Lot 86
Tefillat Yisrael Siddur with Derech HaChaim – Altona, 1831 – First Siddur with the Commentary of the Gaon of Vilna to Pirkei Avot – Signature of Rabbi Yaakov Posen
Tefillat Yisrael siddur – year-round prayers, with Derech HaChaim – anthology of laws and customs, by R. Yaakov of Lissa (author of Netivot HaMishpat). Including Pirkei Avot with the commentary of the Gaon of Vilna. Altona, 1831. Third edition, with the addition of several new sections from the author.
The Derech HaChaim siddur by R. Yaakov of Lissa was greatly cherished and widely distributed. Already in the author's lifetime, it was printed in several editions. The first edition of this siddur was printed in Zhovkva, 1828, and then again in 1829. In 1831, this siddur was published, followed by another edition in Zhovkva the same year. This edition contains new laws and additions which the author sent to the publisher. In his approbation to this siddur, R. Akiva Eger refers to the author as "my dear friend, the outstanding and true Torah scholar, the renowned Tzaddik, may the likes of him increase amongst the Jewish people, R. Yaakov, rabbi and dean of Lissa…", adding that this edition includes additions which R. Yaakov sent to the publisher together with his permission to reprint the siddur.
This is the first siddur edition to include the commentary of the Gaon of Vilna to Tractate Avot (the commentary was previously printed in Tractate Avot, Shklow 1804).
On the title page of the siddur, the publisher lists the advantages of this edition: "1. Correction of all errors which crept into earlier editions. 2. Addition of passages from the author, omitted in previous editions. 3. Laws of muktzeh and blessings, compiled by the author. 4. Commentary to Hallel by the author. 5. Wonderful commentary to Pirkei Avot by R. Eliyahu of Vilna…". The laws of Rosh Chodesh Adar and Pidyon HaBen were also added by the author to this edition for the first time (see: R. Pinchas Menachem Lifshitz, Regarding the Identity of the Author of the Laws of Rosh Chodesh Adar and Pidyon HaBen in the Derech HaChaim Siddur, Beit Aharon VeYisrael, IV (94), Nisan-Iyar 2001, pp. 136-138).
Owner's signature of R. Yaakov Posen on the title page: "Yaakov son of R. Zalman Pozna".
R. Yaakov Posen (or Pozna, 1772-1849), a dayan in Frankfurt am Main, who served in the Beit Din of the Haflaa and the latter's son, the Machaneh Levi. He was the son of R. Yekutiel Zalman Posen, dayan in Offenbach and rabbi of Friedberg (d. 1793). His son was R. Eliezer Posen, rabbi of the Chevrat Kloiz in Frankfurt am Main (1803-1866), and his grandson was R. Gershon Posen, who served as dayan in Frankfurt for fifty years. The rabbinical dynasty of the Posen family, which stemmed from leading German rabbis, continues until this day with its descendants serving as rabbis in Eretz Israel, the United States and Europe.
At R. Yaakov Posen's funeral, the Frankfurt community board intervened, and barred rabbis who battled the Reform movement from eulogizing him at the cemetery. The Posen family consequently initiated the establishment of R. Shimshon Refael Hirsch's independent Orthodox community.
[2], 3-285, [1] leaf. [1] leaf of the approbations was bound at the end of the book instead of at the beginning. Without the [2] leaves of prenumeranten, which were originally bound at the beginning of the book, after the leaf of approbations. 20 cm. Good condition. Stains. Dark dampstains to some leaves. Light worming. Stamps. Old, worn binding, without spine.
