On Tuesday, December 11, an extraordinary auction will be held at Winners’ auction house.

The most interesting discovery is probably Rav Ashlag’s unknown manuscript. There are two volumes with three to four different kabbalistic compositions written by Rabbi Yehudah Leib Ashlag – the “Ba’al HaSulam.” Each of these works contains a wealth of kabbalistic material which sheds new light on the author of Sulam’s kabbalistic doctrine. They constitute, for the first time, a source to illuminate his kabbalistic thought in deeper and more significant ways. On most of the pages, the writing is extremely dense – so that on many pages there are actually three or even four separate columns. So far, only a preliminary examination has been conducted. There is undoubtedly much more to be discovered. Thorough research is required to decipher and extract the scope and depth of the content of the treasure in these compositions, and the manner in which they cast light on the kabbalistic teachings of the Baal HaSulam.

Some examples of the findings:

“Halbashat Elyon LaTachton”: Topics elucidated in Rabbi Ashlag’s kabbalistic thought; an essay titled: “Neshikin D’Hevel Dibur”; “G’ Eiruvin”: Extensive elucidation of this topic which doesn’t appear anywhere else in his doctrine; “Matzav HaPartzufin V’Shiur Komah”; “Maamar HaSigin”: (Another extensive elucidation appearing nowhere else in his doctrine). There is also a comprehensive essay in this work about the harmonious relationship that exists between a person’s body and the various spiritual layers nesting within him, starting from the layer of the soul, up to the higher layers of chayah yechidah. To the best of our knowledge, this essay, in this format, is unique in Rabbi Ashlag’s kabbalistic doctrine.

What makes this work even more amazing and fascinating is the letter that appears at its conclusion. This letter is addressed to his bother Rabbi Shmuel Ashlag, who lived in Warsaw (“my brother in body and my disciple in soul”). It reveals, for the first time, the exceptional connection between Rabbi Ashlag and his brother Rabbi Shmuel. Until now, the character of the relationship between the two was almost completely unknown, only about two letters between them have been published (in Pri Chacham), which contain minimal material. However, in this letter we are exposed to a very deep relationship. Beyond that, we even become aware of the reason why Rabbi Ashlag did not maintain continuous contact with his brother in Warsaw, as Rabb Ashlag writes:

“And now you will see the truth, why I withhold my hand from writing to you from the day we separated to this day, not [writing] even the smallest of small words, to teach you the path upon which to walk, because you need a connection, and a person cannot be placed under the wings of the Divine Presence via letters and mailings, because it is necessary to connect in truth to the mind and internalness of his rabbi in order to merit returning with the ה of הבראם… (spiritual perfection).”

For a more extensive review of this manuscript, click here.

Aside from the Ashlag manuscripts, there are other interesting items offered, such as:

* Rare Letter Written and Signed by the Beloved Grandson of the Gaon of Vilna, who Merited to Learn under him: Rabbi Yaakov Moshe of Slonim. https://winners-auctions.bidspirit.com/?lang=en#catalog~42~57~23070

* There is a complete and precise version of a lengthy and extremely detailed responsum handwritten by the Chazon Ish, ztz”l, opposing the “Heter Mechirah” during Shemittah.
A long article by the gaon of Jerusalem, Rabbi Tzvi Pesach Frank, was printed in Kerem Tziyon (booklet III, Jerusalem 1936), in which he sided with those who permit the dispensation. Rabbi Frank’s primary proof was: “I saw two books just published, and both as one cancel the dispensation, rejecting it with both hands, and the leaders of the generation who allow it appear to them to be mistaken in their study.” One of the books intended here by Rabbi Frank is the Chazon Ish on Tractate Sheviit, which was published then (he mentions it explicitly and in the body of the article). Rabbi Kalman Kahane’s Hilchot Shemittat Karkaot was published in 1944. It concludes with the article “Birur Halachah” in which he disputes Rabbi Frank’s article and vehemently rejects his words. According to this manuscript, it turns out that most of the article was written by the Chazon Ish. What was understood until now was that apparently the Chazon Ish transmitted his words for publication to Rabbi Kahane so that they would be published anonymously. And now it has been clearly revealed that almost all that was printed there was actually authored by the Chazon Ish himself. This is the sharp response of the Chazon Ish in his own original seven page-long meticulously worded and reviewed responsum. https://winners-auctions.bidspirit.com/?lang=en#catalog~42~57~23080

* A lengthy unprinted sermon handwritten by the Ben Ish Chai for his father’s yahrzeit. https://winners-auctions.bidspirit.com/?lang=en#catalog~42~57~22979

* The first publication of the manuscript by kabbalist Rabbi Tzvi Hirsch Chotsch, dayan in Krakow, noted for his fundamental work on Tikkunei HaZohar, Chemdat Tzvi.
This manuscript has never been printed. It is an abridged version of his lengthy Chemdat Tzvi, with dozens of comments and supplements. https://winners-auctions.bidspirit.com/?lang=en#catalog~42~57~23033