Shaar HaTefillah by the Be'er Mayim Chaim – First Edition – Sudylkiv, 1825 – Copy of Rebbe Shlomo Friedman of Chortkov

Shaar HaTefillah by the Be'er Mayim Chaim – First Edition – Sudylkiv, 1825 – Copy of Rebbe Shlomo Friedman of Chortkov

Shaar HaTefillah, on the topic of prayer, by R. Chaim Thirer Rabbi of Czernowitz (Chernivtsi), author of Be'er Mayim Chaim and Sidduro shel Shabbat. [Sudylkiv]: Eliezer son of Mordechai Bilitch, [1825]. First edition.
Copy of Rebbe Shlomo Friedman of Chortkov-Tel Aviv, with the rebbe's stamp on the title page.
Rebbe Shlomo Friedman of Chortkov (1894-1959), son of Rebbe Nachum Mordechai Friedman of Chortkov and son-in-law of his uncle R. Yisrael of Sadigura. His paternal grandfather was Rebbe Yisrael Friedman of Chortkov, and his maternal grandfather was Rebbe Shlomo Friedman of Sadigura. His father Rebbe Nachum Mordechai fled with his family from Vienna shortly before the Holocaust, immigrated to Eretz Israel and established his court in Tel Aviv. His son R. Shlomo succeeded him as rebbe after his passing, and his is the fourth and last rebbe of the Chortkov dynasty. Author of Divrei Shlomo.
The Shomer Emunim writes wondrous things about the remarkable holiness of this book: "The holy book Shaar HaTefillah was composed in the Holy Land in holiness and purity, and with extraordinary passion. On several occasions, he was so enthused that he was unable to write, and his attendant had to write while he dictated. An awe-inspiring incident once occurred while he was preparing one of the essays. At that time, he was in Meron by the gravesite of R. Shimon bar Yochai, and the attendant prepared ink and paper to write down the essay. As soon as R. Chaim began relating the essay with exceptional fervor, the attendant saw him flying in the air, and he continued dictating while the attendant wrote with fear and awe, until the essay was complete, and this discloses the extent of the book's exceptional holiness".
Printed here for the first time is the author's well known responsum regarding the recitation of "Leshem Yichud", in which he rebuts the opinion of the Noda BiYehuda, who criticized its recital.
The author, R. Chaim Thirer of Czernowitz (ca. 1740s – ca. 1813), was a Chassidic leader, disciple of the Maggid of Zlotchov, and served as rabbi of Mohyliv-Podilskyi, Botoşani, Kishinev (Chișinău) and Czernowitz. He was reputed as a holy man, and wondrous tales about him abound. According to Chassidic tradition, after his immersion before Shabbat, his form would change and he would grow taller by a handbreadth. Near the end of his life, he immigrated to Eretz Israel and settled in Safed in 1813, where he composed Shaar HaTefillah and was later buried. His fundamental works Sidduro shel Shabbat, Be'er Mayim Chaim and Shaar HaTefillah are unique for their clarity and conviction, as well as the enthusiastic Chassidic emotion which they exude. His books were published in many editions and are considered foundations of Chassidic teachings.
Handwritten inscription on p. 32a: "Belongs to the philanthropist R. Moshe Katz". On p. 33b: "Monday, Parashat Shelach 1847". On the final page: "Tuesday, Parashat Emor 1849".
Stamp on p. 97b: "This book belongs to the Beit Midrash of R. Mordechai Orenstein, Botoshan".

10; 102, 113-115 leaves. 21.5 cm. Bluish paper. Good-fair condition. Stains. Worming affecting text, mostly repaired with paper. Open tears to title page, repaired with paper. Open tears to several other leaves, slightly affecting text in several places, repaired in part with paper. Several leaves possibly supplied from a different copy. Old binding, with blemishes.

The book was printed in Sudylkiv. The word "Mohyliv" was printed in large letters on the title page, but this is an intentional deception, for the preceding smaller print states that the book was printed in Sudylkiv in the printing press of R. Eliezer son of Mordechai Bilitch, for R. Tzvi Ze'ev Rabinstein, "formerly printer in Mohyliv" (see: A. Yaari, The Hebrew Printing in Mohyliv-on-the-Dniester, Kiryat Sefer, 23, p. 312).