Tiferet Yisrael, Frankfurt an der Oder 1774 – The First Book with the Teachings of the Vilna Gaon in his Lifetime ...

Tiferet Yisrael, Frankfurt an der Oder 1774 – The First Book with the Teachings of the Vilna Gaon in his Lifetime, and Teachings of Rebbe Shmelke of Nikolsburg and of Rebbe Levi Yitzchak of Berdychiv from Their Youth
Tiferet Yisrael, Kabbalistic and homiletic topics by Rabbi Yisrael Yaffe Av Beit Din of Shklow, and his grandson Rebbe Yisrael Yaffe. [Frankfurt an der Oder, 1774]. Single edition. The author of the book is Rebbe Yisrael Yaffe Av Beit Din of Shklow (1640-1702), who printed the Kabbalistic book 'Or Yisrael' in 1702. His first book was challenged after publication due to alleged Sabbatean allusions. In his introduction to this book, the author's apologizes, explaining to his descendants the reason readers misunderstood his words and suspected him of believing in Sabbatai Zevi. Integrated into the book are many additions by Rabbi Yisrael Yaffe the author's grandson who signs "Yisrael Zuta", who also brings many teachings of the scholars of his times: · On Leaf 5/b he writes: "I have heard this from… the Gaon Eliyahu of Vilna", On Leaf 45/b he writes "In the name of the true gaon… Rabbi Eliyahu of Vilna". [This is the first book that brings teachings of the Vilna Gaon in his lifetime. In the book Otzar Sifrei HaGra, p. 223, is a bibliographic list of books mentioning the Vilna Gaon in his lifetime. The first book on this list is a book published in 1778!]. In addition, he introduces many teachings of scholars of his times, including some renowned Chassidic leaders. For example, on Leaf 38/b, he presents issues "In the name of my relative… the true gaon…' Rebbe Shmuel Shmelke Horowitz “Av Beit Din and Rosh Metivta in Nikolsburg” [Note that his was written not long after Rabbi Shmelke was appointed Av Beit Din of Nikolsburg - he was appointed Av Beit Din in 1772]. On leaf 61/1 there is a teaching from “The famous Rabbi...Levi Yitzchak, the Gaon from Jarosław, Av Beit Din and Rosh Metivta of Żelechów”. [This teaching was written at the time Rebbe Levi Yitzchak of Berdychiv served as Av Beit Din of Żelechów. The year the book was published, Rabbi Levi Yitzchak was 34 years old and the exceptional titles used in the book attest to his fame from a very young age as a renowned outstanding Torah genius]. [6], 5-66 leaves. 19.5 cm. Fair condition. Soft, worn paper, with damages to margins. Damages and gluing to title page. Leather and cardboard binding, old and slightly worn. See Hechal HaBesht, Anthology 30 (pp. 100-109), the article by Rabbi Noach Green, who writes of Tiferet Yisrael, that this book is the first printed source of Chassidic teachings heard from Chassidic rebbes. It was printed about six years before the first Chassidic book Toldot Ya’akov Yosef printed in 1780. (See enclosed material).