Sidrei Taharot. The Admo"r of Radzin. First Edition. A Book that Stood at the Heart of a Heated Controversy

Sidrei Taharot. The Admo"r of Radzin. First Edition. A Book that Stood at the Heart of a Heated Controversy

Mishnayot Kelim and Ohalot formatted as Talmudic tractates, by the Admo"r Rabbi Gershon Chanoch Henoch Leiner of Radzin. Josefow 1873 - Piotrków 1903 , first edition. Two volumes. Interesting handwritten gloss. 

A masterpiece by the gaon Admo"r of Radzin who began writing it at a very young age. The Admo"r was known eventually as the recreator of the Mitzvah of the techelet of the Tzitzit.  

On Mishnayot Seder Tahrot there is no gemara, not in the Babylonian Talmud and neither in the Yerushalmi (except for Tractate Niddah). This composition is in the format of the gemara, with the Mishnah and after it the "gemara" and around them the author's commentaries, a kind of Rash"i commentary and Tosfot that appear in the gemara. With Massoret HaShas and Ein Mishpat.

The "Shoel UMeshiv" and other leading rabbis of the generation, Rabbi Yitzchak Elchanan Spektor, Rabbi Shimon Sofer and more, wrote enthusiastic approbations for the book. Among those who approbated the book was also Rabbi Bezalel Hacohen of Vilna. After a brief period, the Beit Din of Vilna, headed by Rabbi Bezalel Hacohen, spoke out against the author and his book, fearing it might eventually be considered part of the Talmud. The author the Admo"r and his men answered back and the issue turned into a major controversy.

The author was unimpressed by the ban of the rabbis of Vilna and continued to write the second section, on Tractate Ohalot, and prepare it for printing, although he did not manage to print it in his lifetime. The second section was given enthusiastic approbations by many leading rabbis, so it seems that in fact the ban of the rabbis of Vilna was not accepted. 

Nevertheless, a slight change was made to the second section. Printed on the top of each page was 'Sefer Sidrei Taharot' and on its bottom 'Compiled from the words of Tana'im and Amora'im'. This was done, as indicated by the Admo"r's son, per the recommendation of Rabbi Chaim of Brisk. The son wrote that he found such a note in his father's writings and although his father did not order it, he printed the additions to each page. 

This set had belonged to Rabbi Shlomo Avraham Razechta author of Sefer Bikurei Shlomo, whose stamps and signatures appear on both sections. Printed in the first section is an approbation by the author of Shoel UMeshiv and there he asks a question which remains to be studied (Tzarich Iyun Gadol). In this copy, Rabbi Shlomo Avraham wrote a comment alongside the approbation settling the question and is even surprised at the gaon of Lvov for leaving the question to be studied. 

Refer to the Hebrew catalog text for a brief biography of the Admo"r of Radzin and of Rabbi Shlomo Avraham Razechta the gaon of Ozrakov. 

Stefansky Chassidut 434.  

[I] Tractate Kelim. Josefow, [1873]. [10] 544 pp. 43 cm. The leaf of the map at the end of the book is lacking. With wide margins. 

[II} Tractate Ohalot. Piotrkow, [1903]. [8], 546 pp. 38 cm. 

Tractate Kelim is in original leather binding slightly damaged. The two volumes are in very fine condition.