtai of Raszków, disciple of the Ba'al Shem Tov. Lemberg, 1866.
The top of the title page bears the signature "Feish Segal"; presumably, this is the signature of R. Meshulam Feish Segal, the first Tosher Rebbe. Another inscription [signature?] appears above this signature: "Feish Segal".
This siddur belonged to the Rebbe of Spinka, author of Imrei Yosef, and to his son-in-law R. Nachman Kahana who served in the Spinka rabbinate and bears both their glosses. The title page and several other leaves are stamped "Nachman Kahana Rabbi of Spinka". Signatures of his son-in-law "Yitzchak Isaac Adler" appear on the title page and on the preceding leaf. Another obscure signature appears on the title page: "Yosef ---".
The leaves of the siddur bear dozens of Kabbalistic glosses, apparently in the handwriting of R. Yosef Meir Weiss, author of the Imrei Yosef of Spinka and hundreds of glosses handwritten by his son-in-law R. Nachman Kahana R. of Spinka, author of Orchot Chaim (Siget 1888). The glosses of the Imrei Yosef are written in purple ink.
These glosses present comparisons with the kavanot printed in Pri Etz chaim and in Mishnat Chassidim. The glosses of the author of Orchot Chaim present novellae, explanations and many comments, questions and answers. A gloss on the Passover Haggadah which appears on p. 6a [of the last pagination] poses a Kabbalistic explanation of a custom that a woman assists her husband in raising the seder plate upon reciting Ha Lachma Anya. A gloss on p. 24 [ibid], alongside the words Lamud Hu of the piyyut E-l Bene in the Passover Haggadah states: "See my book Orchot Chaim Siman 480 Ot 2…". This gloss indeed appears in the book Orchot Chaim by R. Nacham Kahana. On p. 98b is a gloss in a third handwriting.
Names of people in need of prayer are inscribed in several places in the siddur. Presumably, the names were written by a Chassid who gave the siddur to the rebbe as a gift, so that the Rebbe should pray for them.
R. Meshulam Feish Segal Lowy (I), born in Moravia, the first Tosher Rebbe (1821-1873) was a leading Hungarian Rabbi renowned for his holiness and ability to perform wonders. During his formative years, the Enlightenment movement and Torah abandonment spread throughout Moravia rousing him to leave home and study in Hungarian yeshivas headed by the Maharam Ash and R. Avraham Shaag. After his wedding, he moved to the village of Nyirvasvari (Eshvor) near Nyírbátor [famed for its illustrious kabbalists and G-d-fearing Jews whom the Komarno Rabbi called "Fire and light scholars", a play on the name of the place Esh ("fire" in Hebrew) "v'or" ("and light" in Hebrew)], near his father-in-law, who was a disciple of the Kaliver Rebbe and of the Rebbe of Komarno. R. Meshulam Feish had ties to prominent Chassidic Rebbes in Hungary and Galicia: The Rebbe of Liska, the Divrei Chaim of Sanz, the Mohari of Zhydachiv, the Rebbe of Komarno, the Rebbe of Roslavl, and others. His primary rebbe was R. David of Dynow who ordained him as rebbe.
R. Lowy served as Rabbi and Av Beit Din in Nyirtass (near Kleinwardein [Kisvárda]) and was renowned for his fiery enthusiasm and his fervent prayers serving G-d. Prominent rebbes of his times (R. David of Dynow and R. Asher Anshel Yungreiss of Csenger) sent people seeking deliverance to R. Lowy relying on his pure prayers and the merit of his Torah study and holiness. Revelations of Ruach HaKodesh are known to have appeared in his Beit Midrash. Reputedly, all his wonders were performed at the time he danced on Shabbat. The entire week he fasted, yet no suffering could by detected on his countenance [see Pe'er Meshulam for many stories about his wonders and the great elevation felt by those in his proximity].
R. Yosef Meir Weiss, author of Imrei Yosef of Spinka (1838-1909), was the first Spinka Rebbe, forefather of the dynasty of Spinka rebbes. A prominent Torah scholar and Chassid, disciple of the Maharam Ash, Rabbi of Uzhhorod (Ungvár) and others. He was close to the Sar Shalom of Belz, to R. Menachem Mendel of Vizhnitz and to R. Chaim of Sanz, author of Divrei Chaim. However, his primary rebbe was his relative, R. Yitzchak Isaac of Zhydachiv - the Mahari, who considered R. Yosef Meir his most illustrious disciple.
In 1870, his teacher the Mahari of Zhydachiv appointed him rebbe, but he refused to officiate as rebbe during his teacher's lifetime. Only in 1876, after R. Chaim of Sanz ordained him rebbe, did he begin receiving Chassidim in his hometown of Săpânța in the Maramureş region. His name quickly spread throughout Hungary and Galicia and thousands of Chassidim became his followers including many prominent Torah scholars, such as R. Shalom Mordechai Schwadron the Maharsham of Berezhany, and others.
He was reputed for his amazing proficiency in revealed and hidden Torah. The Spinka Chassidism preserved the Zhydachiv version of prayer and conduct. His fervent prayers inspired the Chassidic multitudes, and are described as prayers with superhuman exertion. Stories are told of the amazing wonders he performed, through his blessings and counsel which were given with Ruach HaKodesh. His son, the Mahari of Spinka, attests that "his blessings worked many wonders and that many childless women bore children as a result of his prayers and his prayers cured the ill… I can almost say that every word which was emitted from his holy mouth was answered…". After his death, his grave is renowned as a site for prayer and deliverance. In 1972, his remains were brought to Eretz Israel and buried in the special plot of Spinka Chassidim in the Segula cemetery in Petach Tikva.
R. Nachman Kahana Rabbi of Spinka (1861-1908), son-in-law of the Imrei Yosef, officiated as Rabbi of Spinka from 1885. Renowned for his book Orchot Chaim on the Shulchan Aruch Orach Chaim, an anthology (similar to the Pitchei Teshuva). His book contains glosses and many additions by the Maharsham of Berezhany. The Aderet wrote supplements titled Over Orach which are printed at the end of R. Kahana's book. He died at a young age in the lifetime of his father-in-law. His son-in-law R. Yitzchak Isaac Adler officiated as Rabbi of Seredneye.
[56], 57-130, [4], 104; 114 leaves. 21 cm. Good-fair condition. Stains and wear. Dampstains to some leaves. Title page is repaired with paper. Tears to several other leaves, slightly affecting text, some repaired. New leather binding.