Bidspirit auction | Sefer Yesod of Halacha and

Sefer Yesod of Halacha and Chassidus: Shulchan Aruch HaRav by the Baal HaTanya, Orach Chaim – Laws of Eruvin – First Edition – Kapust, 1816 * “The Chassidic Shulchan Aruch” – the third volume of Shulchan Aruch HaRav, containing the laws of Eruvin, Yom Tov, Rosh Hashanah, Yom Kippur, Sukkah, and Lulav (simanim 345–651). Compiled by the gaon in revealed and hidden Torah, Rabbi Shneur Zalman of Liadi, author of the Tanya, “whose Torah and holy Chassidus illuminated the face of the world” (as stated on the title page). This work became known throughout the Jewish world as Shulchan Aruch HaRav (also Shulchan Aruch HaGraz), and became one of the most influential halachic works of the last two centuries. The Baal HaTanya composed his commentary to the Shulchan Aruch at the directive of the Maggid of Mezritch, who recognized in him “a man imbued with the spirit of G-d to understand and render clear halachic rulings, ” and urged him to undertake the project. He began writing it while still in Mezritch and showed portions of the manuscript to the holy brothers, Rabbi Shmuel of Nikolsburg and the Baal Hafla’ah, who “praised and extolled it exceedingly” and pressed him to complete the work. The work was written in a clear and accessible style, understandable to all. While its framework follows the order of the simanim of the Shulchan Aruch, the internal arrangement of the sections often follows an independent structure. At the end of the volume appears a “Kuntres Acharon, ” in which the author explores the underlying principles of the halachos in greater depth. The Baal HaTanya wished to publish the work during his lifetime, but was unable to do so. His son, the Mitteler Rebbe, later testified that his father intended to instruct Chassidim everywhere to establish a daily study cycle in his Shulchan Aruch. Rabbi Shneur Zalman of Liadi, the Baal HaTanya (d. 1812), was a towering and saintly figure, renowned for his mastery of every area of Torah — Shas and Poskim, Kabbalah and Chassidus. He is one of the very few Chassidic leaders whose writings became foundational pillars of Jewish life in both halacha and Chassidus. In their introduction to the Shulchan Aruch, his sons relate that by the age of thirty, he had reviewed the entire Shas sixteen times together with all the Rishonim and Achronim, and that “Hashem granted him wisdom comparable to that of the greatest of the Rishonim.” The volume was proofread by the Baal HaTanya’s brother, Rabbi Yehudah Leib of Yanovitch, as testified by the Mitteler Rebbe in his introduction to Part I. Fine lower margins. Kapust, 1816. First edition. Page Count: [1], 2–164, 169–250, [2]; 223 leaves. Size: 17.4 cm. Condition: Small holes in dozens of the first and last leaves. One tear without loss of text on a single leaf. Otherwise in good, attractive condition. Fine new leather binding. Antique manuscript correction on leaf 205a (not listed in the errata, though clearly a necessary correction. An identical correction in a different writing appears in the scanned copy in Hebrew Books as well). Bibliography: Stefansky, Sifrei Yesod no. 202. Stefansky, Sifrei Chassidus no. 564. Mondshine, Toras Chabad, vol. II, The Halachic Works of the Alter Rebbe, sec. A, pp. 38–39. - - - - - - - - - The First Editions of Shulchan Aruch HaRav As noted above, the Baal HaTanya began composing his work on the Shulchan Aruch in his youth and continued refining and revising it throughout his life, including preparing later editions. Six sections of the work were printed: * Orach Chaim, Volume I — Kapust, 1816. * Orach Chaim, Volume II, Laws of Shabbos — Kapust, 1816 (see adjacent item). * Orach Chaim, Volume III, Laws of Eruvin — Kapust, 1816 (present item). * Laws of Pesach — Shklov, 1814. * Laws of Niddah, together with portions of Yoreh De’ah concerning Shechitah and Treifos, and eighteen teshuvos — Kapust, 1814. * Sections from Choshen Mishpat — Kapust, 1814.