Large collection of 36 issues of the weekly HaSegulah – dedicated to the transcription of ancient manuscripts never before published, edited by Rabbi Menachem Ze’ev (Butshan) Chassida. These rare booklets were printed in only 100 copies per issue, each one distributed to one hundred regular subscribers. The present copies were originally owned by Rabbi Meir Berlin (some bearing a label addressed to “Rabbi Meir Berlin”) and Attorney Mordechai Eliash (with ownership labels as well). The collection includes issues from the years 5694–5699 (1934–1939), including rare issues from the first year of publication (see breakdown below):
First Year – 1934: Issues: 3, 4, 10, 11, 12, 17, 18, 19, 20
Second Year – 1935: Issues: 22, 24, 29
Third Year – 1936: Issues: 31, 32, 33, 34, 35
Fifth Year – 1938: Issues: 50, 51, 52, 53, 54, 55, 57, 58, 59
Sixth Year – 1939: Issues: 61, 62, 63, 64, 65, 66, 66–b, 67, 68, 70
Each issue includes the transcription of an ancient manuscript never previously printed, featuring material from the Geonim and Rishonim in halacha, aggadah, kabbalah, and more. The journal was privately published by Rabbi Chassida, typewritten and duplicated via stencil.
Rabbi Menachem Ze’ev Butshan-Chassida (1885–1965) was a great Torah scholar who managed to flee Poland before the outbreak of the Holocaust and settled in Jerusalem, where he devoted himself to his life’s work—deciphering and transcribing manuscripts. Over a period of roughly 14 years, he published HaSegulah, which was mailed to around 100 fixed subscribers. Through this effort, many works by the Geonim and Rishonim were published for the first time across various areas of Torah.
All booklets are complete, with some light edge tears on the covers.
Overall condition: Good.
