Early Chassidic Sefer
Ben Porat Yosef by the “Toldos”
Koritz, 1781. First Edition.
The first sefer in which the Baal Shem Tov’s own writings were printed!
Insights on Sefer Bereishis by Rabbi Yaakov Yosef of Polnoye, the first and foremost among those who disseminated the teachings of the Baal Shem Tov. The insights are based on chassidus and all four methods of Torah study – pshat, remez, drush and sod known by the acronym ‘Pardes’.
In this sefer, the Baal Shem Tov’s Igeres Kodesh was printed for the first time. This is the first time that actual teachings written by the Baal Shem Tov himself were printed, and not teachings said in his name!
The author of ‘Toldos’ (1695-1782) was the disciple closest to the Baal Shem Tov. The Baal Shem Tov loved him and drew him close with special affection.
The publishers alluded to this on the title page of the first edition of Toldos with the verse, "And
Yisrael loved
Yosef". The Baal Shem Tov transmitted to him the majority of his teachings.
In this sefer, as in the Toldos, the author brings hundreds of teachings from his teacher the Baal Shem Tov, with the title "And I heard from my teacher" on almost every page. The holy Rabbi Pinchas of Koritz said that from each "And I heard from my teacher"
one can revive the dead (techias hameisim).
It was printed immediately after the printing of Toldos Yaakov Yosef (Koritz 1780) which is the first chassidic sefer ever printed. Like its predecessor, this sefer is also among the foundational chassidic texts, as the holy Rabbi Yitzchak Yehuda Yechiel of Komarno wrote:
"All the sefarim of the Great Kohen, will literally revive your soul." (Netiv Mitzvosecha, Shvil HaTorah 32)
The Baal Shem Tov’s Igeres Kodesh
Printed for the first time at the end of the sefer is the Baal Shem Tov’s famous letter that he sent to his brother-in-law in the Holy Land, the saintly Rabbi Gershon of Kitov, who was then living in Jerusalem.
The Baal Shem Tov gave the letter to the author of Toldos in the winter of 1752, when he planned to go to the Holy Land. It was to be delivered to Rabbi Gershon of Kitov.
After the travel plans were canceled, the letter remained with the author, and was given by him to be printed "in order to merit our nation Israel."
In the letter, the Baal Shem Tov reveals to his brother-in-law wonderful things he saw in the upper worlds when he performed ‘elevations for the soul’.
The ‘Seraph’ Rabbi Uri of Strelisk related about Rabbi Mordechai of Neshchiz that he would study the Igeres Kodesh every day:
"It was an obligation for the tzaddik of Neshchiz to learn it every day, without fail, just like putting on tefillin." He also said in his name that in this letter are encoded three holy names,
"through which one can know the time of redemption." (Imrei Kadosh HaShalem, Jerusalem 1961, p. 47, section 40).
"I asked Moshiach, "When will the master come?" and he answered me, "By this you shall know: When your teachings become public and revealed in the world and your wellsprings spread outward." (From the Baal Shem Tov’s letter, printed here for the first time.)
Koritz, 1781. First edition.
Page count: [1], 100 leaves.
Size: 30.5 cm.
Condition: Light rubbing on the left corner of title page, stains on margins of about first twenty pages and some additional individual pages. On page 99 there are old paper reinforcements; on last page there is a sign of tear without loss. New leather binding.
Stefansky, Chassidus # 90
