Leaf Handwritten by the Tiferet Shlomo of Radomsk – "Homily for the Giving of the Torah" on Shavuot, Leaf from His ...

Leaf Handwritten by the Tiferet Shlomo of Radomsk – "Homily for the Giving of the Torah" on Shavuot, Leaf from His Work Tiferet Shlomo – Radomsk, 1830s

Manuscript leaf (two pages), "Derush LeMatan Torah" – homily for Shavuot, handwritten by Rebbe Shlomo HaKohen Rabinowitz Rabbi of Radomsk (Radomsko), author of Tiferet Shlomo. [Radomsk? 1830s?].
The present leaf contains the beginning of a homily for Matan Torah (the giving of the Torah), handwritten by the author. This homily was published in his book Tiferet Shlomo (Warsaw 1869), in vol. II on the Torah portions (in the selections, leaf 162). The sons of the rebbe write (in the foreword in vol. I) that parts of the work were written by the author himself, and parts by his disciple. They note that any section handwritten by the author is introduced with the comment "from his own manuscript" (see below). The present section is introduced in the printed book by the note "from an old manuscript of the author" (meaning from his youth).
Sections of the homily found in this manuscript are quoted and explained in dozens of books.
Rebbe Shlomo HaKohen Rabinowitz Rabbi of Radomsk, author of Tiferet Shlomo (1800/1803-1866) was a prominent Chassidic leader in Poland. From his youth, he frequented the courts of leading Polish rebbes such as R. Fishel of Strikov, R. Meir of Apta, R. Yeshaya of Przedbórz and R. Yissachar Ber of Radoshitz. In Adar 1834, he was appointed rabbi of Radomsk, Poland, a position he held for thirty-two years until his passing. In the mid-19th century, after several leading Polish rebbes passed away, thousands of Chassidim began frequenting his court and accepting his authority. His leadership was both firm and exalted. He was renowned for his elevated level of holiness and asceticism, and often spoke about matters of sanctity and purity. He was also famous for his originality, exceptional wisdom, sharpness and wit. His astute sayings were widespread amongst Polish Chassidim. Prominent Polish rabbis studied under him. Among his students were the German scholar and author, R. Aharon Marcus, author of HaChassidut, who studied under the Tiferet Shlomo during the latter's final four years, and the physician and rebbe R. Chaim David Bernhard. R. Aharon Marcus dedicated an entire chapter in his book (published in 1901 in German) to describing his close teacher the Tiferet Shlomo; there he wrote: "The tremendous impact the rebbe had on me is impossible to commit to writing… any inkling of his holy figure and glowing countenance… his attraction was very great… when the rebbe would gaze at a person, even if he didn't speak to him at all, he would know the essence of the person, his way of life and actions, as if looking into a clear glass cup… he was completely dissociated from materialism, and only occupied in spiritual matters… he was one of the last wonder-workers in his region about whom wondrous, unfathomable stories were reported". He passed away suddenly on Erev Rosh Chodesh Nissan 1866, with his head bent over the Zohar which he was studying. Reports of the many wonders he performed, as well as memoirs from his disciples, were recorded in Ohel Shlomo, two parts, Ateret Shlomo, and Niflaot HaTiferet Shlomo.
[1] leaf (two autograph pages). 21 cm. Good condition. Stains and wear. Marginal tears.

The Holy Book Tiferet Shlomo
Tiferet Shlomo is a most prominent and basic Chassidic book, accepted and venerated by all Chassidic courts. The book outlines all the lofty expectations that the Chassidic approach exacts of a Jew in his worship of G-d in clear, concise and unequivocal terms. The book makes many significant demands in matters of self-sacrifice and holiness. The author elaborates sorrowfully on the Divine Exile, and on elevating sparks of holiness. The book also contains exceptional, original novellae on kabbalah and the teachings of the Arizal, particularly on the topic of the lofty yichudim between G-d and the Jewish people, where the author discloses wondrous teachings. Rebbe Menachem Mendel of Warka remarked that the book taught him three new principles, which we would not have known until the coming of Mashiach, if not for the author revealing them to us. The Divrei Chaim of Sanz writes in his approbation to the volume on festivals that the book "will be of great benefit to the world, in particular to Chassidim, since his teachings are pleasant".
Tiferet Shlomo was published in two volumes after the author's passing. The first volume, on festivals, was published in 1867, while the second volume, on the Torah portions, was published in 1869. Parts of the book were recorded directly by the author, as in the case of the present leaf, while other parts are teachings of the Tiferet Shlomo recorded by the disciple who compiled the book, R. Shmuel Zanvil Tzvi of Pławno. Each passage copied from the author's own manuscript is marked (at the beginning or end): "from his own manuscript", to differentiate between what was originally written by the author and what was recorded by his disciple.
In their foreword to the volume on festivals, the sons of the author write about the manuscripts used to compile this work: "These manuscripts were written upon his instructions for several years before his passing… and several writings which were actually written by him, are marked in the printed book as copied 'from his own manuscript'… in the final year before his passing, he commanded to take all the booklets… and divide them into two parts. One part on the festivals as well as Chanukah and Purim, and a second part on the Torah portions. We saw how very precious the writings were to him, as they did not leave his possession, he guarded them like the pupil of his eye".
In their foreword to the second volume, the sons of the author add: "And these manuscripts… we heard from him that his wish is to disseminate them amongst the Jewish people… and we noted at the end 'from his own manuscript' so that the reader realizes that it is the author's own writings". At the beginning of the second volume, the following introduction is printed from the author's manuscript: "…I hereby begin writing for myself words of fear of G-d and ethical reproach following the order of the Torah portions".