Manuscript, selected ideas, sermons, stories and witty remarks heard by the author from various preachers. The notebook contains what the writer heard from his own rabbi and teacher – the Gaon of Lublin, R. Shneur Zalman Liadier, author of Torat Chesed. [Eretz Israel, ca. late 1890s].

Notebook in pocket format. Autograph, with erasures and additions by the writer. The notebook contains various stories and sayings in the name of the Baal HaTanya, the Rabbi of Neshchiz, the Maggid of Mezeritch, R. Moshe of Kobryn, R. Eizik of Vitebsk, R. Yitzchak of Vorka, R. Nachum of Chernobyl and his grandson the Maggid of Trisk, R. Shmuel Abba Slaviter, the Chatam Sofer, R. Chaim [of Volozhin] disciple of the Vilna Gaon, R. Levi Yitzchak of Berditchev, R. Meir of Premishlan, the Haflaah, R. Yisrael Salanter, R. Hirsch Leib Volozhiner [the Netziv of Volozhin], R. Shalom Sharabi, the Chida and others.

On the last page of the notebook, inscription (deleted) in pen:
"Shneur Zalman Liadier, Rabbi of Lublin"; on first page, inscription in Latin characters, including the word "Chabad".

The present notebook was apparently written by a young follower of the Gaon of Lublin in Eretz Israel; at times he cites his own questions asked of his rabbi. The notebook also recounts many stories that occurred in Plotzk and Lublin – the places where the Torat Chesed served as Rabbi before immigrating to Jerusalem.

The notebook was apparently written before Nisan 1902, the date of passing of the Gaon of Lublin, since he is mentioned with blessings for the living. A remark quoted on p. 31 about an event that occurred in Jerusalem in 1897 indicates that the notebook was written after that year.

The beginning of the notebook quotes an unknown story about the Tzemach Tzedek of Lubavitch, experienced by the Torat Chesed as a child: At the age of 3 and a half [ca. 1834], the Torat Chesed knew all kinds of mathematics and measurements. When presented with a Tosafot in Beitzah, he immediately responded acutely. The Tzemach Tzedek praised him, saying that he himself was not like him a child, and he didn't know whether his grandfather [the Baal HaTanya] was like him, and presented him with a quarter ruble. He responded that while Saul gave a quarter silver piece to Samuel the holy man, here the holy man gave to him.

See Hebrew description for further contents.

The Gaon of Lublin, R. Shneur Zalman Liadier (Pradkin), author of Torat Chesed, was born in 1830 in Liadi and was known from childhood as a prodigy and outstanding Torah genius; From 1868 he served as Rabbi of Lublin and was one of the most famous Torah scholars of his generation. In 1892 he immigrated to Jerusalem where he was recognized as a foremost Torah sage (together with Maharil Diskin and R. Shmuel Salant). In 1899 he moved to Hebron (at the request of the Rebbe Rashab of Lubavitch), but returned to Jerusalem shortly thereafter. In 1901, as he grew older, R. Shmuel Salant sought a successor to the Jerusalem rabbinate and invited the Aderet (R. Eliyahu David Rabinowitz-Teomim) who was serving as Rabbi of Mir, Lithuania, to take the post; this caused a disturbance in the Chassidic communities of Jerusalem who hoped that the Gaon of Lublin would be appointed. Still, in spite of the controversy, the two rabbis remained close friends and held each other in high esteem. R. Shneur Zalman died in 1902 and the title "Rabbi of the entire Jewish people" is inscribed on his gravestone.

The notebook was written by one of his disciples, in Hebrew, with some sentences in Yiddish and words in Palestinian Arabic. We do not know who the author was, but it is apparent that he had Torah knowledge, but also quoted folk sayings and jokes. The notebook's main importance is in the stories which the author personally heard from the Gaon of Lublin and other rabbis.

Notebook, 13.5 cm. Approx. 93 written pages. Good-fair condition. Stains and wear. Tears trimmed off first leaf and last two leaves. Leaves and gatherings detached. Without binding. On first and last page, accounting and other inscriptions (including the caption "Shapiro").