Shu"t HaRi"m, Josefow, 1867. Printed as a Segulah for a Plague

Shu"t HaRi"m, Josefow, 1867. Printed as a Segulah for a Plague

She'elot U'Teshuvot V'Chiddushei Masechtot by Rabbi Yitzchak Meir Alter of Gur. Josefow, 1867. First edition. Owners' stamps.

Responsa and compilations on tractates: Berachot, Shabbat, Pesachim, Beitzah, Yevamot, Nedarim, Zevachim and Chulin.

The first sefer printed with the Chiddushei HaRi"m's Torah thoughts, reprinted posthumously. Foreword by "Rabbi Aryeh Leib, the author's grandson" - none other than the Sefat Emet of Gur, on the back of the title page.

The book Meir Einei HaGolah (section 664) tells a wondrous story about the printing of this sefer. In 1867, a harsh plague struck the towns in Poland, and took many casualties. That year, the Admo"r Rabbi Chanoch Henich of Alexander sent one of his Chassidim, Rabbi Shlomo Buchwitz of Warsaw, on a mission to the Sefat Emet of Gur, to ask that he begin printing his grandfather's novellae, Chiddushei HaRi"m. He said, "It will certainly be a segulah for the plague to end, this publication of the words of the gaon and tzaddik who studied the Torah truth in sanctity and purity. Regarding Torah thoughts such as these, it is said, 'Great is Torah, as it gives life to those who fulfill it.'" When the Sefat Emet heard the Admo"r of Alexander's words, he started to arrange and prepare his grandfather's responsa for print, "and when it was published, the plague ceased." (Refer to Meir Einei HaGolah section 664).

Owners' stamps from Rabbi Ephraim Shlomo Weingot. Rabbi Ephraim Shlomo Zalman Weingot, born in 1844, was a rabbi in Sleshin and Pietrkov. He served as rabbi of Lipna starting in 1895. He authored the books Orah LeTziyon (1902), Oz LaMelech (1897), and a eulogy for the author of Avnei Nezer (1911). He passed away in 1912.

Stefansky, Chassidut 211.

[1] 157 leaf, 34 cm. with beautiful margins.

Very fine condition.