Responsa HaRim (Ger) – Józefów, 1867 – Copy of Rabbi Yehudah Ashlag, the Baal HaSulam – Segulah Book for Stopping Plague

Responsa HaRim (Ger) – Józefów, 1867 – Copy of Rabbi Yehudah Ashlag, the Baal HaSulam – Segulah Book for Stopping Plague

Responsa HaRim, responsa on the four parts of Shulchan Aruch, and novellae on several tractates, by Rebbe Yitzchak Meir Alter of Ger, the Chiddushei HaRim. Józefów: Solomon and Baruch Setzer and Yechezkel Renner, 1867. First edition.

The first published work of the Chiddushei HaRim. An interesting story is recounted of this book. During an 1867 plague in Poland, Rebbe Chanoch Henich of Aleksander sent one of his followers to ask the Sefat Emet to publish his grandfather's works, which would surely cause the plague to end. As soon as the responsa was published, the plague stopped.

Between leaves 92-93 is [1] additional leaf with an addendum to the responsum.

Copy of kabbalist R. Yehudah Leib HaLevi Ashlag. On endpapers and other leaves, his signatures from his tenure as dayan and posek in Warsaw: "Yehudah HaLevi son of R. Sh. Y. Y. Ashlak, posek here, Warsaw".

R. Yehuda Leib Ashlag (1884-1954), outstanding Torah scholar, kabbalist, and thinker. He served as rabbi in Warsaw, later immigrating to Jerusalem where he delivered many classes on kabbalah to elite Torah scholars. With time, a large group of disciples and followers gathered around him, and appointed him their rebbe. He composed and published many works on kabbalah, most famously Talmud Eser Sefirot and the Sulam commentary on the Zohar.

On front endpaper and title page, signatures and ownership inscriptions.

[1], 92, [1], 93-157 leaves. 33 cm. Overall good condition. Stains. Small marginal tears to several leaves. Early leather binding, broken and detached.

The leaf with addendum to the responsum is not documented in the Bibliography of the Hebrew Book.