Or HaChaim, censure of theological speculation and study of philosophy, by R. Yosef Yaavetz, "the Chassid Yaavetz", with Maayan Ganim, commentary and expansions by Rebbe Tzvi Elimelech Shapiro, Rabbi of Dinov, author of Bnei Yissachar. Zhovkva, 1848. First edition of the Maayan Ganim commentary.
The author, R. Yosef Yaavetz (1440?-1508), a Spanish exile, asserts in this book that the expulsion resulted from Spanish Jewry's preoccupation with Greek philosophy, preferring it over Torah wisdom. His book Or HaChaim was first printed in Ferrara, 1554.
Maayan Ganim by the Bnei Yissachar is a polemical work written out of great pain and animated anger. The main part is a caustic diatribe against the Haskalah movement – against Galician maskilim, Moses Mendelssohn and his writings, and their followers and prospective followers.
This is presumably the first work fiercely criticizing and denouncing not only Mendelssohn's works and translations but also Mendelssohn himself. For example: "And now in our generations, their dedicated teacher (whose fire has certainly not been extinguished and whose worm has certainly not died, for having brought the public to sin and brazenly misinterpreted the Torah, contrary to Jewish religion) has translated the Bible to foreign languages and reversed and confused religion, such that even the non-Jewish nations understand that they have left the religion, and his books are prohibited to enter the Jewish community forever" (p. 9b).
Maayan Ganim was printed after the passing (in 1841) of the Bnei Yissachar. After the book was printed, the author's son brought the book to Rebbe Yehoshua of Belz, a leading Galician rebbe. After examining the book, Rebbe Yehoshua said, "This is not a book, but a slice of a Jewish heart… burning fire". R. David said to him: "I will tell you how my father and teacher wrote the book Maayan Ganim. My father was once sick for six consecutive weeks, eating and drinking little, while walking thoughtfully and moaning deeply. His family did not know what to do in order to heal him. When they called for a doctor who examined him, he said: 'The sick man has a certain desire, and if he attains it, he will get better'. Our rabbi, upon hearing the doctor's diagnosis, took paper and a pen, shut himself in his room and began to write Maayan Ganim from start to finish without a break. When he finished writing, he released a groan of relief. Saying that he was now better, he added: 'Now I have revealed to all the impure visage of the Maskilim'" (Rabbi Tzvi Elimelech of Dinov, II, Bnei Brak, 2005, p. 514 [Hebrew]).
[1], 32, [2] leaves. 22 cm. Fair condition. Stains, including dampstains and dark stains. Open tears along the margins of the title page and tears in several additional places, affecting text, repaired with paper filling (photocopy replacement of some of the missing words on last leaf). Worming, affecting text. Close trimming, affecting text in several places. New leather binding.
