Ma'or VaShemesh - First Edition, Breslau, 1842 - Incomplete Copy

Ma'or VaShemesh - First Edition, Breslau, 1842 - Incomplete Copy
Ma'or VaShemesh, both parts. Breslau, 1842. First edition.

Ma'or VaShemesh on the Torah is one of the basic books of Chassidic thought and in many editions, it is printed together with the Chumash (the Rav Pninim edition). The author is Rabbi Klonimus Kalman HaLevi Epstein of Cracow (1751-1823), an exceptional Torah prodigy proficient in revealed and hidden Torah and leading disciple of R. Elimelech of Lizhensk, whom R. Epstein revered and considered on the level of the Ba'al Shem Tov himself. He also periodically travelled to the courts of R. Yechiel Michel of Złoczew and R. Levi Yitzchak of Berdychiv. After the death of his teacher R. Elimelech, he would travel to the Chozeh of Lublin, to R. Ber of Radoszyce, to the Magid of Koznitz and to R. Mendeli of Rymanów. Already in his own times, he was renowned as a holy man and was reputed for the revelations of ruach hakodesh he merited and the wonders he performed. His teacher R. Elimelech of Lizhenk crowned him Rebbe; he was the first to spread Chassidism in the city of Cracow and many of his followers became prominent Chassidic leaders. The Mitnagdim in Cracow pursued him and even announced a cherem (ban) on Chassidism in 1786. After this pursuit led to his imprisonment, Rabbi Kalman returned to his native city of Neustadt and established his court there. In 1820, he returned to Cracow, died several years later and is buried there.

Stefansky Chassidut, no. 307.

Missing copy: The book before us begins on page 6. until the end of devarim [missing from the middle of kohelet until the end] without gates.

Fair condition. Paper soft and worn, stains. Tears and injuries. Moth holes. Pages detached, without binding.