Auction 74 - Judaica - Books, Manuscripts, Rabbinical Letters, Ceremonial Art
Toldot Yaakov Yosef – The First Chassidic Book to be Printed – Incomplete Copy of the First Edition – Korets, 1780 – Segulah Book
Opening: $8,000
Sold for: $12,500
Including buyer's premium
Toldot Yaakov Yosef, commentary on the Torah based on Chassidic teachings, by R. Yaakov Yosef HaKohen of Polonne. Korets: Tzvi Hirsh son of Aryeh Leib [Margolies] and his son-in-law Shmuel son of Yissachar Ber Segal, [1780]. First edition.
Toldot Yaakov Yosef, the first Chassidic book to be printed, was authored by the kabbalist R. Yaakov Yosef HaKohen of Polonne (d. Tishrei 1781 – Chassidic lore records his birth in the 1660s, ascribing him a life of close to 120 years), a leading and close disciple of the Baal Shem Tov and the first to disseminate Chassidut. This book is the most important and authentic source of the Baal Shem Tov's teachings, containing over 280 references to teachings the author personally heard from the Baal Shem Tov, emphasized throughout the book and beginning with the words "I heard from my master".
This book was especially cherished by Chassidic leaders, who ascribed it great holiness. The Maggid of Mezeritch commended the author as having merited revelation of Eliyahu and reached lofty heights. R. Pinchas of Korets attested that a book of such stature has never yet existed, and its teachings originate from Heaven. He would customarily say that all new books do not totally conform with the truth, except for the books of the rabbi of Polonne which are "teachings from Paradise", and that with each quotation "heard from my master" one can resurrect the dead[!]. The Saba of Shpoli would recommend putting this book under the head of an ill person as a Segulah (LaYesharim Tehilla).
When R. Menachem Mendel of Vitebsk immigrated to Eretz Israel, he met on the way R. Pinchas of Korets who queried "Why did the rabbi from Polonne print one thousand books at the price of one gold coin per book; had he printed a single book, I would have paid for it a thousand gold coins…".
3-202 leaves. Lacking first 3 leaves (originally: [1], 202 leaves). Approx. 29 cm. Good-fair condition. Many stains. Wear and open tears to corners of first leaves (repaired with paper), affecting text on leaves 3-4. Margins trimmed close to text, affecting several headings throughout. Inscriptions and stamps. New, elegant leather binding.
Stefansky Chassidut, no. 605.
During the course of the battle against Chassidut, this first edition was publicly burned in Brody and other places, which accounts for the extreme scarcity of this edition (Encyclopedia L'Chassidut, II, p. 277).
Toldot Yaakov Yosef, the first Chassidic book to be printed, was authored by the kabbalist R. Yaakov Yosef HaKohen of Polonne (d. Tishrei 1781 – Chassidic lore records his birth in the 1660s, ascribing him a life of close to 120 years), a leading and close disciple of the Baal Shem Tov and the first to disseminate Chassidut. This book is the most important and authentic source of the Baal Shem Tov's teachings, containing over 280 references to teachings the author personally heard from the Baal Shem Tov, emphasized throughout the book and beginning with the words "I heard from my master".
This book was especially cherished by Chassidic leaders, who ascribed it great holiness. The Maggid of Mezeritch commended the author as having merited revelation of Eliyahu and reached lofty heights. R. Pinchas of Korets attested that a book of such stature has never yet existed, and its teachings originate from Heaven. He would customarily say that all new books do not totally conform with the truth, except for the books of the rabbi of Polonne which are "teachings from Paradise", and that with each quotation "heard from my master" one can resurrect the dead[!]. The Saba of Shpoli would recommend putting this book under the head of an ill person as a Segulah (LaYesharim Tehilla).
When R. Menachem Mendel of Vitebsk immigrated to Eretz Israel, he met on the way R. Pinchas of Korets who queried "Why did the rabbi from Polonne print one thousand books at the price of one gold coin per book; had he printed a single book, I would have paid for it a thousand gold coins…".
3-202 leaves. Lacking first 3 leaves (originally: [1], 202 leaves). Approx. 29 cm. Good-fair condition. Many stains. Wear and open tears to corners of first leaves (repaired with paper), affecting text on leaves 3-4. Margins trimmed close to text, affecting several headings throughout. Inscriptions and stamps. New, elegant leather binding.
Stefansky Chassidut, no. 605.
During the course of the battle against Chassidut, this first edition was publicly burned in Brody and other places, which accounts for the extreme scarcity of this edition (Encyclopedia L'Chassidut, II, p. 277).
Chassidic Books
Chassidic Books