Sefer Lev Aryeh, a work containing novel interpretations on the entire Tractate Chullin, explains the words of the Gemara, Rashi, and Tosafot on every page. Authored by Rabbi Aryeh Yehuda ben Rabbi Akiva of the community of Podheitz.
[Ostrog, 1820]. First edition, printed with endorsements from prominent rabbis of the era, Rabbi Ephraim Zalman Margolies of Brody and Rabbi Aryeh Yehuda Leib Teomim.
A rare sefer!
With the holy signature of Rabbi Menachem Mendel Alter of Pabianice, from when he resided in the holy court of his father, the Sfas Emes in the city of Ger. It reads: "May Hashem grant me Menachem Mendel Alter of Ger, " and his stamps "Mendel the son of the Rabbi of Ger, Shlit"a" and "Mendel Alter Ger Kalwaria." The flyleaf contains a few annotations in his handwriting.
Ownership inscription: "This Lev Aryeh belongs as a wedding gift to the young scholar Tzvi Chanoch Henich Levin from the city of Malinetz, the son-in-law of the Rabbi of Ger, Shlit"a."
The Holy Rabbi Menachem Mendel Alter of Pabianice and Kalisz (1878-1942) was the youngest son of the Holy Rebbe Sfas Emes of Ger and brother of the Rebbe Imrei Emes of Ger. He married the daughter of the holy Rebbe, Chesed Le’Avraham of Radomsk, and, in a second marriage, Bat Sheva, daughter of Rabbi Moshe Priwes of the Nefesh Chayah family. He served as head of the Association of Rabbis in Poland and was a prominent member of the Council of Torah Sages. He was the Av Beit Din of Pabianice and later Kalisz. A towering scholar and saintly leader, he was among Poland’s most influential Jewish leaders between the two World Wars. During the Holocaust, he hid in various locations, and in his Warsaw Ghetto residence, prayer gatherings were held until he was martyred Hy”d.
His brother-in-law, the great Rabbi Chanoch Tzvi HaKohen Levin (1871-1935), was the son-in-law and close assistant of the Rebbe Sfas Emes of Ger. He served as the rabbi of Bendin and was one of the prominent Jewish leaders in Poland before World War II.
His father, Rabbi Pinchas Yaakov HaKohen Levin, was the grandson of Rabbi Chanoch Henich HaKohen Levin, a disciple of the Rebbe of Kotzk and leader of the Ger Chassidim from 1866-1870. His mother, Telche, was the daughter of Rabbi Tzvi Hirsh Leibel of Tomaszow, the famous attendant of the Kotzker Rebbe. His parents’ wedding was held in Kotzk in 1858 and was conducted by the Kotzker Rebbe himself, despite his reclusive period. After several years in Kotzk, they returned to Malinets, where Rabbi Chanoch Tzvi was born on the 7th of Kislev 1871. He was named after both of his grandfathers, Chanoch Henich and Tzvi. He grew up and was educated in Malinets, where elder Chassidim from the Kotzk and Ger circles would occasionally visit and stay in his family’s spacious home.
Around the age of 13, he was betrothed to Feige, daughter of Rebbi Yehuda Aryeh Leib Alter, the Sfas Emes of Ger and leader of thousands of Chassidim in Poland during those years. The wedding took place in Ger (Góra Kalwaria) in 1889, and afterward, the couple remained in the town under the supervision of the Rebbe. Over time, Rabbi Chanoch Tzvi Levin became both a disciple and follower of his father-in-law, assisting him in various matters concerning the leadership of the large Chassidic community.
He was a founding member of Agudath Israel and a member of the Council of Torah Sages. He authored over 40 works, although most were lost during the Holocaust.
Stamp & signature: Nachum Dobryzynski, Lodz.
72, [1], 78 Leaves. Lacking 2 leaves at the beginning & 2 leaves at the end. 33.2 cm.
Overall Fair condition, stains, some marginal repairs and tears, page 3 and 70 have repairs small holes and missing text, later blue cloth binding.
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Lot #136