Kabbalah – Sefer Etz Chaim of Rabbeinu Chaim Vital, from the Holy Rabbi Yechiel Michel of Samatur and His Descendants!
A rare and sacred copy of Sefer Etz Chaim, Shklov printing, 5560 (1800), which belonged to the holy tzaddik, one of the early chassidim, Rabbi Yechiel Michel of Samatur זצ"ל, one of the senior disciples of the Rebbe Reb Melech of Lublin זי"ע.
He was the father-in-law of the tzaddik and chassid Rabbi Pinchas Aryeh HaKohen Rapoport, known as "Reb Pinchas Samaturer of Uhel, " the baal tokeia of the Gaon and Tzaddik, the Yismach Moshe זי"ע.
From the signatures on the title page, we see that this sacred volume was passed down from generation to generation, from Reb Yechiel Michel to his son-in-law, Reb Pinchas Samaturer, then to his son-in-law the holy tzaddik Rabbi Shaul HaKohen Rubin, then to his son Rabbi Yechiel Michel HaKohen Rubin, who was likewise known as "Reb Michel Samaturer, " and from him to his son Rabbi Yosef Chaim HaKohen Rubin, who in turn gifted it to his son-in-law, Rabbi Alter.
The title page bears historic inscriptions, including:
"Belongs to the distinguished and esteemed Rav, elder and sage, the honorable Moreinu HaRav Yechiel Michel, known as Reb Michel Samaturer."
Below it, in the handwriting of his grandson bearing his name:
"And I, his humble grandson, Yechiel Michel HaKohen Rubin of Samatur."
Further below is a faded signature of
"Yosef Chaim HaKohen Rubin", next to which is written:
"..to my son-in-law Moreinu HaRav Alter, Shlit"a, I will give this holy book, b’ezras Hashem, bli neder. Yosef Chaim HaKohen Rubin."
Here we have an extraordinary historical artifact, a sacred copy of Sefer Etz Chaim, a book of the deepest secrets of Kabbalah, studied with fervent dveikus by early chassidic tzaddikim, members of the holy circles of the great chassidic luminaries throughout the generations.
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The Holy Rabbi Yechiel Michel of Samatur זצ"ל (The First)
Little is recorded about his life and avodah. The Sefer Megillas Yuchasin states that he traveled to the Rebbe Reb Melech of Lublin. It is recounted that his sons-in-law, the tzaddikim Reb Pinchas Samaturer and Reb Leib of Trina, once traveled to the Divrei Chaim of Sanz for Shavuos, while their father-in-law, Reb Michel, remained home due to his weakness in old age. When they arrived in Sanz, the Divrei Chaim told them:
"You have come here to receive the Torah, yet you have left the Torah itself at home."
Implying that their father-in-law, Reb Michel, was like a Sefer Torah!
(Sefer Megillas Yuchasin)
The Sefer Pe’er V’Kavod records that the Tzaddik sent a kvittel to the holy "Or L’Shamayim, " and the Or L’Shamayim greatly praised his exalted level.
Rabbi Yechiel Michel HaKohen Rubin of Samatur זצ"ל (The Second)
Born in 5590 (1830), was niftar 27 Adar 5677 (1917). His matzeivah praises him as:
"Holy and pure, a chassid in all his deeds… the renowned Rav, Moreinu HaRav Yechiel Michel, the great Kohen among his brothers, son of Moreinu HaRav Shaul, zt”l."
His son, the chassid Reb Pinchas z”l, was the father-in-law of the renowned tzaddik, Rabbi Shimon Yisrael Posen זצ"ל, author of Toras Alef of Shapran.
