Ben Porat Yosef, homiletics on Bereshit, with responsa at the end, by R. Yaakov Yosef HaKohen Katz Rabbi of Polonne. The famous letter which the Baal Shem Tov sent to his brother-in-law R. Gershon of Kitov is printed for the first time at the end of this book. Korets: Tzvi Hirsh son of Aryeh Leib [Margolies] and his son-in-law Shmuel son of Yissachar Ber Segal, [1781]. First edition.
This is the author's second book, published approximately one year after his first book Toldot Yaakov Yosef. In this book, like in the previous one, the author quotes extensively teachings from his prime teacher, R. Yisrael Baal Shem Tov.
The present copy was owned by the publisher of this work, grandson-in-law of the author – R. Avraham Dov Auerbach of Chmelnik, who passed it down to his son R. Yaakov Pinchas Auerbach of Letychiv, son-in-law of R. Baruch of Mezhibuzh.
Inscriptions on the back endpapers attest to this: "This book Ben Porat Yosef belonged to the leader of the entire Diaspora, the rabbi of Chmelnik, and my father gave it to me as a gift"; "This book Ben Porat Yosef belongs to the rabbi, outstanding in Torah and fear of G-d… R. Yaakov Pinchas son of the rabbi of Chmelnik, son-in-law of R. Baruch of Mezhibuzh, residing here in Mezhibuzh"; "Rabbi of Letychiv". Additional inscription on the title page: "To R. Yaakov Pinchas".
R. Avraham Dov Auerbach (d. 1811) was a disciple of the Baal Shem Tov, who attested that he studied Torah for the sake of Heaven. R. Avraham Dov, who brought the present book to print, is mentioned on the title page as the son-in-law of the author, though in fact he was married to his granddaughter, daughter of his son-in-law R. Tzvi (son of R. Chaim Sanzer, leader of the Brody Kloiz). Reputedly, the Baal Shem Tov himself suggested the match, and even pledged to support the couple for a year. Indeed, for a full year R. Avraham Dov ate at the table of the Baal Shem Tov, who made sure to never to sit down to a meal without him. He was later supported by his grandfather-in-law, R. Yaakov Yosef of Polonne. He received guidance on Chassidut and worship of G-d from his grandfather-in-law as well as from R. Dov Ber, the maggid of Mezeritch. He served as rabbi of Chmelnik, and after the passing of R. Yaakov Yosef, he succeeded him as rabbi of Polonne. Three of his sons married descendants of the Baal Shem Tov: his son R. Moshe Ze'ev was the son-in-law of R. Tzvi son of the Baal Shem Tov, his son R. Yaakov Pinchas was the son-in-law of R. Baruch of Mezhibuzh, grandson of the Baal Shem Tov (son of his daughter Odel), and his son R. Yosef Yoske was the son-in-law of R. Nachman of Breslov. As stated on the title page, he published the present book. A year earlier, R. Avraham Dov had assisted in publishing the first book of R. Yaakov Yosef – Toldot Yaakov Yosef (in Korets 1780; the title page also states the name of R. Yaakov Yosef's son-in-law, R. Avraham Shimshon of Rashkov, though it mentions that he had already settled in Eretz Israel; see previous item). A year later (in 1782), he published the third book of R. Yaakov Yosef – Tzofnat Pane'ach (see following item). Even after his appointment as rabbi of Polonne, R. Avraham Dov continued being referred to as "rabbi of Chmelnik" (in the approbations of books published in Polonne).
His son, R. Yaakov Pinchas Auerbach of Letychiv, was the son-in-law of R. Baruch of Mezhibuzh grandson of the Baal Shem Tov (son of the latter's son-in-law R. Yechiel). He married R. Baruch's daughter – Odel, who was named after her father's mother, daughter of the Baal Shem Tov. R. Yaakov Pinchas owned the Mezhibuzh printing firm, and is mentioned in the approbations of the Ohev Yisrael of Apta, who served for a while as rabbi of Mezhibuzh and issued approbations to books printed there (see: Igrot HaOhev Yisrael, p. 116, 222).
Additional inscriptions on the title page and endpapers, including an inscription by a family member: "…Pinchas Auerbach son-in-law of R. Tzvi Menachem".

[1], 100 leaves. Approx. 32 cm. Good condition. Stains, including dark dampstains and wax stains. Worming to title page and other leaves, affecting text and border, repaired in part with paper. Piece of paper pasted on title page (over border), with censor's stamp. Inscriptions. Stamps. New leather binding.

The Famous Letter from the Baal Shem Tov

The famous letter which the Baal Shem Tov sent to his brother-in-law R. Gershon of Kitov in Jerusalem, was printed for the first time in the first edition of the book Ben Porat Yosef (at the end of the book). The Baal Shem Tov gave this letter to the author R. Yaakov Yosef of Polonne when the latter intended to immigrate to Eretz Israel, in 1751, so that he could relay it to R. Gershon of Kitov. After his travel plans were cancelled, the letter remained in R. Yaakov Yosef's possession, and he published it "to benefit the Jewish people". In this letter, the Baal Shem Tov narrates of the "ascent of the soul" which he performed on Rosh Hashana of 1746 and 1749, and relates: "And I asked Mashiach, when will the Master come, and he responded… when your teachings will be publicized and revealed to the world, and your wellsprings will spread outwards".

R. Uri of Strelisk related that R. Mordechai of Neshchiz would study the letter every day: "The Tzaddik of Neshchiz resolved to study it every day, without fail, literally like laying Tefillin", he also said in his name that this letter contains allusions to three Holy names "through which one can find out the time of the Redemption" (Imrei Kadosh HaShalem, Jerusalem 1961, p. 47, 40).

The Books of Rabbi Yaakov Yosef of Polonne – "Teachings from Paradise"
The books of R. Yaakov Yosef of Polonne, author of Toldot Yaakov Yosef, are the most important and authentic source of the Baal Shem Tov's teachings, containing hundreds of references to teachings the author personally heard from the Baal Shem Tov, emphasized throughout the books and beginning with the words "I heard from my master".
This book was especially cherished by Chassidic leaders, who ascribed it great holiness. The Maggid of Mezeritch commended the author as having merited revelation of Eliyahu and reached lofty heights. R. Pinchas of Korets attested that a book of such stature has never yet existed, and its teachings originate from Heaven. He would customarily say that all new books do not totally conform with the truth, except for the books of the rabbi of Polonne which are "teachings from Paradise", and that with each quotation "heard from my master" one can resurrect the dead[!].
The present catalog presents the first editions of three books by R. Yaakov Yosef of Polonne, printed in Korets in three consecutive years (1780, 1781 and 1782): Toldot Yaakov Yosef, Ben Porat Yosef and Tzofnat Pane'ach (items 39-41).