Mishnah Tractate Brachot with the commentaries of R. Ovadiah of Bartenura and Moreh Tzedek, by R. Yosef, preacher of Kamianka. Lviv: Chaim David son of R. Aharon Segal and his cousin Ze'ev Wolf son of R. Gershon Segal, [1783]. Only edition, bibliographically unknown.

The Moreh Tzedek commentary is a digest of the halachic rulings of the Rosh and the Tur following the sequence of the Mishnah. Five approbations by rabbis of Podolia are printed at the beginning of the book: R. Meir Margolies, Rabbi of Ostroh and author of Meir Netivim, one of the foremost disciples of the Baal Shem Tov; R. Shlomo [Yitzchak] Heilprin, Rabbi of Bar and Ternopil, an admirer of the Baal Shem Tov; R. Tzvi Hirsh Meisels Rabbi of Zhovkva; R. Natan of Nemyriv; and R. Yosef Yoske Rabbi of Pidkamin.

The author, the kabbalist R. Yosef son of R. Tzvi Hirsh, was a preacher and orator in Kamianka in the Lviv region, and composed several additional books: Moreh Tzedek on Tractate Shabbat (Zhovkva, 1781); Rimonei Zahav on the Torah portions (Lviv, 1783); Meshivat Nefesh on several Psalms and on Song of Songs (Lviv, 1786).

The approbations appear to indicate that he published a commentary on Tractate Avot as well, but no such printing is known today. Not much information is known about the author; possibly he was close to Chassidism. At the end of his preface he brings a Chassidic allusion, generally attributed to R. Zusha of Anipoli, explaining the opening word of the Mishnah, MeEimatai, as an allusion to the awe (Eimah) that should accompany Torah learning. In his prefaces to the book, the author sharply attacks the rabbis and community leaders of his generation "who don't watch their flock sufficiently, to stave off evil wolves who tear the skin off their flesh…".

[2], 18 leaves. 22 cm. Fair-good condition. Stains, including dampstains. Wear and worming, affecting text (repaired with paper filling). Without binding.

PLEASE NOTE: Some lot descriptions were shortened in translation. For further information, please refer to the Hebrew text.