Large manuscript volume, with additional booklets and leaves, handwritten by R. Gedalia Nachman Broder; with ten original letters handwritten and signed by the rabbis of Eretz Israel. Jerusalem, Hebron and Jaffa, ca. 1898-1907.
The volume comprises essays prepared for print, "lofty and exalted concepts", on kabbalah and Jewish philosophy, by R. Gedalia Nachman Broder. These essays were published in his books: Gan Yerushalayim – seven essays, Jerusalem 1899; and Ruach HaGan – eight essays, Jerusalem 1923 ("Gan Yerushalayim" lettered in gilt on the spine of the manuscript).
Enclosed with the volume are handwritten booklets, with additional drafts of the essays published in Gan Yerushalayim, leaves of additions and comments to his book, and draft letters (some may be unpublished).
The original letters of approbation granted by prominent rabbis in Eretz Israel to the book Gan Yerushalayim are attached at the beginning of the volume. Most of the approbations were printed at the beginning of the book (published in 1899):
• Letter from R. Shaul Chaim HaLevi Horowitz, rabbi of Dubrovna (son-in-law of the Nachalat David and founder of the Me'ah She'arim yeshiva). Jerusalem, Iyar 1899.
• Letter from R. Naftali Hertz HaLevi – rabbi of Jaffa (prominent kabbalist, author of Siddur HaGra BeNigleh UbeNistar). Jaffa, Elul 1898.
• Letter from R. Yosef Chaim Sonnenfeld. Jerusalem, Iyar 1899.
• Letter from R. Yitzchak Vinograd – dean of the Torat Chaim yeshiva. Jerusalem, Sivan 1899.
• Letter from R. Yosef Eliyahu Vinograd – one of the deans of the Torat Chaim yeshiva. Jerusalem, Iyar 1899.
• Letter from R. David Mazivetzky of Argentina. Jerusalem, Nissan 1899.
• Letter from R. Chaim Chizkiyahu Medini – the Sdei Chemed. Hebron, Shevat 1901.
• Lengthy letter (2 large pages) from R. Avraham Yitzchak HaKohen Kook – rabbi of Jaffa and the moshavot. Jaffa, Iyar 1906.
• Letter from R. Chaim Berlin, rabbi of Moscow. Jerusalem, Iyar 1907.
• Enclosed: printed leaf featuring the last three letters (from the Sdei Chemed, R. Kook and R. Chaim Berlin). It was printed seperately and included in some copies of Gan Yerushalayim.
• An additional letter, on kabbalah, handwritten and signed by R. Naftali Hertz HaLevi Rabbi of Jaffa, is attached in the book. With mention of his kabbalistic work Kesef Mishneh on Mishnat Chassidim. [Jaffa, 1900s].
R. Gedalia Nachman Broder (1857-1940), author of Gan Yerushalayim and Ruach HaGan. A multifarious Torah scholar and communal worker, trustee of Kollel Horodna in Jerusalem and one of the leaders of the Vaad HaKlali. Born in Vasilkov, near Białystok, he absorbed Torah in his childhood from his elderly grandfather, rabbi of the city, R. Shmuel Moed (1784-1875; a holy man and wonder-worker, disciple of R. Mendel of Shklow disciple of the Gaon of Vilna. Author of Beit Shmuel HaKatan on the Mordechai – see item 31). After his marriage, in 1885, he immigrated to Eretz Israel together with his family. He first served as private teacher to the children of a Jewish family on an agricultural farm near Jaffa. Over the years, he became well-versed in natural sciences and botany, and was one of the foremost experts in distinguishing grafted and non-grafted etrog trees in the orchards of Eretz Israel. He later moved to Jerusalem, and devoted himself to its spiritual and material development for many years. In honor of his eightieth birthday, the book Ish Yerushalayim was published (Jerusalem, 1937), with articles in appreciation of a half a century of his communal work in Jerusalem. His son-in-law was R. Moshe HaMeiri-Ostrovsky – rabbi of Mazkeret Batya (during WWI), one of the heads of the Mizrachi movement and a leader of the Yishuv in Mandatory Eretz Israel.
Volume, approx. 420 written leaves + single booklets and leaves + 10 rabbinic letters (attached in volume). Altogether over 500 written leaves. 28 cm. Overall good condition. Detached leaves and gatherings. Several leaves with stains and traces of past dampness. Original binding, detached and damaged, with leather spine.