New York – A rare Siddur Tefilah me-ha-Arizal presumed to have been a personal prayer book of the founder of Chasidic Judaism, Reb Yisroel ben Eliezer, also known as the Baal Shem Tov, was one of the most coveted items sold yesterday in auction at Sotheby’s in New York City.
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Considered to be the most important hand written Chasidic siddur still owned by a private collector, the two hundred and twenty three page siddur sold for a price of $572,500.
Emily Berland of Sotheby’s told VIN News that the siddur was sold to an unnamed private collector.
The hand written siddur, estimated to have been written in 1750 by Moses ben Joseph of Luboml and Rabbi Mordechai Twersky of Chernobyl, is one of only several items that were known to have been used by the Baal Shem Tov in his life and contains extraordinary drawings including a unicorn, a winged shofar and a menorah comprised of the words of the 67th perek of Tehillim. Additionally, the Nusach Ari siddur, which was passed down through the Chernobyl dynasty from father to son, has visible tear stains on the page of Yom Kippur viduy and a wine stain on the page featuring the Pesach Kiddush.
Unlikely that R, Mordechai Twersky had a hand in its writing, as his father was, in his youth, a disciple of the Baal Shem Tov, and later of his successor, the Maggid.
Oh how I wish I could daven in such a siddur…I hope the guy that bought it has the brains to daven for klal yisroel in it…
Assuming its the siddur of the Holy Bal Shem Tov, Wow what a bargain..
Whoever bought it has a zechus and may the tefillos davend in that sidder be a shemurah for Klal Yisroel and watch over our precious gedolim ad bias goel tzedek!!
…and a stamped note that says, “not to be removed from the beis medrash under any circumstances”
I was once by a shuir where the Rav made a sly remark about those who spend time collecting seforim. Of course for investment reasons would be different.
now let us hope and pray that the power of prayers now being prayd in this very holy siddur will open up the gates of heaven for our plain and simple prayer that we sould also afford bidding such amount’s of money BB”A
To see something so beautiful! Not a price in the world that could adequately pay for that.
Anyone who has the zechua to own this siddur must have zchus avos
that it came to his possession…And may the tefillos be answered as there were in the time of the bal shem
It is well known and was mentioned publicly by the Luabvitcher Rebbe, during the 1980’s Public Farbrengen that the Baal Shem Tov’s Sidur is part of the Lubavitcher Rebbe’s Library and is owned by collectively by all Lubavitcher Chassidim World Wide under the name “Agudas Chassidey Chabad”.
Reply to #11
Hashem answers our teffilos even more today
I dont know if it’s exactly “zechus avos” to have acquired this siddur. Especially since little stands to show it’s authenticity. All the mevinim were there at viewing with big questions as to its being genuine… the dates involved, etc. I notice VIN neglected to mention the return policy that Sotheby’s has guaranteed the buyer – may return siddur in 2 weeks if change of heart and mind. Clearly Sotheby’s themselves aren’t sure… Better luck following Elizabeth Taylor’s jewels at Christie’s. Seems like a more authentic sale of items.
Just a note…Mevinim ? It is known that the Rabbi saw this sidder and compared it with his sidder that was written by the brother-in-law of the Baal Shem Tov….The rabbi sat for days and hours studying this sidder as is known in chabad…
Wow… worth every penny! With a lot of people out there wasting money on nonsense these days… somebody finally makes a smart investment! (:-D
I looked online… the pictures gave me goosebumps! It’s incredible!
Many congrats to the owner!
Why not reprint those sedurim (exact copies) and allow public to use them and maybe get inspired 🙂
There is a facsimile of the siddur online at : http://www.hebrewbooks.org/20882