A rare and beautifully written Chabad manuscript – Kuntres HaAvodah by the Admor Rashab of Lubavitch

A rare and beautifully written Chabad manuscript – Kuntres HaAvodah by the Admor Rashab of Lubavitch

"Kuntres HaAvodah – explaining the concept of service of the heart, which is prayer, to bring oneself closer and speak one’s soul into Godliness." By the Admor Rabbi Shalom Dovber Schneersohn of Lubavitch. Written in an exquisite notebook, bound in its original cover, adorned with gold embossing along the spine, covered in blue fabric, and lined with marble-patterned paper. The notebook’s pages are elegantly bordered with rounded edges, matching the rounded corners of the cover. Lubavitch, 5671 [1910-1911].

This manuscript contains the complete text of Kuntres HaAvodah, from beginning to end, authored by the Admor Rashab of Lubavitch between 5669-5670 [1909-1910]. It was copied, most likely in the town of Lubavitch, in the year 5671 [1910-1911], shortly after its composition, as indicated at the top of the first page: "Lubavitch, Simchat Torah 5671."

The notebook is exceptionally rare in its beauty and far more ornate than the commonly found biklach (booklets) preserved in the Chabad World Center and occasionally offered at auctions. It has been remarkably well-preserved and lacks the signs of wear typically found in most Chabad manuscripts, which were passed from hand to hand among Chassidim in Russia during the eras of Stalinism and Communism. It likely belonged to a distinguished individual.

The original manuscript was in the possession of his son, the Admor Rayatz (Rabbi Yosef Yitzchak Schneersohn) of Lubavitch, and in 5706 [1946], it was printed by his son-in-law, the Admor Ramash (Rabbi Menachem Mendel Schneerson, the Lubavitcher Rebbe). In his introduction, the Rebbe notes that, per the directive of his father-in-law, the Admor Rayatz, he divided the text into sections [i.e., separate paragraphs; see attached excerpt].

The present copy retains the original, continuous writing style in which it was transcribed from the original manuscript of the Admor Rashab, before the Lubavitcher Rebbe divided it into sections in 5706 [1946].

First printed via stencil in 5671 [1910-1911].

[87] pages, 20 cm.

Very fine condition.