Auction 58 - Rare and Important Items
Toldot Ya'akov Yosef - Korets, 1780 - First Edition of the Earliest Printed Chassidic Book - Book of Segula
Opening: $40,000
Unsold
Toldot Ya'akov Yosef, Chassidic commentary on the Torah, by R. Ya'akov Yosef HaCohen of Polonne (Polnoye). Korets: Zvi Hirsh son of Aryeh Leib [Margaliot] and his son-in-law Shmuel son of Yissachar Ber Segal, [1780].
Toldot Ya'akov Yosef, earliest printed Chassidic book. Authored by Kabbalist R. Ya'akov Yosef HaCohen of Polonne (died in Tishrei 1783), leading disciple of the Ba'al Shem Tov (according to various Chassidic traditions, he was born in the 1660s and died near to the age of 120). Primary disciple of the Ba'al Shem Tov and first disseminator of Chassidic doctrine. This book is the most important and authentic source of the teachings of the Ba'al Shem Tov. The author cites over 280 teachings, which he himself heard from the Ba'al Shem Tov [throughout the book, the words "I have heard from my teacher" are stressed].
This book is particularly cherished by Chassidic leaders who superlatively extolled the holiness of this book. The Maggid of Mezritch commended the author that he merited the revelation of Eliyahu and achieved lofty levels of holiness. R. Pinchas of Korets praised the book saying that such a book never existed and that his Torah thoughts are from Heaven. He asserted that the new books do not entirely conform to the truth, with the exception of the books of the Polonne rabbi which are "Torah from Paradise", and with each teaching "I have heard from my teacher", one can revive the dead [!]. The Saba Kaddisha of Shpola would recommend placing this book under the head of an ill person as a segula (LaYisharim Tehilla).
At the time R. Mendel of Vitebsk ascended to Eretz Israel, he met R. Pinchas of Korets who asked him: "Why did the Polonne Rabbi print one thousand books at the price of one gold piece per book. He should have rather printed one book and I would have paid one thousand gold pieces for it…".
During the war against Chassidism, the first edition of this book was publicly burnt in Brody and in other places which is the reason for the scarcity of this edition (Encyclopedia L'Chassidut, Vol. 2, p. 277).
Signatures of "Yechiel Zvi son of R. Bezalel Margaliot of Krynki" [R. Hirsh Krineker, one of the elders of the Karlin Chassidim of Jerusalem, disciple of the author of Beit Aharon of Karlin], "Belongs to… R. Duver son of Moshe Meyesovke".
202 leaves, 30 cm. Condition varies among the leaves, good-fair. Stains. Large tears to title page, affecting text, professionally repaired (with the addition of short sections replaced with photocopies). Tears affecting text in a few more places (in the margins), professionally repaired (with the addition of short sections replaced with photocopies). Elaborate new leather binding.
Stefansky Chassidut, No. 605.
Toldot Ya'akov Yosef, earliest printed Chassidic book. Authored by Kabbalist R. Ya'akov Yosef HaCohen of Polonne (died in Tishrei 1783), leading disciple of the Ba'al Shem Tov (according to various Chassidic traditions, he was born in the 1660s and died near to the age of 120). Primary disciple of the Ba'al Shem Tov and first disseminator of Chassidic doctrine. This book is the most important and authentic source of the teachings of the Ba'al Shem Tov. The author cites over 280 teachings, which he himself heard from the Ba'al Shem Tov [throughout the book, the words "I have heard from my teacher" are stressed].
This book is particularly cherished by Chassidic leaders who superlatively extolled the holiness of this book. The Maggid of Mezritch commended the author that he merited the revelation of Eliyahu and achieved lofty levels of holiness. R. Pinchas of Korets praised the book saying that such a book never existed and that his Torah thoughts are from Heaven. He asserted that the new books do not entirely conform to the truth, with the exception of the books of the Polonne rabbi which are "Torah from Paradise", and with each teaching "I have heard from my teacher", one can revive the dead [!]. The Saba Kaddisha of Shpola would recommend placing this book under the head of an ill person as a segula (LaYisharim Tehilla).
At the time R. Mendel of Vitebsk ascended to Eretz Israel, he met R. Pinchas of Korets who asked him: "Why did the Polonne Rabbi print one thousand books at the price of one gold piece per book. He should have rather printed one book and I would have paid one thousand gold pieces for it…".
During the war against Chassidism, the first edition of this book was publicly burnt in Brody and in other places which is the reason for the scarcity of this edition (Encyclopedia L'Chassidut, Vol. 2, p. 277).
Signatures of "Yechiel Zvi son of R. Bezalel Margaliot of Krynki" [R. Hirsh Krineker, one of the elders of the Karlin Chassidim of Jerusalem, disciple of the author of Beit Aharon of Karlin], "Belongs to… R. Duver son of Moshe Meyesovke".
202 leaves, 30 cm. Condition varies among the leaves, good-fair. Stains. Large tears to title page, affecting text, professionally repaired (with the addition of short sections replaced with photocopies). Tears affecting text in a few more places (in the margins), professionally repaired (with the addition of short sections replaced with photocopies). Elaborate new leather binding.
Stefansky Chassidut, No. 605.