Or Yisrael, ethical essays by R. Yisrael of Salant and his disciple R. Yitzchak (R. Itzele) Blazer. Vilna, 1900. First edition.
The book is comprised of four parts. The main part, Or Yisrael, contains "a collection of letters and various essays to enthuse hearts to the fear of G-d and the study of ethics", by R. Yisrael of Salant. The other parts named Shaarei Or, Netivot Or and Kochvei Or, were composed by his close disciple R. Yitzchak Blazer.
The front endpaper bears a stamp: "Yitzchak Blazer, previously rabbi of the capital city of Petersburg, Kovno".
R. Yitzchak Blazer, known as R. Itzele Peterburger (1837-1907), was a prominent disciple of R. Yisrael of Salant, and spread the Mussar Movement in the Lithuanian yeshivas. An exceptional Torah scholar - among the greatest of his time. A man of ethics, known for his holiness. At the behest of his teacher, R. Yisrael of Salant, he went to serve as rabbi of St. Petersburg, a position he held from 1862-1878. In 1878, he resigned and moved to Kovno (Kaunas), and from 1880 he headed the Kovno Kollel. After a while, he left this position as well and continued his holy work as a private individual. Throughout these periods, he delivered mussar discourses to his companions of the Mussar Movement and at the Knesset Yisrael Yeshiva in Slabodka (Vilijampolė). In 1902, he planned to immigrate to Eretz Israel and therefore sold his home and possessions in Kovno, but actually only arrived in Eretz Israel in 1904. Upon his arrival in Jaffa, he was greeted by many Jerusalemite Torah scholars. He settled in Batei Strauss, Jerusalem, together with leading figures of the Mussar Movement who had previously immigrated to Jerusalem. He authored Responsa Pri Yitzchak in two parts.
184 pages. 22 cm. Good condition. Stains. Bookplate of R. Sigmund Seligman. Original binding, with minor damage.