Dispute Between the Mitnagdim and the Chassidim: Metzaref HaAvodah. Zhitomir, 1865

Dispute Between the Mitnagdim and the Chassidim: Metzaref HaAvodah. Zhitomir, 1865

Sefer Metzaref HaAvodah - fundamental and important sefer on the dispute between the Chassidim and the mitnagdim, in an edition printed at a Shapira family press. Zhitomir, at Rabbi Aryeh Leib Shapira of Slavuta's press. 1865. Exceptionally rare sefer.

On the title page: "It is already an eighty-year old dispute between two gedolei hador, one Chassidic and the other counted among the mitnagdim, and both fought for the sake of Heaven ... they fought in both the revealed and the hidden arenas, in the sea of Talmud and poskim, and then they made peace with each other. Additionally, there is a letter from the gadol, the wonder of the generation ... Rabbi Shneur Zalman [of Liadi] ztzuk"l."

Many articles have been written on this sefer, and we will refer to an article with a comprehensive summary regarding the identity of the author and the various versions of the works, Y. Mondshein, "HaSefarim Metzaref HaAvodah V'Vikuacha Rabbah" in Alei Sefer, V, 1978, pp 165-175. Regarding the letter by Rabbi Shneur Zalman to the Chassidim of Vilna, refer to David Tzvi Hillman, Iggerot Ba'al HaTanya U'Vnei Doro, Jerusalem, 1953, pp. 95-99.

As stated, this is the most fundamental and important work on the dispute between the Mitnagdim and the Chassidim, in the edition printed at the sacred Chassidic press run by the Shapira family of Admo"rim, grandsons of the Admo"r Rabbi Pinchas of Koritz.

70 pp, 15.5 cm. The first leaves were printed out of order.

Good-moderate condition. Old dampstain on inner margins. Worming perforations. Aging stains.

Bound with: Shivchei HaAr"i, Warsaw, 1878.

Bound with: Avodat HaKodesh by the Chid"a, Warsaw, 1879. Incomplete at the end.

Bound with: Tzluta D'Meilei Shabbat, Warsaw, 1891. First edition. Partial copy.

Bound with: Iggeret HaTiyul by Rabbi Chaim b"r Betzalel, the Mahara"l's brother, Warsaw, 1875.