Lot 136
Megaleh Temirin - Anti-Chassidic Book by a Maskil - First Edition, Vienna, 1819
Megaleh Temirin, a satirical parody of Chassidism, [by Yosef Perl]. Vienna, 1819. First edition.
An epistolary parody, mocking Chassidic tales and the Chassidic style of speech. The book is composed of 151 ficticious letters, exchanged between Chassidim, in effort to prevent the distribution of an anti-Chassidic book. Megaleh Temirin ridicules the Chassidic doctrine, the Chassidic leaders and the faith of the masses in the tzaddikim. It imitates primarily the style of Shivchei HaBesht and Sipurei Maasiyot.
The author, Yosef Perl of Tarnopol, Galicia (1773-1839), was a radical maskil, one of the leaders of
the Haskalah in Galicia. He dedicated his life to a battle against the Chassidim of Galicia, printing anti-Chassidic satires in Hebrew and in Yiddish, denouncing Chassidim to the authorities and harassing them. His actions affected prominent rebbes in Galicia, including R. Yisrael of Ruzhin and R. Tzvi Hirsh of Zidichov.
Signature on title page: "Avraham Hirsh".
[2], 55 leaves. Two title pages. Approx. 27 cm. Wide margins. Good-fair condition. Dampstains. Extensive wear. New binding.
