Manuscript, accounting notebook, debts, payments and expenditure, of the Tzadik Rabbi Sekl Loeb Wormser - "the Ba'al Shem of Michelstadt'. [1831-1841].
"In this notebook, all our liabilities are written… Erev Shabbat Parshat Ki Tetze 1831…".
the whole notebook is in the handwriting of the Ba'al Shem of Michelstadt, on one leaf signed "Sekl Loeb". It contains details of various payments, debts, some private expenses and some related to the maintenance of the yeshiva in Michelstadt - to suppliers, some non-Jewish and other expenditure. the various categories are written on the first page: a. "Services" (such as: Shoemaker, Butcher, Tailor, Wood Seller, Flour Grinder, etc.). b. Traders and householders (Jews, non-Jews, book-sellers). c. Students, non-Jews who are not craftsmen. d. Maidservants e. Hekdesh f. Societies.
Hundreds of inscriptions appear in the notebook, many crossed out (a sign that the debt was paid or the payment was made). the inscriptions contains various details, names of people, etc. Most are inscribed in Yiddish, a few in German. Some of the leaves were removed, possibly by the Ba'al Shem of Michelstadt himself.
Rabbi Yitzchak Sekl Aryeh Loeb Wormser (1768-1848) - the Ba'al Shem of Michelstadt. Descendent of the Luria family, the Maharshal and Rashi, and of Rabbi Eliyahu Loans, called the Ba'al Shem of Worms. In his youth, he was a disciple of Rabbi Natan Adler of Frankfurt and later returned to his native city of Michelstadt. there he established his Beit Midrash and served as rabbi of the city and its surroundings and founded a yeshiva which drew many disciples. He became famous as a tsaddik and wonder-worker which prompted the name of Ba'al Shem. People from many countries streamed to his door seeking cures and salvation and many were helped by his blessings, segulot and amulets.
He was revered by Jews and non-Jews alike. During World War I, German soldiers who prayed at his gravesite returned from the battles healthy and well. the Michelstadt municipality placed a memory plate on the house in which he resided naming him "the Peoples' friend". His novellae and writings appear in the book Ba'al Shem M'Michelstadt (Machon Yerushalayim, 2006).
[43] leaves. 33 cm. Good condition, stains. Wear and tear to several leaves (restored). Original binding (slightly damaged), on which a paper strip is pasted with the details of the notebook in the handwriting of the Ba'al Shem of Michelstadt.