Rabbi Yaakov Emden’s Siddur Part 3 – Altona 1748 – First Edition Printed at the Author’s Private Press. Segulah! ...

Rabbi Yaakov Emden’s Siddur Part 3 – Altona 1748 – First Edition Printed at the Author’s Private Press. Segulah! Antique glosses from the author’s lifetime against his opponents.

Part three of the first edition of the famous prayer book Siddur Rabbi Yaakov Emden (later known as Siddur Beit Yaakov), with the Yaavetz’s halachic rulings and commentaries in the spirit of Kabbalah. A segula sefer, printed in the author’s own press.

Part three of Rabbi Emden's commentary on the prayers, is "Birat Migdal Oz" [Tower of Strength] which contains Laws and customs from birth until death, manners of education, laws of issur v'heter, ethics, philosophy etc.

Several antique marginal glosses (some cropped) by a prominent Torah scholar, written during the author’s lifetime. On folio 50 is a sharp gloss against opponents of the Yaavetz: “May the mouths of liars be stuffed, those who speak against the righteous one who wrote that the words of our Sages one may contemplate even in the toilet [although all his words are true and just and none should question him]. I have written here clearly that what the author wrote is not from his own opinion, but as he himself cited explicitly from his father, the true gaon, the late Chacham Tzvi of blessed memory, who said these things. And who is it, and what man would dare come after the king, king of the sages, to write against him? In any case, be it as it may, you fools—what business do you have opposing the author, may he be preserved?”

On folio 311b: “Of him it is said: ‘A sage is greater than a prophet, ’ for he prophesied through his wondrous wisdom all that befell him [and not one word failed].”

On folio 46 he begins the gloss: “Said Yehuda bar-Maz: according to his holy words we may say…”

The significance of Rabbi Yaakov Emden's siddurim has been highly esteemed by many of the great rabbis of Israel. The Chatam Sofer, known for his admiration of Emden’s works from a young age, cherished this siddur, finding its teachings both profound and uplifting: "The words of the genius... are soothing to the eyes and healing to the soul; his refined and clean language quenches one's thirst" (Likutei Teshuvot Chatam Sofer, London 1965, Approvals, Section 3).

The first edition is reputed to have remarkable segulot with some Tzadikim claiming that one who prays from it will find their prayers answered. Although Rabbi Yaakov Emden's siddur follows the Ashkenaz rite, it has been embraced even within Chassidic circles, with some editions published with Chassidic (Sefard) customs and receiving the endorsements of leading Chassidic masters.

The Baal Shem Tov, founder of Chassidism, is reported to have remarked: "Though he is not a Chassid, he is constantly connected to the three upper Sefirot: Chochmah, Binah, Da’at" (Chakal Yitzchak of Spinka, preface to Etz Avot). According to tradition, he also told Rabbi Ephraim, Yaavetz's brother, "Your brother Yaavetz is connected all day to the upper worlds." The sefer Tzeror HaChaim quotes the Baal Shem Tov stating that "the five sons of the Chacham Tzvi were blessed with divine inspiration." It was assumed he referred primarily to Rabbi Yaakov Emden.

Rebbi Mordechai of Chernobyl, in his endorsement for the second edition printed in Koretz in 1818, noted the rarity and popularity of this siddur even then, stating that it was impossible to find a single copy in the entire city.

The first two parts were reprinted in Koretz in 1818 with the support of great Chassidic leaders, including Rebbi Avraham Yehoshua Heshel of Apta and Rebbi Mordechai of Chernobyl. The third part was printed in Berdichev in 1836, with the endorsement of Rebbi Mordechai of Chernobyl and Rebbi Yisrael of Ruzhin, who praised the siddur, saying, "It is based on a foundation of pure knowledge and guides the proper way in prayer with clarity."

Stefansky, Sifreiu Yesod #415.

Part III: 312 leaves, lacking 2 leaves at the end.. (Some copies printed with 390 leaves ending mid-section, but most, like this one, have 314 leaves bound & as mentioned the present copy ends at page 312). 16.7 cm.

Overall Good Condition, stains, some minor worming affecting text through page 50, old binding rubbed, tape repaired spine.