Chiddushei Rabbenu Chaim HaLevi on the Rambam – First Edition – Brisk, 1936

Chiddushei Rabbenu Chaim HaLevi on the Rambam – First Edition – Brisk, 1936
Chiddushei Rabbenu Chaim HaLevi on the Rambam, by R. Chaim HaLevi Soloveitchik Rabbi of Brisk. Brisk, 1936. First edition.
The famed book of R. Chaim of Brisk, printed by his son, R. Yitzchak Ze'ev Soloveitchik, some 18 years after the death of the author in 1918. This book is R. Chaim's magnum opus and a promise that it will be published was inscribed on his tombstone: "He left behind a manuscript of a large composition on the Rambam which will be published". For various reasons, the printing of this book was delayed for a long time. The main reason for the delay was the lack of 600 dollars (a huge sum in those days) necessary for printing the book. In the 1930s, R. Yechezkel Abramsky, who was a close disciple of R. Chaim, printed a public proclamation calling rabbis and donors to undertake the collection of funds for printing the book. In this proclamation, R. Abramsky describes the book with these words: "This book contains Torah novellae which he taught in public over a period of thirteen years, when he served as dean of the outstanding Volozhin yeshiva. These novellae pave the correct path to immediately pinpoint the core of each topic, with understanding of the depth and essence of each subject under discussion, as he polishes, straightens, refines and clarifies the root of the halacha and all its branches…".
When the printing of the book finally began, some of the admirers of R. Chaim and his teachings did not have the patience to wait until the work was completed and requested that each completed section be immediately sent to them. We know of three who thus received these booklets immediately after printing: R. Chaim Ozer Grodzinski, the Dvar Avraham of Kovno and R. Yechezkel Abramsky.
The famous foreword written by his sons is a masterwork in its own right, and it was reviewed and perfected to the point that each word was written after much deliberation. His sons wrote in the foreword that R. Chaim's method of study "followed the path taught by our rabbis, the Rishonim". This sentence was written by the directive of the author's close companion, the famous posek of Brisk, R. Simcha Zelig Rieger, but the author's sons hesitated to write this. At that time, R. Chaim appeared to R. Simcha Zelig in a dream and told him that now in the World of Truth, he has come to realize that indeed his study approach "follows the path taught by our rabbis, the Rishonim". Thus, the author's sons agreed to include this sentence in their foreword. Reputedly, the closing sentence "Who sign whilst trembling, sons of the author", was written by R. Yitzchak Ze'ev while his hands actually trembled (Sh. Meller, Raban shel kol Bnei HaGolah, I, Jerusalem 2014, pp. 592-593 and note 60).
For more information regarding the special status of this book in the Torah world, from the day it was published until today, and about the trials and tribulations encountered during the printing, see: Sh. Meller, Raban shel kol Bnei HaGolah, I, Jerusalem 2014, Chapter 15 "Heirloom for Generations", pp. 545-616; A. Suraski, Melech B'Yofyo, Jerusalem 2004, pp. 282-287; 219-221.
[1], 112 leaves. High-quality paper. 33.5 cm. Good-fair condition. Numerous stains, wear. Minor tears. Marginal paper repairs to first two leaves. Handwritten inscription on title page. New leather binding.
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Dancing with "R. Chaim" on Simchat Torah
"R. Baruch Dov [Leibowitz] became very excited upon seeing R. Chaim Solovietchik's book Chiddushei Rabbenu Chaim HaLevi in print, and he whispered several times: 'The holy rabbi's book'. He ordered wine to be served, and said that if only they would discern the great light shining now in the world, they would joyfully escort the book with instruments and dancing. His mind wasn't put at ease until he found the opportunity to do just that. At the time of the dedication of the new building of the Kamenitz Yeshiva (Chanukah 1936), when the yeshiva's Torah scrolls were being brought to their new home under a chuppah with instruments and dancing, R. Baruch Dov led the parade holding R. Chaim Soloveitchik's book in his hand" (Rabbi Baruch Dov Leibowitz, Tel Aviv 1957, p. 80). On Simchat Torah in the Kamenitz Yeshiva, R. Baruch Ber and his disciples danced with the book of his prime teacher (Raban shel kol Bnei HaGolah, I, Jerusalem 2014, p. 589).
Following the passing of R. Shlomo Zalman Auerbach, one of the grandsons divided up his books between the family members. When his uncle R. Shmuel Auerbach was asked which books he wished to receive, he asked for only two books which he had an emotional connection with, and one was the book Chiddushei Rabbenu Chaim HaLevi (first edition). On that occasion, R. Shmuel related that when the book was published, his father R. Shlomo Zalman sent a letter from Jerusalem to R. Yitzchak Ze'ev in Brisk, requesting to purchase the book, with the payment enclosed, and the book was sent to him by post from Brisk. R. Shmuel thus explained the importance of this book in his eyes. (Shmuel BeDoro, Jerusalem, 2020, p. 336).