Ner Yisrael, by R. Yisrael Hopstein – the Maggid of Kozhnitz, "wonderful commentary, Torah novellae and lofty secrets", on the book Likutei R. Hai Gaon – "profound and awesome secrets on the 42-letter name". "Vilna" [Lviv?, ca. 1842-1852]. First edition of the Ner Yisrael commentary.

The book comprises two works previously printed in Warsaw (1798) at the behest of the Maggid of Kozhnitz: Likutei R. Hai Gaon, by R. Moshe of Burgos (leading Spanish kabbalist in the 12th century); and Shaar HaShamayim, attributed to R. Yosef Gikatilla (though it is actually Part II of Sefer HaIyun by Rav Chamai Gaon). This edition adds a profound commentary printed for the first time, Ner Yisrael by the Maggid of Kozhnitz, as well as 58 kabbalistic principles by the same author, printed here for the first time.
The works of the Maggid of Kozhnitz explain the ancient Kabbalah of the Geonim, integrated with the writings of the Arizal and Chassidic principles. Written concisely and tersely, they are difficult to understand.
The Divrei Chaim of Sanz writes in his approbation to Avodat Yisrael by the Maggid of Kozhnitz: "In my opinion, there is no one in our generation who can grasp his wisdom". Rebbe Elimelech of Grodzinsk writes of the works of the Maggid of Kozhnitz: "All of his holy words are obscure, and not every mind can understand a small portion of his holy words, which allude to the loftiest secrets". The kabbalist R. Amram Offman wrote a series of commentaries on these works; in his preface to Petilat HaNer (commentary on Ner Yisrael), he writes that this book is a "Segulah for protection, as it is well-known that the 42-letter name serves as a protection".
On leaf [2] are printed several Torah novellae of the Yehudi HaKadosh of Peshischa on a chapter in Bava Metzia, brought to press at the behest of R. Nechemiah, son of the Yehudi HaKadosh. The publisher explains his motivation for printing it, as a response to a polemic of Polish rabbis against Chassidim: "…And I also meant to show contemporary rabbis who author books, who imagine that they alone possess halachic dialectic and thereby aggrandize themselves over the modern Chassidim and Tzaddikim. Therefore I have presented a sample leaf for them from this Tzaddik… And who among the rabbis of our time can compose halachic pilpul like this Yehudi?"
At the end of the book is printed a copy of a manuscript by the Baal Shem Tov, with a liturgy for inaugurating a new cemetery ("if there is a need to add on to a cemetery"), as well as "selections from R. Pinchas of Korets", with 130 paragraphs.

[2], 24 leaves. 23.5 cm. Overall good condition. Stains. Light wear. Light worming, slightly affecting text. Inner margins of title page repaired with paper. Stamps. New binding.