Sefer Pri HaAretz, profound Chassidic essays on the weekly Torah portions, by Rebbe Menachem Mendel of Vitebsk, with a selection of letters "sent from Eretz Israel to Russia".
Kopust (Kopys): R. Yisrael Yoffe, prominent disciple of the Baal HaTanya, [1814]. First edition.
At the beginning of the Sefer are lectures and the meanings of Mikveh by the Holy Rebbi Avraham HaMalach.
This Sefer contains a collection of discourses which Rebbe Menachem Mendel of Vitebsk delivered in Tiberias, following his immigration to Eretz Israel. The Sefer was first printed in Kopust (Kopys), 1814. The title page states: "And they were collected together by the rabbi who was outstanding in Torah and fear of G-d, R. Elazar Zussman, scribe of the Holy Land, and from him it reached our hands". R. Elazar Zussman was the scribe of Rebbe Menachem Mendel of Vitebsk, Rebbe Avraham of Kalisk, and all the Chassidim who reached Eretz Israel in the famous 1777 immigration.
The identity of the writer of this Sefer is subject to dispute. Some say the essays were recorded by his disciples, primarily R. Elazar Zussman, who also edited and arranged them for print (Beit Rebbi). Conversely, according to a tradition of Slonim Chassidim, the entire book was written by Rebbe Menachem Mendel himself, while R. Elazar Zussman only edited and arranged it for print, adding the opening words "Patach HaRav" and "Shaal HaShoel" (Yesod HaMaala, I, p. 59). In the opinion of the researcher R. Yehoshua Mondshine, R. Elazar Zussman "was the one who wrote the letters of the righteous men and Chassidim from Eretz Israel, and it is evident that he also wrote the teachings of R. Menachem Mendel of Vitebsk in the holy book Pri HaAretz, and the numerous figures of speech he uses render it an almost impenetrable book" (HaMaasar HaRishon, Jerusalem 2012, p. 222). The two first leaves contain essays of the Torah thoughts of Rebbe Avraham HaMalach.
The last nine leaves feature a selection of Igrot HaKodesh – letters of guidance in G-d’s service, which Rebbe Menachem Mendel of Vitebsk and Rebbe Avraham of Kalisk sent from Eretz Israel to their disciples in Reisen (Belarus).
Pri HaAretz is one of the most profound and difficult to understand Chassidic Seforim. The Yesod HaAvoda of Slonim declared that he wishes that in the times of Mashiach and in the World to Come he will be able to uphold the lofty levels described in this book. "We have a tradition from reliable people that this book never left the table of Rebbe Yisrael of Ruzhin, who would say that whoever is able to understand this book, is capable of combining the lower wisdom with the higher wisdom" (Yesod HaMaala, ibid).
[2], 27, [4] leaves. Lacking last 4 leaves of Igrot Kodesh (originally: [2], 27, [8] leaves).
20-20.5 Cm.
Good condition. stains, title page partially detached, marginal page repairs on back of title page and first page, last half of book has frayed lower corners, New detached binding.
Stefansky Chassidut, no. 477; Stefansky Classics, no. 384.
The Holy Rebbi Menachem Mendel of Vitebsk (1730-1788) one of the great disciples of the Holy Magid of Mezritz, Chassidic leader of White Russia and from the great Admo"rim of Chassidut from the third generation of the Baal Shem Tov. He ascended to Israel in the year 1777, as the head of the three hundred of the disciples of the Baal Shem Tov who came up to Israel, and established the Chassidic settlement in Tiberias. He wrote many Sefarim, and the most famous is "Pri Ha’Aretz", which he wrote when he was in Israel. He passed away on the 1st day of Iyar 1788 in Tiberias, and was laid to rest in the portion of Talmidei HaBaal Shem Tov in the old cemetery of the city.
The printer, Rabbi Yisrael Yaffe, is known as the "Printer from Kopyst." He printed many Chassidic works. Rabbi Yisrael Yaffe was a disciple of Rabbi Menachem Mendel of Vitebsk – the author of this work – and was close to the Baal HaTanya. He carried the Baal HaTanya on his shoulders when he was released from prison in 1799.
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