Bidspirit auction | Torah pamphlet in the teachings

Torah pamphlet in the teachings of Chabad – Never printed - Manuscript, a highly fascinating halachic-polemical treatise between two Chabad Chassidic rabbis, on whether the Jewish mind has superiority and preeminence over the non-Jewish mind in sciences unrelated to Torah – Nissan 1897–1903. The pamphlet presents a fascinating Torah and philosophical debate. Each side supports its position using sources from the Talmud, Halachic authorities, Kabbalah, Chassidus, and real-world observations. The first writer firmly claims that the Jewish mind’s superiority over the non-Jewish mind is solely in matters related to Torah and Divine subjects, while in worldly sciences, the non-Jewish mind is generally superior (though he concedes there are exceptions). The second writer entirely disputes this, arguing that the Jewish mind is superior in all fields. Most of the pamphlet contains the first writer’s text, while the second writer’s rebuttals appear as notes beginning on page 19, corresponding to numbered markers embedded in the first writer’s text. This manuscript is a near-contemporary copy of the original, copied around Nissan 1897. The identities of the rabbis are unknown, but it is evident the first was a Chabad Chassid, as shown from his remark at the beginning: “…the later sages, especially the holy grandfather, our master the Alter Rebbe, though his strength in revealed Torah was like that of the Tannaim..., nevertheless, what he revealed in the revealed Torah is minor compared to the hidden teachings—faith—that illuminated the exile’s eyes much more. After him came his saintly descendants…” The second writer was also clearly a Chassidic rabbi, as evident from his note at the end of page 21: “As is known and elaborated upon in many Kabbalistic and Chassidic works of our holy rabbis OBM. ” However, it is unclear to which Chassidic group he belonged. On the last page is written: “On all this, I wrote my lengthy comments – Pamphlet ‘Divrei Ta’am’ 1903.” (A work titled Divrei Ta’am was printed in Warsaw 1904 by Rabbi Aryeh Leib Haft, Av Beit Din of Konotop, one of the prominent rabbis of Chabad Kapust. However, he is clearly not the author here, as page 17 mentions ‘Bnei Leib may he live’. No known pamphlet under this title is identified.) [12] leaves (24 written pages). 23 cm. Good condition. Stains. Wear along the edges.