“May Hashem shower [you] with an abundance of blessing and success in all matters. [Your] good soul and that of [your] kindred spirit honor [you] and appreciate [you] as suits [your] lofty status. Yisrael Meir HaKohen”
The book Safra , also known as Torat Kohanim , parallels and is often cited in the Babylonian and Jerusalem Talmuds. First edition of the Gr”a’s commentary on the Safra . Published by the great Kohen, the leader of the entire Jewish people, Rabbi Yisrael Meir HaKohen of Radin. Stereotypical Pietrkov edition, 1911. Two parts with separate title pages.
This is the only one in the world! The protective leaf bears a lengthy [approximately 60 words!] and extremely important dedication loaded with rare blessings for wealth, handwritten and fully signed by the Chafetz Chaim himself! Aside from the extreme rarity and the inestimable segulah value of these handwritten blessings by the gaon and sacred one of the generations, this is a unique item in its historic and bibliographic aspects as well – the only dedication in the world by the Chafetz Chaim on his book! (There is one other known dedication, apparently for an educational institution, but not to a specific individual, without blessings and without a signature).
This dedication was written to the Chafetz Chaim’s close friend, whom people referred to as his Yissachar V’Zevulun, the gaon and activist Rabbi Aharon Teitelbaum, who financially maintained the yeshivah world in Europe during the period of the World War. The Chafetz Chaim recognized him for this, and saw him as a kindred spirit as was his due. He stated that without him, Torah would also have been forgotten from among the Jewish people. This is also the reason that the Chafetz Chaim specifically blesses his soulmate with abundance in this rare letter at the beginning of the book.
These are the rare words by the Chafetz Chaim: “As a souvenir of love and blessing, to my friend, for the rabbi great in Torah and fear of Heaven, the multifaceted and accomplished person who stands by the side of our sacred Torah, Rabbi Aharon Teitelbaum – on the day [you] visited our sacred yeshivah. May Hashem’s grace be upon [you] to add courage to [your] lofty service for the sake of maintaining Torah institutions. May Hashem shower [you] with an abundance of blessing and success in all matters. [Your] good soul and that of [your] kindred spirit honor [you] and appreciate [you] as suits [your] lofty status. Yisrael Meir HaKohen, author of Sefer Chafetz Chaim and Mishnah Berurah .”
Writers of those times relate that the day Rabbi Aharon Teitelbaum visited Radin and the Chafetz Chaim gave him this book, the Chafetz Chaim instructed the students at the yeshivah to go out to greet him dressed in their Shabbat finery in his honor – an uncommon honor reserved for rabbinic leaders of the generation! [ HaPardes , Sefer HaYovel p. 470].
Another thing, sacred and awesome, that stands out in this rare letter from the Chafetz Chaim – is specifically that which does not appear in the letter! It is astonishing how the Chafetz Chaim, who had nothing in his world aside from his love of Torah, did not bless his soulmate, Rabbi Aharon Teitelbaum, who, aside from his pubic activism, was also known for his Torah greatness, to the extent that many locations in Europe and America sought to appoint him their av beit din , – why the Chafetz Chaim does not bless him also with success in Torah, not one word, not even to fulfill his formal obligation with respect to the recipient’s Torah stature?
The answer to this is simply shocking! The Chafetz Chaim reasoned – and even decided halachically – that Rabbi Aharon Teitelbaum was absolutely forbidden to study Torah! (That is, in the vast scope of Rabbi Aharon’s Torah study, not regular study). There is a famous story that Rabbi Aharon – who was bound to the sacred Torah with his whole heart and soul – once poured out the bitterness in his heart about the public needs and activism that do not allow him the time to study Torah. He said to the Chafetz Chaim that he has resolved to abandon his activities and return to the Land of Israel (where he was born), and live there occupied only with Torah and Divine service. The Chafetz Chaim replied: “The evil inclination has many ways … we demand that you do not heed the evil inclination, who is the Satan. Do not abandon your work… May I only merit that which you will merit.”
Both parts are astonishing in their intensity, that the Chafetz Chaim sees ceasing support of Torah institutions as a sin and the counsel of the evil inclination, even if the supporter decides to dedicate himself instead to Torah study. Another matter, no less astonishing, is that the Chafetz Chaim – for whom every word is precise and to the point without any exaggeration, Heaven forbid, blesses himself that his portion – that of the leading student and disseminator of Torah, be like the portion of the Torah supporter!
Refer to the Hebrew catalog text for a brief biography of Rabbi Yisrael Meir Kohen of Radin .
Rabbi Aharon Teitelbaum [1891-1950] was born in Jerusalem. In 1912, when he was only 21[!] years old, he was sent to the United States to raise funds for the Va’ad HaKlali. In his travels there, he delivered sermons and fund-raised, and his talents led him to become an activist of the highest order, who appeared before those of the highest status (he was even given an honorary appointment by the US government, and huge budgets were at his disposal). He was requested several times to take a rabbinic position in various communities, but refused. In 1914, when WWI broke out, he and his associates founded the Central Relief committee that supported European yeshivahs. He served as the committee’s secretary, and as a matter of course, was in contact with rabbinic leaders who were fond of him and appreciated him very much. More material about him is included.
Complete copy. 24.5 cm.
Very fine condition. Very well preserved. Beautiful original binding.
