Or LaYesharim Sephardic-Rite Siddur – Zhitomir, 1867/1869? – Copy of Rabbi Moshe Wolfson, Rabbi of Emunat Yisrael – ...

Or LaYesharim Sephardic-Rite Siddur – Zhitomir, 1867/1869? – Copy of Rabbi Moshe Wolfson, Rabbi of Emunat Yisrael – Author of Emunat Itecha, VaAni Tefillah and Likutei Orot

Or LaYesharim, Sephardic-rite siddur, with Keter Nehora, laws, customs and kabbalistic and Chassidic commentaries. Part I. [Zhitomir, 1867/1869?].

Partial copy of the siddur, containing morning prayers and most of the many additions printed as prefaces to the siddur. The present siddur was printed in Zhitomir, but we were unable to determine exactly which edition. The present item may be either the 1867 edition printed by the Shapiro brothers, or the 1869 edition printed by Avraham Shalom Shadov (both editions are very similar). The present volume begins in the middle of "Shaar HaTeshuvah – duties of the heart from Tzedah LaDerech", followed by Netiv Mitzvotecha, Seder HaYom (by R. Shalom Shachna of Pohrebyshche) and Tikun Chatzot, Beit Tefillah and Derech HaChaim, and the order of morning prayer up to the positive interpretation of a dream.

This copy was purchased by its owners from the famous Chassidic mashpia R. Moshe Wolfson, whose signature appears on the second endpaper: "Moshe Wolfson". He also wrote his name and address ("113 Clymer St Brooklyn NY") inside the boards (the name was later erased with ink, apparently when the siddur was exchanged with the purchaser – according to the owner's family, their father traded another siddur to R. Moshe Wolfson for this one).

The leaves of the book contain short notes handwritten in ink in square script, with various kabbalistic kavanot. A leaf in R. Moshe Wolfson's handwriting is mounted at the end of the volume – with a personal prayer, beginning: "Master of the world, grant us the merit that our children and sons-in-law be Torah luminaries, and that my offspring be healthy in body and intellect, possess good character traits, study Torah for its own sake, and grant them good and lengthy lives…".

The famous Chassidic mashpia R. Moshe Wolfson (1925-2024), rabbi and rebbe of the Emunat Yisrael communities, served as lecturer and mashgiach in the Torah Vodaath yeshiva in the United States, and embraced Chassidism under the influence of his teacher R. Gedalia Schorr, author of Or Gedalyahu. He was a follower of the Imrei Shaul of Modzhitz. He was heavily influenced by the Karlin Chassidic approach to enthusiastic and resounding prayer, and also followed the Lubavitcher Rebbe and rebbes of the Karlin, Skver and Toldot Aharon dynasties. His teachings were based on various branches of the Baal Shem Tov's disciples and kabbalah, including: Chernobyl and Apta, Chabad, R. Tzadok HaKohen of Lublin and the Sefat Emet. Although he did not don a shtreimel, he played the part of a Chassidic rebbe in full. His circle of students established minyanim and communities called Emunat Yisrael throughout the United States and Eretz Israel (in Boro Park, Monsey, Lakewood, Jerusalem and Beitar), where the prayer service is held in a deliberate, enthusiastic and lively manner. These communities are also known for their high measure of reverence for the synagogue and refrain from idle speech during the prayer service.

His approach focused on praying with enthusiasm and concentration. In his addresses he would highlight the importance of feeling liveliness in service of G-d. He delivered lectures on the Tanya, stressing that studying the Tanya is meant to arouse these feelings, not to be a mere intellectual exercise. In one of his letters printed at the end of his Likutei Orot – Beurim BeSefer HaTanya (New York, 2009), he writes to one of his disciples: "In response to your question what Chassidut is – I don't know. If you ask me what life is, I will also answer that I don't know. However, I feel life. The only difference between being alive and dead is that one who is alive has a living spirit. The Baal Shem Tov brought the liveliness of feeling the divinity in the world, and his disciples received that point in their respective capacities… When you were born, you received from your father and mother 248 limbs and 365 sinews – and also life. The nature of each limb can be explained, but not the nature of life… Stay close to true Tzaddikim and faithful friends, and you too will receive that point, transmitted from generation to generation, the point of the Baal Shem Tov…". Several books were published based on his lectures, including: Emunat Itecha, VaAni Tefillah, Likutei Orot and more.

One of his spiritual successors is his son-in-law, Rebbe Mordechai Menashe Zilber of Stitshin, the famous Chassidic mashpia in the United States and Eretz Israel, who also established Stitshin communities in the United States and Eretz Israel named Toldot Yehudah.

Partial copy. 15-100 leaves. 20 cm. Varying condition, fair to fair-poor. Stains. Dampstains. Heavy wear and signs of heavy use. Many tears, including open tears, affecting text, partially repaired with tape. Last leaf detached. Old binding, worn, with spine repaired with glue.