Ma'aseh Rokeach. Amsterdam, 1740. First Edition. Segulah Book

Ma'aseh Rokeach. Amsterdam, 1740. First Edition. Segulah Book

"He (the Admo"r Rabbi Aharon of Belz) said in the name of his father, the Admo"r Rabbi Yissachar Dov, that studying this book is a segulah for joy" (The Admo"r of Belz, shlit"a)

Ma'aseh Rokeach - Kabbalistic work by the G-dly Kabbalist Rabbi Elazar Rokeach, patriarch of Belz Chassidism. First edition. Amsterdam, 1740. Segulah book for (nearly) incurable illness.

Unique composition on the order of mishnahs and the numbering of the chapters according to Kabbalah. In his preface, the author writes that he had intended to complete the commentary for all six orders of mishnah, but because he was involved in preparations for his ascent to the Land of Israel, he laid aside the commentary for Seder Taharot and wrote the commentary only for (its) Tractate Uktzin, which is the end of the mishnayot.

It is accepted by oral tradition in Belz Chassidut that reading from this segulah book can help ill people suffering from one of the worst illnesses of our generation - depression and melancholy - from which approximately 20% of the population suffers in various degrees of severity, and some (approximately 3.5%) reach the point of suicide, Heaven forbid. This illness strikes primarily affluent countries and the designated medications do not always help, and are characterized by harsh side effects.

So wrote the Admo"r of Belz shlit"a, a descendant of the author, in his approbation to the 1993 edition: "Everyone knows that this book was very precious to our rabbis, and in 1955, my uncle, the Admo"r Rabbi Aharon Rokeach of Belz, gave his blessing to the printing of this sacred book, and said in the name of his father, the Admo"r Rabbi Yissachar Dov zy"a, that study of this book is a segulah for joy [מסוגל לשמחה].

The gaon Rabbi Elazar Rokeach [1685-1742] was Av Beit Din of Amsterdam and a G-dly Kabbalist. He was also called 'the Ma'aseh Rokeach' after this book before us. He printed his book Ma'aseh Rokeach towards the end of his life, in 1740, on his way to the Land of Israel. In the book, he writes lofty Kabbalistic hints and secrets about the numbers of chapters in the six orders of Mishnah. The Chid"a writes about the book and its author: "The gaon, the pious Rabbi Elazar of Krakow, son of R' Shmuel, wrote in the book Ma'aseh Rokeach wondrous Kabbalistic hints for mishnayot, printed when he was ready to travel to the Land of Israel. He ascended to the holy city of Safed, and after a year he 'left for Gan Eden.' I heard wondrous things about his piousness and expertise." Admo"rs of the Chassidic movement, led by the Ba'al Shem Tov and his disciples, admired him and spoke of him using superlative terms.

[1], 121; 6 leaves. 23 cm. High-quality white paper with wide margins. Signatures.

Moderate condition: Worming perforations with slight damage to text on the last leaf. Lack in the margins of the title page without damage to text, and likewise the following leaf. Several leaves are partially detached. Simple binding, detached.