Sefer Zera Kodesh, Chassidic homiletics. Part I on the Torah and Part II on the Festivals, by the Holy Rebbe Naftali Tzvi Horowitz of Ropshitz (Ropczyce). Also includes selections from his father, the holy Rabbi Menachem Mendel of Liska.
Lviv (Lemberg): Uri Ze’ev Wolf Salat, 1868. First edition.
One of the foundational and profound works of Chassidus, considered highly significant. Chassidic masters treasured the Zera Kodesh and would study it diligently every Shabbos.
On the title page is the signature and stamp of the holy Rabbi Avraham Chaim Reuven (Yehezkiyahu) Rottenberg, Av Beis Din of Wodzislaw, nephew and disciple of the Chidushei HaRim of Ger. A handwritten gloss in his own script appears in the sefer’s margins.
Printed with interesting approbation at the beginning of part I, by a close disciple of the author – Rebbe Chaim of Sanz. He writes that in the past he did not agree to print the holy teachings of R. Naftali of Ropshitz, "because I knew that the holy author himself did not approve of printing his Torah novellae. However, on second thought, I decided that it was good that the printers published these writings. It is known that R. Chaim Vital also refrained from publishing his novellae and the teachings he received from his teacher, the Ari, and did not allow his disciples to write them; nevertheless, the righteous of the generation made efforts to copy, write and publish them, and the world shone…". On the verso of the approbation leaf is a notice by the person who brought the book to press: "I have called the book Or HaNer, however the holy rebbe of Sanz called it Zera Kodesh… and I have nullified my will before his holy will".
The Holy Gaon & Tzadik Rabbi Avraham Chaim Reuven Rottenberg was born in the holy community of Apt to his father, the righteous scholar Rabbi Yaakov Yosef, son of Rabbi Yisrael, rabbi of Magniszow and Gur (the father of the Chidushei HaRim). Rabbi Yisrael was the son of Rabbi Mordechai, making him a third-generation descendant of the famed halachic authority, Rabbi Meir of Rottenberg.
When he was ten years old, his father passed away, and his saintly brother, Rabbi Pinchas, took him to Ger to be raised by their uncle, the great Chidushei HaRim. There, he was educated alongside his uncle’s grandsons, the holy Rebbi Yehuda Aryeh Leib (author of Sfas Emes) and Rebbi Mendel of Piltz (Pilica), both of whom had also been orphaned and were raised under the Chidushei HaRim’s care.
During his first Rosh Hashanah in Ger, about ten thousand Chassidim were present. Before the prayers, the Chidushei HaRim sent his attendant, R’ Bunim Astralanker, to bring the young Avraham to his private study. The Rebbe asked him to share a Torah insight. When he finished, his uncle asked, "From whom did you hear this teaching?" He replied that he had heard it from his teacher. The Chidushei HaRim then said, "I want to hear your own thoughts." The boy hesitated, saying, "I do not know if my words would be pleasing to my uncle." The Rebbe encouraged him to speak, and he then offered an original insight regarding the shofar of an olah, resolving a difficulty in Tosafos based on the Rambam. When he finished, the Chidushei HaRim responded, "And for this, you were ashamed to speak? This is good and upright!" Upon leaving, Rabbi Avraham Chaim overheard his uncle tell his attendant, "People say Avraham is an iluy (prodigy), but I say he is an ‘ilui’ indeed!"
He married the daughter of his brother, Rabbi Yisrael, Av Beis Din of Horodło, and later served as Av Beis Din of Wodzislaw. Once, when he was visiting the holy Rabbi Yitzchak of Neshchiz with his brother, Rebbi Yisrael, they sought guidance about his son-in-law’s daily immersion in an ice-cold mikveh, fearing for his health. The holy Rabbi of Neshchiz responded to Rabbi Avraham Chaim:
"I am not referring to a required immersion (such as Ezra’s purification), but rather a voluntary immersion. The word ‘mikveh’ is related to the word ‘komah’ (stature), and immersing in a mikveh rectifies one’s spiritual stature. However, you, with your deep Torah learning, are already rectifying your spiritual stature, so for you, studying Gemara suffices in place of immersion."
Among those who sought his rulings in halacha were some of the greatest Torah scholars of the generation, including: The Sfas Emes and his son, the Imrei Emes of Ger, The holy Rabbi Mendel of Piltz (Sifsei Tzaddik), His brother, the holy Rabbi Pinchas, Rabbi Meir Dan Plotzki, Rabbi Yaakov Mordechai of Bilgoraj, and many others. His stature was so great that the Imrei Emes, Rabbi Mendel of Piltz, and particularly his brother, Rabbi Pinchas, all traveled to visit him.
On one Shabbos, after prayers, the Maggid of Trisk invited him to his room, honored him with making Kiddush on wine and eating mezonos, and told him, "Since you have refused to accept a rabbinic position, know that you were created to serve in the rabbinate, and the world needs you."
Due to his profound knowledge of halacha and his disdain for material gain, he was frequently called upon to judge halachic disputes alongside towering figures such as: The holy Sfas Emes, Rabbi Chaim of Brisk, The holy Rebbi Avraham of Parczew.
He authored, Shu”t Sifsei Avraham (1935), Emes L’Yaakov and Chesed L’Avraham (Brooklyn, 1957). Rabbi Avraham Chaim Reuven Rottenberg passed away in 1917.
Signed marginalia & stamps of his grandson Rebbi Menachem Benjamin Ben-Zion Halberstam-Rotenberg of Sanz-Widislaw [1881–1957] A descendant of the righteous dynasties of Sanz and Kashanov, through the holy Rebbi Aharon of Biala-Bilitz and Rebbi Yosef Ze’ev, son of Rebbi David of Kashanov, who was the son of the Divrei Chaim of Sanz.
On his maternal side, he was the grandson of Rebbi Alter Chaim of Wolbrom, from whom he adopted the surname Rotenberg. He was also a descendant of the righteous sages of Ropshitz, Sanz, Ohel Moshe, Belz, and Apt. From these illustrious lineages, his genealogy extended to numerous righteous figures. He later immigrated to the United States, where he served as the leader of his synagogue and was president of the Association of Rebbes.
The Author Rebbi Naftali of Ropshitz (1760- 1827) was one of the great founders of Chassidus. He was born on the day the Bal Shem Tov passed away, and in reference to this Rebbi Chaim of Sanz said, “The sun rose and the sun set” (Ohel Naftali letter beis). He was the primary disciple of Rabbi Elimelech of Lizhensk and one of the great members of the chaburah of the Chozeh MiLublin. His uncle Rabbi Meshulam Igra taught him the Revealed Torah.
Rebbi Naftali paved a unique path in Chassidus and was always happy. He was brilliant and would often speak in riddles and in humor that concealed deep secrets. For this reason, his primary disciple Rebbi Chaim of Sanz referred to him as “the wise Admor” (Divrei Chaim Parshas Noach).
Two parts in one volume: [2], 124; [1], 120 leaves. 22.5 Cm.
Stefansky, Chassidus # 208
Overall Great Condition, marginal water stains, small marginal burn stains, couple marginal tears, some shortened margins, very minor marginal worming on last couple pages, later binding slightly rubbed.
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