Auction 93 Part 2 - Ancient Books, Chassidic and Kabbalistic Books, Manuscripts and Letters

Or HaChaim, with the Maayan Ganim Commentary by the Bnei Yissaschar – Zhovkva, 1848 – First Edition of the Maayan Ganim Commentary – Sharp Polemic Work Against Moses Mendelssohn and the Haskalah Movement

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Or HaChaim, censure of the 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 Yissaschar. 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 Yissaschar is a polemic work. The main part is a caustic diatribe on the Haskalah movement – against Galician maskilim, Moses Mendelssohn and his writings, their followers and prospective followers.
This is presumably the first work fiercely criticizing and denunciating not only Mendelssohn's works and translations but also Mendelssohn himself.


[1], 32, [2] leaves. 23 cm. Fair condition. Stains, including dampstains. Worming, affecting text (including large hole through all leaves, affecting text). New binding.

Chassidic Books
Chassidic Books