Bidspirit auction | Famed Sefer Yesod Minchas Chinuch

Famed Sefer Yesod Minchas Chinuch First Edition. Lemberg, 1869. * A massive exposition on the order of the 613 mitzvos in Sefer HaChinuch, written ”with tremendous pilpul and astonishing, remarkable mastery, ” by the outstanding gaon, the Sar HaTorah, Rabbi Yosef Babad, Av Beis Din of Tarnopol. From the moment it was published, Minchas Chinuch became a staple of lomdus literature, standing as the foremost foundation of them all. Scholars everywhere were drawn to it, studying and delving into its words, until its profound pilpulim, penetrating questions, precise definitions, and far-reaching investigations became an indispensable part of study in every beis medrash — in kloizen, shtiblach, and yeshivos of every kind — throughout Poland and Galicia, Russia, Lithuania, Hungary, and even extending as far as the countries of the Orient. Its writing, which combines together a remarkable breadth of knowledge with deep analytical insight, is vivid and dynamic, carrying the learner along into the inner depths of the author's ideas and reflections. Through its method of learning, it ignites hearts and minds with the sweetness of Torah. From its first printing in 1869 until today, the sefer has appeared in many dozens of editions. The author, Rabbi Yosef Babad (1801–1874) , was the son-in-law of Rabbi Aryeh Leibush Halberstam of Tarnogrod, father of the Divrei Chaim. For a time, he studied together with his brother-in-law, Rabbi Chaim, who would later become the Sanzer Rav. After his wife's passing, he married the daughter of Rabbi Dovid of Zlabotov, son of the Ahavas Shalom of Kossov. He served as Rav in several Galician cities and, from 1857 onward, as Rav of Tarnopol, succeeding his grandfather and teacher, Rabbi Yehoshua Heshel Babad, author of Sefer Yehoshua. He fulfilled his role with dignity and resolve, undeterred by any opposition. This first edition was printed anonymously, and on the title page, it is stated : ”Authored by one of the outstanding geonim of our times, the holy and pure one, may he live long, and out of his great humility, he concealed his name.” Lemberg, 1869. First edition . Three parts bound in one volume. Page Count : Part I: [2], 116 leaves; Part II: [1], 148 leaves; Part III: [2], 105, 4, [3] leaves. Size : 29 cm. Condition : Good. Bibliography : Stefansky, Sifrei Yesod, no. 217. --------------------------------- Regarding the reason for printing the sefer, the author relates in his introduction that while he was deliberating whether to publish it, many of his manuscripts were stolen from him. He saw this as a sign from Heaven to proceed with its printing. It is related that in those days, his brother-in-law, Rabbi Chaim of Sanz, visited him and asked whether any manuscripts had remained in his possession after the theft. The Minchas Chinuch replied that he had been left with ”only” the sefer Minchas Chinuch, containing merely ”some” notes on Sefer HaChinuch. The Divrei Chaim urged him to print it, and foretold that all of Klal Yisrael would embrace it and study it until the coming of Mashiach (Ateres Chaim, vol. II, p. 89).