Manuscript by Yossef Perl of Tarnopol (1773-1839) one of the leading scholars and writers of Galicia, and an outstanding opponent to the Chassidic movement in the 19th century. Written between autumn of 1816 and July 1818.
The manuscript includes "amulet – secret code" and "an encrypted Maggen David", being part of a parody by Perl on Chassidut Breslev (printed with slight changes from a different manuscript).
In "The secret code" Perl is mocking at a passage said by Rabbi Menachem Mendel of Vitebsk about the Ba'al-Shem-Tov; in the Encrypted Maggen David" the names of Rabbi Yisrael Ben Eliezer (the Ba'al-Shem-Tov) and Rabbi Moshe Teitelbaum famous for his amulets, are implied. Perl expressed in this way his mockery at their use of amulets bearing their names, and emphasized that Chassidut is in fact magic and witchcraft.
On the back of the leaf is a draft of a letter in German in Hebrew letters, probably from one of Perl's group in Tarnopol.
25 X 19.5 cm. Good condition. Folding marks.
Manuscript was checked by the researcher Yonatan Meir, see attached page.