Sefer Yesod: Biur HaGr”a on Shulchan Aruch Even Haezer
First Edition. Vilna-Horodna, 1812-1817
Rare
Exquisite, complete copy of Shulchan Aruch Even Haezer with the Chelkas Mechokek, Beis Shmuel and Be’er Hagolah commentaries, along with the then-brand-new commentary of Rabbi Eliyahu of Vilna, the Vilna Gaon.
Biur HaGr”a was first published by the Vilna Gaon’s grandson Rabbi Yaakov Moshe ben Avraham of Slonim.
Bibliographers describe at length the long-winded process of bringing the Biur HaGr”a to print and they determine that there are several different variants. The present copy is the complete variant known as Type B.
The first stage of printing of this commentary commenced in Horodna in 1812, when the Shulchan Aruch was first printed together with Be’er Hagolah alongside the Biur HaGr”a only. The first 24 leaves of the sefer were printed in completion, yet the process was then halted.
At the time, Rabbi Chaim of Volozhin, prime disciple of the Vilna Gaon, determined that the Chelkas Mechokek and Beis Shmuel, whose positions had already been established in prior editions of Shulchan Aruch should be included in the printing, as well (see excerpt from Rabbi Chaim of Volozhin’s letter on title page verso). Thus, in 1819, Rabbi Yaakov Moshe of Slonim resumed printing in the Vilna-Horodna Press, adding the Chelkas Mechokek and Beis Shmuel that had not yet been printed on the said 24 leaves in separate leaves (marked 23-55). Thereafter, following Rabbi Chaim of Volozhin’s directive, he printed the Biur HaGr”a alongside the other commentaries (1-188).
(See Shisha’s essay regarding the sticker inserted on leaf 24b in this copy.)
Biur HaGr”a is one of the fundamental sources of halachah, and the Chafetz Chaim consistently rules accordingly. He relates in his preface to Mishnah Berurah Vol. 1: “In places where I saw [varying] opinions between two Achronim on a matter, I was not lax in searching through all other Achronim, and
particularly in Biur HaGra, for he is the light of Israel and the foundation upon which everything is dependent, and is worthy of determining the matter.”
Biur HaGr”a on Shulchan Aruch was authored by the holy hand of the Vilna Gaon (as opposed to being transcribed by his talmidim).
In his unparalleled genius, the Gr”a presented his commentary in very concise format, and yet, writes his talmid Rabbi Chaim of Volozhin,
“Though his words are short, they are as stars that appear small, yet the entire world stands beneath them.”
The Gr”a’s fundamental approach in his commentary was to reveal the sources of the Shulchan Aruch’s rulings in the Talmud Bavli and Yerushalmi. Rabbi Chaim of Volozhin expresses in his preface to Biur HaGr”a that “Here the Vilna Gaon established the foundations of his path of study, to…mention in the course of learning Shulchan Aruch its source in Shas.”
Vilna-Horodna, 1812-1819. First Edition.
Page Count: 3-24, 23-55, 188 leaves.
Page Size: 33 cm. Title page partially in red ink.
Condition: Good with few stains. New binding.
Bibliography: Stefansky, Sifrei Yesod #169; Winograd, Otzar Sifrei HaGr”a #754; Rabbi Chaim Liberman, Ohel Rachel Vol. 3 pp. 77-481; R’ Avraham Halevi Shisha, Yeshurun, Vol. 5 pp. 685-695.
