Especially Rare: Margaliot HaTorah, First Edition. Printed in the Gr"a's Lifetime, and Mentioning his Name

Especially Rare: Margaliot HaTorah, First Edition. Printed in the Gr"a's Lifetime, and Mentioning his Name

Pair of sefarim - Margaliot HaTorah, a Kabblistic work by the Gr"a's disciple, the tzaddik 'Rabbi Hirsch Chassid.' These are the two sections, printed about twenty years apart. Both are first editions. Poryck [Mińkowce]. 1788-1807, respectively. The first part was printed in the Gr"a's lifetime, and mentions his name. The first part is extremely rare, and the second part is also rare (although less so than the first part). The complete set is very scarce.

These sefarim are a Kabbalistic work on the pesukim in the Torah, Nevi'im and Ketuvim, "compilations on verses and their combinations with hints in their abbreviations using the first or last letters of the pesukim for each and every passuk. With elucidations on each verse according to the words of Chaza"l, halachic, aggadic or midrashic matters, from the Zohar and Tikkunei HaZohar, or Kitvei Ariza"l." The author was the righteous Rabbi Tzvi Hirsch of Siemiatycze, also known as "Rabbi Tzvi Hirsch Chassid." He was one of the Gr"a's close associates who was privileged to serve him for several years.

The title page of the second part here, printed after the Gr"a's passing as well as the author's passing, cites what was written about the author by the Gr"a (in the introduction to Shulach Aruch im Hagahot HaGr"a): "He has great powers in the revealed and hidden [aspects of Torah]; he served him for many years. He adopted several of his ways in piety and asceticism, as befit him."

The printer, the Chassid and Admo"r, who printed the Gr"a's disciple's sefer: it is interesting to note that the first section was printed at the renowned press of Rabbi Shlomo of Lutzk - Rabbi Shlomo Lutzker, one of the leading disciples of the Maggid of Mezritch and editor of his sefer, Maggid Devarav L'Ya'akov, as well as author of Dibrat Shlomo. Rabbi Shlomo of Lutzk was known as the first printer of Chassidic works. Although the title page of the sefer does not mention the author's name, the approbations do mention his name, and that he was a disciple of the Gr"a's. As stated, this sefer was printed in the Gr"a's lifetime, and the author's introduction mentions his difficult illness and that he recovered from it, as a result of which he made a neder that he would print this sefer.

* [Part I] on the Torah, printed in Poryck, 1788, at Rabbi Shlomo of Lutzk's renowned press, one of the leading disciples of the Maggid of Mezeritch and editor of his sefer, Maggid Devarav L'Ya'akov, and author of Dibrat Moshe. Rabbi Shlomo of Lutzk was known as the first printer of Chassidic works.

The title page does not mention the author's name, but his name is written in the approbations, and the fact that he was the Gr"a's disciple. As mentioned, this sefer was printed in the Gr"a's lifetime.

With a preface by the author describing his difficult illness and his recovery, as a result of which he took upon himself to print this sefer.

Vinograd, Sifrei HaGr"a 1528.

127 [should be 137] leaf. 18 cm.

Fine condition. Handwritten notations. Aging stains. Few worming perforations. Very light tears in the margins of the title page, far from the text. New binding.

* [Part II] on Nevi'im and Ketuvim. [Mińkowce] 1807.

Printed with several page numbers, about which the printers wrote: "The reader should not be surprised that the pages are not presented in order from the beginning of the sefer to its end. The work became very hard on us, as well as the printing. We have toiled for several years without rest ...

Vinograd, Sifrei HaGr"a 1529.

[1], 18, 40; 29; 16; 19-28, 27-28, 27-28, 27-65; 10 leaf. 21 cm.

Moderate-fine condition. Aging stains. Worming tunnels. Adhesions.