Otot HaShamayim, by Rabbi Aryeh Leib of Strizov, Teacher of the Yismach Moshe – Zhitomir, 1805

Otot HaShamayim, by Rabbi Aryeh Leib of Strizov, Teacher of the Yismach Moshe – Zhitomir, 1805
Otot HaShamamyim – Derishat Ari, on Shulchan Aruch. Part I: Laws of Mila and Tefillin, Shabbat, Yom Tov and Chol HaMoed. Part II: Laws of Niddah. By Rebbe Aryeb Leib HaLevi Rabbi of Strizov (Strzyżów). Zhitomir, 1805. Name of printer not indicated.
Approbations by R. Levi Yitzchak of Berditchev, the Maggid R. Yisrael of Kozhnitz, and Rebbe Moshe Teitelbaum (the Yismach Moshe) – the author's disciple.
The author, R. Aryeh Leib HaLevi (1736-1803, Encyclopedia L'Chassidut, I, p. 58) was a foremost Chassidic leader, rabbi of Strizov and other communities. He authored Derishat HaAri, Otot HaShamayim and Even Pina on Shulchan Aruch Even HaEzer. The Maggid of Kozhnitz writes in his approbation to this book: "…I knew him in the past, when he was in this community, and I perceived that he was an eminent rabbi…". Rebbe Moshe Teitelbaum, author of Yismach Moshe, cousin and close disciple of the author R. Aryeh Leib, refers to him reverently in his approbation: "The greatest amongst giants… my master and teacher….". R. Levi Yitzchak of Berditchev, in his approbation, extols the author's virtues: "His entire life, he did not depart from the tent of Torah, rendering his nights like days… and he studied Torah for the sake of Heaven, and dove into the mighty waters of the Talmud and halachic literature, in order to derive from them the laws…".
R. Yosef Shaul Nathansohn, author of Shoel UMeshiv, writes in his approbation to Responsa Heshiv Moshe by the Yismach Moshe: "He [=the Yismach Moshe] was a disciple of the great Torah scholar, author of Derishat Ari on Even HaEzer, and it appears that he learnt from him both revealed and hidden parts of the Torah, since the Derishat Ari was well-versed in Torah and Chassidism, no secret was hidden from him, and the Yismach Moshe received both Torah and practical Kabbalah from him".
In their foreword, the sons of the author relate to the unusual name given to the composition – Otot HaShamayim, asserting that although they do not know their father's reason for giving this name to his book, they are certain that he had a precise explanation for it, which he did not disclose. They add that his disciple, the Yismach Moshe, heard directly from the author that his compositions and the names he gave them were all based on Kabbalah.
93, 18 leaves. 19.5 cm. Good-fair condition. Stains. Dampstains. Worming to title page and other leaves, slightly affecting text. Edges of several leaves rough-cut, affecting text slightly on one leaf. Censorship stamp and inscription on leaf 3. New binding.
Only very few Hebrew books, including several Chassidic books, were printed in Zhitomir in the early 19th century (1804-1805), prior to the relocation of the Shapira printing press from Slavita to Zhitomir in 1847. This is one of the first books printed in Zhitomir.
Stefansky Chassidut, no. 36.