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Sifra DeTzniuta, with the commentary of the Gaon of Vilna. [Vilna and Grodno, 1820]. First edition of the commentary of the Gaon of Vilna on Sifra DeTzniuta.
This book is one of the fundamental books for understanding and studying the approach of the Gaon of Vilna to Kabbalah. The Chazon Ish would demonstrate the holiness and segulah qualities of this edition which was published by G-d fearing Jews through the following story. A dybbuk was once brought before one of the tzaddikim of the previous generation, in the presence of all the townspeople. The tzaddik declared: "Let me show you a wondrous thing!". He presented the dybbuk with two identical books – the first edition of Sifra DeTzniuta printed in the previous generation and the second edition printed in his times (Vilna, 1882). The books were both wrapped in paper, and thus outwardly undistinguishable. The dybbuk took the second edition of the book and embraced it lovingly; however, he recoiled from the other book saying that he is unable to touch it. The tzaddik explained the reason for this: the impure dybbuk was unable to touch the edition published by G-d-fearing Jews due to its great holiness, unlike the second edition, which was printed in a printing press which employed Jews who were lured by the Enlightenment Movement (Maaseh Ish, V, p. 122, in the name of R. Shemaryahu Greineman who heard the story from the Chazon Ish; Shimush Chachamim, p. 266).
A similar story was retold by R. Shmuel David HaKohen Munk (rabbi of the Orthodox community in Haifa), in the name of a Sephardic Jerusalem kabbalist. A person with a dybbuk was brought before the kabbalist, who placed the second edition of the Vilna Gaon's commentary on Sifra DeTzniuta on the man to no avail. He then used the first edition and the man was cured (Zechor LeDavid, II, p. 159). R. Munk also quotes R. Eliezer Gordon of Telz, who reported that when a volume of the first edition was placed in the hands of a dybbuk, he shook and screamed in terror: "The Vilner! The Vilner!", but did not show the same agitation upon similar exposure to a second edition (ibid).
Signatures on the title page: "Azriel son R. Tzvi Hirsh of Laižuva"; "Yehuda Leib son of R. Ziskind of Laižuva"; Russian inscription and censorship stamp.
[3], 59, [3] leaves (originally: [6], 59, [3] leaves). 21.5 cm. Thick, high-quality, light-colored paper, with wide margins. Good-fair condition. Stains. Wear. Marginal tears and old paper repairs to first leaves. Library stamps. New leather binding.
The order of the forewords in this copy corresponds with the variants listed in the Bibliography of the Hebrew Book, no. 177999, where R. Chaim Volozhin's foreword precedes that of the R. Yaakov Moshe of Slonim, grandson of the Gaon of Vilna.
Vinograd, Otzar Sifrei HaGra, no. 696; Stefansky Classics, no. 334.