Author's Copy: Ahavat Chessed by the Chafetz Chaim. Lengthy Handwritten Gloss.

Author's Copy: Ahavat Chessed by the Chafetz Chaim. Lengthy Handwritten Gloss.

Three sefarim by the rabbi and light of the Jewish people, Rabbi Yisrael Meir HaKohen, author of Chafetz Chaim: Sefer Chafetz Chaim by whose name he is forever known; Sefer Shemirat HaLashon and Sefer Ahavat Chessed. Bound together with separate title pages. This volume belonged to the sacred author, who left an important, lengthy and unknown [23 word!] gloss on it in his hand. The Chafetz Chaim likely wanted to print this gloss on the title page of the new edition of the sefer, but this goal was not realized.

The Chafetz Chaim is known to have printed his sefarim in many editions. This is a copy the Chafetz Chaim kept for himself, to use to prepare a new edition. On the title page of Sefer Ahavat Chessed, the Chafetz Chaim wrote an important and lengthy gloss in his hand, about the segulah sefer, Shem Olam. The Chafetz Chaim wrote the gloss for the printer, to be added to the title page of the new edition of the sefer. The text of this handwritten gloss by the Kohen HaGadol is, "I added this to the end of this new release of my small sefer [small in size yet great in value] Shem Olam, because the second sha'ar in it is entirely dedicated to the characteristic of lovingkindness."

The text of the gloss lends itself to the understanding that the Chafetz Chaim desired to print his work Shem Olam together with Ahavat Chessed, because they are so closely related, as he explains in the gloss. The Chafetz Chaim requested that in the new edition, this gloss appear on the title page of Ahavat Chessed, as it explains the relationship between the two sefarim.

It is important to note that the Chafetz Chaim's sacred intent was not realized. Time apparently ran out and the Chafetz Chaim did not manage to print another edition of Ahavat Chessed at that point. Only twenty years later, towards the end of the Chafetz Chaim's life, was another edition of Ahavat Chessed released, but as a work on its own, without Shem Olam - and without the gloss here about Shem Olam, which the Chafetz Chaim had wanted to print on the title page of Ahavat Chessed.

Aside from the segulah value of these sefarim as the sacred author's copies, which he reviewed and proofread himself and left a blessing upon - twenty-three words in his hand - capable of bringing all types of salvation, is its bibliographic value, more precious than gold, in that the author's gloss about the text of the title page appears in it - an unknown gloss that has never been printed.

Refer to the Hebrew catalog text for a brief biography of Rabbi Yisrael Meir haKohen of Radin.

Sefer Shemot Olam, the topic of this gloss, was authored by the Chafetz Chaim primarily for the childless, as he explains in his preface: "I have seen several times throughout the days of my life that people who did not merit to have children feel bitterness in their souls and sadness for their entire lives, saying, 'What is my life for if I am but a dry piece of wood that will soon die. I will be cut off from the earth and my name will be lost forever ...' I will give him a Shem Olam [eternal memorial] so that he will not be cut off and he will have a remnant in Hashem's home and within his walls ... much more than those who have had children. This is the counsel to which he must cling all his life."

56 leaf, 23 cm. [23] words handwritten by the Chafetz Chaim himself. Noted in pencil. Several additional pencilled proofreading notes.

Very fine condition. New binding.

Expert's confirmation included regarding the authenticity of the handwriting.