Sefer Yalkut Shimoni, on Torah, Nevi’im and Ketuvim.
Polonnoye, 1805. Yosef HaCohen printing press [and Shmuel the printer]. Two parts.
With Chassidic Approbations by the Holy Rebbe Avraham Dov Auerbach Av Beis Din of Polonnoye and Chmelnik, the son-in-law (by the advice of the Baal Shem Tov to whom he was close) of the Toldot Yaakov Yosef. Approbation by Av Beis Din of Ostroh & Rabbi Bezalel ben Rebbi Meir Margolis.
Signature on page 2 of the Holy Gaon Rabbi Betzalel Margolies Rabbi of Ostroh, son of the Holy Rabbi Meir Margolies the Meir Netivim "בצלאל בהגאון מו"ר מאיר מרגליות זצלה"ה"
The Holy & famous Gaon Rabbi Betzalel Margolies Rabbi of Ostroh (1765-1821; Encyclopedia L’Chassidut, I, pp. 364-365), son of the Holy Rabbi Meir Margolies Rabbi of Ostroh (ca. 1708 – 1790; prominent disciple of the Baal Shem Tov and one of his first associates; author of Meir Netivim and Or Olam), and son-in-law of Rabbi Yehoshua of Drohobych. Served at first as rabbi of Zvhil. After the passing of his father in 1790, he succeeded him as rabbi of Ostroh, a position he held for over thirty years, until his passing. He was renowned as a pious and humble Torah scholar and kabbalist.
By virtue of his position as rabbi of Ostroh, he wrote approbations to many seforim, including prominent Chassidic works published in those times (as well as the present work). In his approbation to Shivchei HaBaal Shem Tov, he relates teachings of the Baal Shem Tov which he heard from his father: "…and as I heard from my father… who from his youth was one of the Torah scholars associated with the Baal Shem Tov, and R. Meir would frequently extol his virtues…". R. Betzalel was a talented author and poet, and wrote many of his approbations in form of poem (Mazkeret LiGedolei Ostroh, p. 271). He authored Keter Shabbat (unpublished). R. Betzalel was closely associated with Rebbe Zusha of Anipoli, and would host him whenever the latter visited Ostroh. Some of his Torah thoughts are published in Siftei Tzadikim by Rebbe Pinchas of Dinovitz.
Printer’s flag with the name "Shmuel the Printer". On the title page of Vol. 1 the name is erased from the emblem during printing [in some copies], after the partnership between Yosef HaCohen and Shmuel the Printer was cancelled [see the article by M. Wunder, The Hebrew Printing in Polonnoye – Alei Sefer, 5, 1978, page 125].
Volume one: [1], 272 Leaves. 33.8 Cm.
Volume two: [1], 182, 283-450 Leaves. 34 Cm.
Stamp: Beth Hamedrash of Admor of Chernobyl in Kiev, 1906.
Signature: Abraham? son of Yosef Shlomo, bought from R. Pinchas in Slavita in 1854.
Overall Great condition, blue-green pages, some stains and water stains, first volume title page has marginal repairs, a few pages have minor marginal worming, original leather binding restored, later spine.
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Lot #113