Sefer Zahav Sheva – A work on the language of the Talmud and the words of Tosafot related to Aggadah, authored by Rabbi Nissim ben Avraham Algazi, published in Fürth, 1692. The title page is illustrated with a wood engraving.
On the title page, there is the signature of the holy Gaon, Rabbi Aryeh Leibush Halberstam of Tarnogród, father of the renowned Divrei Chaim of Sanz, with the inscription: "To the Lord belongs the earth and its fullness, the humble Aryeh Leibush Halberstam." An identical signature appears on the last page.
His signature is extremely rare and has never appeared in a public auction before. It has been compared to the only known signature, which appears in the Sefer HaYuchasin of Bobov.
On the title page, on page 46, and on the last page, there are also the signatures of the esteemed Rabbi Shmuel, Av Beit Din of Podhajce, grandfather of the renowned Divrei Chaim.
Aside from the Divrei Chaim, dozens of rabbis and Rebbes trace their lineage to the great Rabbi Shmuel, Av Beit Din of Podhajce, including Rabbi Shmelke, Av Beit Din of Nikolsburg, and his brother, the Hafla’ah, as well as Rabbi Moshe David Ashkenazi, Av Beit Din of Töltéstava, founder of the Sighet dynasty.
His signature is also exceedingly rare, and no other copy is known to exist in the world.
Most genealogical records and books list Rabbi David of Tarnogród, the maternal grandfather of the Divrei Chaim, as the son of Rabbi Shmuel, Av Beit Din of Podhajce. This is also stated by his grandson, the holy Rebbi, author of Shefa Chaim of Klausenburg. However, the genealogy researcher Rabbi Yosef Nechemia Quadrat questions this lineage.
The holy Gaon, Rabbi Aryeh Leibush Halberstam, was born in 1762 to his father, the Gaon Rabbi Simcha of Brody. Rabbi Aryeh Leibush came from an illustrious and noble lineage, descending from the greatest scholars and righteous figures, including Rashi, the Tosafists, and further back to King David. His home was a place where both Torah scholarship and material prosperity coexisted. He acquired his Torah knowledge in the intellectually rich environment of Brody and supported his family through extensive commerce.
Although he was originally a staunch Misnaged, he would occasionally visit the holy Rebbi Moshe Sofer of Pshevorsk, a disciple of Rebbi Elimelech of Lizhensk and the teacher of the Chozeh of Lublin.
During one of his visits to Rebbi Moshe, he found him in deep distress. When he inquired about the reason for his sorrow, Rebbi Moshe explained that he had two daughters of marriageable age—one was already engaged, but he lacked the necessary funds for the wedding expenses. Rabbi Aryeh Leibush asked him how much he needed, and Rebbi Moshe called for his wife, who stated that they required 300 Rendlech. Without hesitation, Rabbi Leibush took out his wallet and placed the full amount on the table.
Seeing that Rebbi Moshe was still unsettled, he asked what else was troubling him. Rebbi Moshe then revealed his concern for the second daughter. Rabbi Leibush immediately gave another 300 Rendlech, at which point the holy Rebbi Moshe’s face lit up. He turned to Rabbi Leibush and asked, "How shall I bless you?" Rabbi Leibush replied, "God has granted me everything, and I lack nothing." Rebbi Moshe then said, "In that case, I bless you that you shall merit to have a holy and pure son before whom angels and seraphim will tremble."
Indeed, within a year, Rebbi Moshe’s blessing was fulfilled, and Rabbi Aryeh Leibush was blessed with a son—the holy Divrei Chaim, who became the leader of the Jewish people, a saintly figure of immense holiness and purity, before whom even celestial beings quaked in awe.
Witnessing a miracle, Rabbi Aryeh Leibush became an ardent follower of the Chozeh of Lublin.
After the passing of his wife, the righteous Rebbetzin Miriam, who was buried in the cemetery of Tarnigrad, Rabbi Aryeh Leibush moved to Przemyśl, where he was appointed as a dayan in the Beit Din of the city’s righteous rabbi, Rabbi Yosef Asher Ehrenberg. Due to his great sanctity, Rabbi Yosef Asher would only accept dayanim whom he knew possessed Ruach HaKodesh, and only a select few were admitted to serve in his court.
Rabbi Aryeh Leibush served as a dayan in Przemyśl until his passing on the 15th of Tammuz, 1831. He was buried in the city’s old Jewish cemetery.
113 Leaves. 18.7 cm.
Overall Good Condition, stains and marginal water stains, title page has a marginal tear, last two pages have some worming affecting text, old binding damaged.
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Lot #86