Sefer HaChassidim With commentary.
Frankfurt am Mein 1724. At the new press of Shlomo Zalman Aptrod at the house of Yohan Kelner.
First Edition of the Commentary.
The Gaon Yaavetz in Sha’alat Yaavetz Vol. 1, Altona 1739, Siman 160, Page 140b, expressed his displeasure: "In the newly printed commentary around Sefer Chassidim, there are many errors and mistakes made by the commentator." However, the Gaon Rabbi Yosef David Sinzheim, in Yad David, Vol. 1, Offibach 1799, Page 28d, responded to Yaavetz’s words and wrote: "The commentator’s words on Sefer Chassidim are correct <he was the grandfather of my esteemed father, of blessed memory, and his name is known to me>… Rabbi Yaavetz… did not understand the intent of my grandfather…"
The name of the commentator remains obscure, but in the approbation of the Gaon Rabbi Yaakov Kohen Papirash of Prague, it is stated: "I saw a holy man speaking… about… Sefer Chassidim, compiled by an author, and he is one of the residents of our city and community, and his name is wondrous."
From the "Author’s Preface to His Commentary on Sefer Chassidim": "This commentary on Sefer Chassidim came from my esteemed father, of blessed memory… as you will see from what is written at the end of the book, you will see a glimpse but not the entirety… and the commentary was entrusted by my father… to one person, and he commanded the trustee to keep it with great care, and it was in the trustee’s possession until it was sent from there to here to me, as was said by my father’s command… and it was… with me for days under guard… because I said that when the opportune time comes, I will bring it to light… I was not fortunate for this, as the fire that the Lord burned in our community, the holy community of Frankfurt in the year 1711, consumed everything… and in His great kindness, a small remnant was left to me from everything that was before, and He gave me for safekeeping and remembrance the words I read and studied in my father’s commentary… on Sefer Chassidim… Therefore, I will restore the Torah to its original state, to explain, interpret, and correct this Sefer Chassidim as it is hidden with me… in Sefer Chassidim, which was compiled by the pious author, I did not touch, but I wrote word for word and letter for letter as I found written in Sefer Chassidim from which I copied. And if there is a different version and a different reading, I wrote it in the commentary."
It is unclear who wrote the preface. Chaim Michael (Ohr HaChaim, Page 344, No. 768) understood that the writer was the printer, Rabbi Shlomo Zalman Apterud, who rewrote his deceased father’s commentary after the fire, meaning Rabbi David Apterud. However, Rabbi David Apterud was alive when the book was printed (he passed away in 1728). Hence, the writer is Rabbi David Apterud himself, and according to this, the basis of the composition is from his father, Rabbi Moshe Elyakim. The hint regarding the author’s identity at the beginning of the preface ("as you will see from what is written at the end of the composition") is not clear to us.
4, 148 Leaves. 20.5 Cm.
Good condition, stains, original leather binding, lacking the clasp, spine covered with old cloth.
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Lot #418