An exceptional Hebrew manuscript dating back to 1770 was recently uncovered in a house in Bnei Brak. The manuscript was penned by Rabbi Shabtai Marshakov, who meticulously recorded the teachings and practices of the Baal Shem Tov – the founder of Hasidism. The homeowner's grandfather, who was an avid collector of ancient sacred texts, purchased the manuscript during his lifetime.
The 237-page document is written on thick, well-preserved paper. It was crafted over two and a half centuries ago in what is now Ukraine and Moldova by Rabbi Shabtai of Rashkov, a disciple of the Baal Shem Tov. Rabbi Shabtai was known for his transcription of numerous Kabbalah and Hasidic books. This particular manuscript went on to form the foundation for one of the most pivotal works in Hasidic and Kabbalistic literature: Rabbi Shabtai's prayer book, which was published in 1794, 24 years after the manuscript's completion. This prayer book serves as a primary reference for the Hasidic prayer tradition and numerous Hasidic customs.
The manuscript found in Bnei Brak has had a journey as lengthy as its history, reaching a Jewish collector in Eastern Europe prior to the Holocaust. This collector sent a significant parcel of sacred texts, including this rare manuscript, to Israel. Following the Holocaust, the collector himself immigrated to Israel but left for overseas with the manuscript after a decade. After many years, the manuscript found its way back to Israel, safeguarded in the home of the collector's grandson.
Recently, the grandson hosted Hanoch Brand, the proprietor of the Brand public auction house in Bnei Brak, at his home, leading to the discovery of the rare manuscript. Rabbi Yitzchak Yeshaya Weiss, a recognized expert in the Haredi world for identifying and authenticating manuscripts and signatures, affirmed the manuscript's authenticity.
This manuscript is adorned with stunning Kabbalistic drawings and embellishments. It also outlines a sequence of intentions and practices from the eve of Sabbath through to its end, New Moon (Rosh Chodesh), Passover (including the Passover Haggadah), along with the order of counting the Omer and the festival of Shavuot.
The manuscript, excluding its cover, measures 6.1 inches. It is hand-bound in a leather cover. A handful of pages bear minor tears, with the bulk of the damage on the initial pages. In certain areas, the ink has either slightly faded or become smudged, but this does not appear to prevent legibility of the text. The manuscript also has a few wormholes and displays faint signs of aging.
This extraordinary manuscript is due to be auctioned off publicly next Sunday, with bidding starting at $150,000. Interestingly, the printed version of this prayer book was previously auctioned off for $107,000.