Rabbi Eliyahu of Vilna – the Vilna Gaon ‘s c ustoms and practices. By Rabbi Yissachar Ber of Vilna, Vilna and Horodna, 1832. First edition .
Specifications : [3], 67 pages. 18 cm. Two title pages. Winograd HaGR”A 808.
Background: The main and authoritative book on the Vilna Gaon’s customs, later printed in dozens of editions. Rabbi Yissachar Ber of Vilna collected the GR”A’s customs from Rabbi Saadia, the Vilna Gaon’s famous student, and expounded on them. The work has an approbation from by Rabbi Chaim of Volozhin, the Vilna Gaon’s prominent disciple. The manuscript’s editing and printing lasted 15 years, but already received approbations in 1817 from Rabbi Avraham Danzig, author of Chayei Adam, and from the Vilna Gaon’s father-in-law. The work was brought to print by Rabbi Mordechai son of Rabbi Yissachar Ber, who wrote about the book’s editing at its close.
Bound with: Perush al HaMesorah , by Rabbi Ya’akov son of Yitzchak of Sandomierz. Lvov, 1796. Missing title page and two last leaves.
Unique Features: Especially rare book.
Condition: Moderate. Wrinkles. Worming holes, mainly on the white margins. Aging stains. Unbound.
Ruach Chaim . Commentary on Pirkei Avot. Rabbi Chaim of Volozhin. Vilna, 1858. First edition.
Specifications : 17, 41 leaves. Thick paper. 21 cm. Additional pre-title page. Winograd, Otzar Sifrei HaGR”A , 1458.
Pirkei Avot is printed on the page’s center, surrounded by the commentary. A handwritten manuscript was ready to be printed during the author’s lifetime, as mentioned in the introduction of Nefesh HaChaim’s first edition, Vilna [1824]. The author’s son and successor, Rabbi Yitzchak of Volozhin, wrote there that the work on Pirkei Avot would be called Ruach Chaim . However Rabbi Yitzchak did not merit to publish the composition in his lifetime. Eventually it was published by the author’s grandson, Rabbi Eliyahu Shlomo Zalman son of Rabbi Yitzchak, together with his son-in-law, Rabbi Yehoshua Heschel Levin. Contains an important introduction by Rabbi Avraham Simchah of Stanisławów, student and nephew of Rabbi Chaim’s, also editor and publisher of the GR”A’s commentary on Sifra DeTzniuta and Nefesh HaChaim . Also includes an approbation by Rabbi Yisrael of Salant, founder of the Mussar movement.
Condition: Fine. Aging stains. Disintegrated cover.
Shirah LaChaim HaOleh Tarya”g . Verses from HaAzinu as an acronym for all 613 commandments, by Rabbi Chaim [Perlmutter]. Warsaw, 1814. First edition. With a song for the defeat of Napoleon.
Specifications: [138] pages, 17 cm. Winograd, Sifrei HaGR”A 1616.
Background: The author writes that he heard from the GR”A of Vilna that in HaAzinu there are 613 words corresponding to the 613 commandments; every word corresponds to a mitzvah, and he worked according to this and found abbreviations for all the mitzvahs. The words of the poem were printed with the initials in vowelized block letters on the top of the page, and on the bottom, the two commentaries Yachin and Boaz, are printed in Rashi letters. With the approbation of Rabbi Aryeh Leib Tzintz and more. The author, Rabbi Chaim Perlmutter, was rabbi of Mariampol in Lithuania, for 40 years, and was rabbi of Shershevo, by whose name he was known – Rabbi Chaim of Shershevo. He passed away at a very advanced age.
Unique Features: A poem by the author is printed on the last page, in which he hints to the rescue from Napoleon. Due to Napoleon’s war with Russia, the Hebrew press in Warsaw was stopped in the middle of 1812, and the first book printed afterwards was the book before us. Rare book.
Condition: Moderate-fine. Aging stains. Slight tears in the white margins of the title page. Worn binding.
Elya Rabba . Commentary on the mishnahs in seder Taharot, by Rabbi Eliyahu of Vilna [The GR”A]. Brunn, 1802. First edition.
Specifications: [2] 42 leaves, 23 cm. Winograd, Sifrei HaGR”A , 241.
Background: The commentary was written by the GR”A’s disciple, Rabbi Meir of Vilna, who served his master five years. Among the approbations, Rabbi Meir printed a letter from the GR”A and from the GR”A’s brother in which they wrote that he sat in the GR”A’s house five years, and studied the mishnahs of Taharot with him for a number of years. However, the GR”A’s sons questioned the reliability of this commentary. With Rabbi Mordechai Bennett’s and Rabbi Elazar Fleklesh’s approbations.
Condition: Fine. Some worming holes in the white margins. Blemishes in the corners of the leaves.
Teharat Hakodesh . Tosefta Seder Teharot with commentary by Rabbi Eliyahu of Vilna [the GR”A]. Zolkiew, 1804. First edition.
Specifications: [2] 72 leaves. 21 cm. Vinograd, Sifrei HaGR”A, 281.
Background: First edition with the commentary of the GR”A, printed just a few years after his passing. The editor, Rabbi Meir of Vilna, writes in the introduction: “I did not move out of the tent of Torah, the home of Rabbeinu HaGaon HaChassid, the famed … Eliyahu of Vilna.” Despite this statement, the sons of the GR”A objected to this commentary.
Condition: Very fine. Old, marbleized paper binding.
Shishah Sidrei Mishnah with commentaries including the Chiddushei HaGaon of Vilna and Chiddushei Rabbi Levi Yitzchak of Berditchov. Vilna and Grodno, [1818].
Specifications: Six volumes, 26 cm. Light blue paper. Complete set. Many signatures and owner notations of Rabbi Avraham son of Chaim Friedstein of Kalwaria and others.
Background: This edition of the mishnah features the first edition of the Peirushei HaGR”A on the six sedarim of the mishnah then known. With the addition of a number of elucidations from the GR”A, printed here for the first time. Refer to Winograd, Sifrei HaGR”A #183, for more information regarding the significance of this edition. Includes the Biur HaGR”A on Mishnayot Arugah (chapter 3 of Tractate Kilaim) with supplements that had never been printed before. Chapter Adroginus (end of Tractate Bikkurim), per the version of the GR”A. With the chart of “elu hen hakrovim” on Tractate Sanhedrin, within the Hagahot HaGR”A . Peirush HaGR”A on Seder Teharot was printed around the text of the Mishnayot. On Seder Kadshim [1] leaf, a sketch of the Beit HaMikdsah … I drew and developed it … Dov Ber … Yosef Yozpa … Cooper Stecher of Vilna.
Condition: All the volumes are in very fine condition, other than damp stains on the second section of Kadshim with the sketch of the Holy Temple. Five original, antiquated leather bindings in fine condition, with light blemishes. The binding of Seder Zeraim is worn.
