Pachad Yitzchak , the first Hebrew encyclopedia in alphabetic order, entries “Peah” to “Kim, ” by the Italian rabbi and doctor Yitzchak Lampronte. First edition. Printed by Chevrat Chatzi Nirdamim, Poland, 1871. Owner’s signature and gloss in the very hand of the great Kohen, the author of Chafetz Chaim .
At the top of the first leaf (2) is the Chafetz Chaim’s signature: “Yisrael Meir HaKohen of Radin.” On page 43a, there is a short gloss of just two words, as was the Chafetz Chaim’s way, also in his script: ‘:דף מ”ד.’
It is related in Ohr Elchanan (p. 239-240) that when Rabbi Elchanan Wasserman studied in Kollel Kadshim in Radin with Rabbi Yosef Shlomo Kahaneman, they needed a rare book for their studies. They asked the Chafetz Chaim if he had this volume in his library, since he had quoted it in Mishnah Berurah . The Chafetz Chaim answered that he didn’t own the work, but had borrowed it from a certain person while writing Mishnah Berurah . He added, “I somewhat regret the ones I do have on my bookcase.” Rabbi Elchanan wondered what he had meant, and he received an explanation on a subsequent visit to the Chafetz Chaim: “Every book that I purchased with money cost me part of my life. I procured that money with hours of work and toil and that is a slice of my life …”
200 leaves, approximately 22 cm.
Fine condition. Minimal aging stains. Owner’s inscriptions. Original binding.