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Selected sayings on books of the Bible from the hassidic master, R. Hayyim ben Solomon Tyrer of Czernowitz. The title page describes as “overlaid with sapphires” (Song of Songs 5:14), sung “with sweet songs” (cf. II Samuel 23:1). The biblical books on which he comments are Psalms, Isaiah, Esther, Song of Songs, and Lamentations. At the end are selections aon Medrash Peliah and Hiddushei Halakhot. The greatest part of the book, however, is on Psalms. The text is in two columns in rabbinic type.
R. Hayyim ben Solomon Tyrer of Czernowitz (c. 1760–1816) was a noted rabbi and hasidic leader; born near Buchach, Galicia. He was a descendant of R. Joel Sirkes (Bach) and studeied under R. Zevi Hirsch Kara and R. Jehiel Michael of Zloczow. R. Tyrer later served as rabbi in Mogilev, Kishinev, Czernowitz and district, and Botosani. He had a profound knowledge of rabbinical literature and mysticism, was an eloquent preacher and a talented writer. He did much to spread Hasidism and opposed the spread of Haskalah in Rumania. His resistance to certain government decrees forced him to relinquish his office in Czernowitz in 1807. In 1813 he emigrated to Erez Israel and settled in Safed. R. Tyrer was known as “the man of the Sabbath” as he derived his greatest joy from Shabbat. According to hasidic legend he appeared a head taller on Shabbat. In addition to Erez ha-Hayyim he wrote the following works, which were published in many editions: Siddur shel Shabbat (Mogilev, 1813); Be'er Mayim Hayyim (Sudilkov, 1820, with Pentateuch; Czernowitz, 1849); and Sha'ar ha-Tefillah (Sudilkov, 1825). |
