1. ‘Chovas Hatalmidim’ is a classic work of morals and character refinement in 13 chapters, addressed to Jewish youth. A popular work that has been reprinted in dozens of editions, and is studied in Talmud Torah schools and Yeshivos around the world.

Warsaw, 1932. First Edition.

Stefanski Sifrei Yesod 480.

The Holy Rebbi Kalonymus kalman Shapiro of Piaseczno (1889-1944), from great illustrious scholars of Poland in the generation between the two World Wars. Born to his father Rabbi Elimelech of Grodzisk, from descendants of the Maggid of Koznets and Rabbi Elimelech of Lizensk, married at a young age with the daughter of the Holy Rebbe Yerachmiel Moshe of Kozhnitz. After the passing of his father-in-law, when he was still very young – about 20 years, he started serving as Admor of Piaseczno.

After WWI, with the development of many various different youth movements of that enchanted the young and innocent and badly ruined the Jewish education, the Piaseczno Rebbe began to engage in the education and encouraging the hearts of the young Jews to Torah.

His ideas and perceptions of this world were new and revolutionary for his time, but he succeeded a lot in this field. In 1923 he established in Warsaw the Yeshivat Daas Moshe where he toiled most of the year and in the summer days and High Holy Holidays he returned to Piaseczno.

With the outbreak of War he remained with his community in Warsaw and refused all attempts for his escape from the Germans. In the Ghetto he worked tirelessly to strengthen the hearts of the Jews. Likewise he set up a network of soup kitchens and charity organizations. He was murdered in the year 1934 in the Birkenau Concentration Camp. His lectures he gave during the stormy days to strengthen the Jews in the Ghetto were found after the Holocaust and printed in the sefer ‘Aish Kodesh’.

Famous for the inspirational leadership of his chassidim and other religious Jews in the Warsaw ghetto. Author of ‘Chovas Hatalmidim’, ‘Mevo She’arim’, ‘Derech Hamelech’ and ‘Tzav Veziruz’.

170 pp. 21.5 cm.

2. Second edition, Jerusalem, 1944.

This edition was printed in the midst of the horrific Holocaust, before the full extent of the atrocities was known to the inhabitants of the holyland. Therefore, on the title page, they included our Rebbe’s name with the title Shlit"a, although on the 4th of Cheshvan 1943, the Rebbe had already been martyred for the sanctification of God’s name Hy”d.

85 Leaves.  19.5 cm.


First edition, Warsaw, 1932. Overall Good condition, some marginal stains, text block partially detached in a few areas, original blue cloth binding slightly rubbed.


Second edition, Jerusalem, 1944.  Overall Good condition, couple stains, page 3 loose, original black cloth binding rubbed.

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Lot #204

Chovas Hatalmidim, By Rabbi Kalonymus Kalmish Shapira of Piaseczno – First Edition, Warsaw, 1932.

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