Bidspirit auction | Ayil Meshulash by the Vilna

Ayil Meshulash by the Vilna Gaon – Printed from His Autograph Manuscript Vilna, 1833. First Edition. *   Ayil Meshulash, a treatise on geometry and trigonometry, including principles of astronomy and algebra, by the holy gaon, Rabbi Eliyahu of Vilna, the Vilna Gaon. It is well known that the Vilna Gaon maintained that “Torah and wisdom [i.e. secular sciences] are inseparably bound together.” For this reason, he instructed that works on astronomy, geometry, and the mathematical sciences be printed. As related in Ma’aseh Rav, “There was no branch of wisdom or science beyond his mastery.” The present work is his own treatise on the science of triangles. The volume opens with approbations from the leading rabbanim of Vilna: Rabbi Yissachar Ber, author of Ma’aseh Rav; Rabbi Avraham Abeli, Ra’avad of Vilna; and the Vilna Gaon's grandson, Rabbi Yaakov Moshe of Slonim. Rabbi Yaakov Moshe also contributed an extensive eight-page introduction, in which he explains at length the importance of scientific knowledge for the proper understanding of Torah. This edition was printed directly from the Vilna Gaon's autograph manuscript, which the publisher received from his grandson, Rabbi Yaakov Moshe of Slonim. (As is well known, after the Vilna Gaon's passing, it was decided that all of his writings required the approval of the Vilna beis din before publication, in order to ensure that no material not genuinely authored by him would appear under his name.) Numerous diagrams and geometric illustrations appear throughout the work, clarifying the concepts discussed. Alongside the Vilna Gaon's text appears a commentary by the publisher, Rabbi Shmuel, Av Beis Din of Luknik. His introduction, printed at the beginning of the volume, includes an explanation of a sugya in Eruvin based upon the mathematical principles presented in this work. Vilna, 1833. First edition. Page Count: [7], 31 leaves. Size: Medium format. Condition: Good. Stains. New binding. Bibliography: Otzar Sifrei HaGra (Winograd), no. 862. - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - “The [Vilna Gaon] said: 'All branches of wisdom are necessary for our holy Torah and are encompassed within it.’ He mastered them all completely, including algebra, trigonometry, geometry, and the rest…” (Introduction to Pe'as HaShulchan; see also Rabbi Menachem Mendel of Shklov in his introduction to the Vilna Gaon's commentary on Pirkei Avos).