Sefer Yesod: Chochmas Adam.
First Edition. Vilna, 1815
Rare first edition of the fundamental sefer Chochmas Adam by Rabbi Avraham Danzig of Vilna, mechutan of the Vilna Gaon and author of Chayei Adam. The sefer boasts halachic rulings and chiddushim on Yoreh Deah.
Rabbi Chaim of Volozhin’s endorsement appears on the title page in which he describes the immense popularity of the sefer which was embraced throughout Lithuania and beyond and acclaimed as a fundamental halachic source. There were even Jewish congregations that established chaburos to learn the Chayei Adam’s sefarim.
The Sdei Chemed (Klalei HaPoskim Ch. 15 #32) writes: “Chayei Adam and Chochmas Adam are very prominent sefarim, and since they were embraced throughout the nation, they were published repeatedly, which is a sign that the author’s intentions were desirable in Heaven.” Sefer Binas Adam (Vilna, 1815) which encompasses the laws of majorities and other teshuvos is printed together with Chochmas Adam along with a separate title page.
Vilna, 1815. First Edition.
Page Count: [4], 99, [1]; 52 leaves.
Condition: Good. Minor damage on the margins of the first and last pages slightly affecting text at the end of a few lines. Stains and minuscule holes, worn. New leather binding.
Bibliography: Stefansky, Sifrei Yesod #205
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On the title page of Binas Adam, which is printed after Chochmas Adam, Rabbi Avraham Danzig shares that he very rarely cites the teachings of his mechutan, the Vilna Gaon, in the sefer since he heard that people were upset when he cited him in his sefer Chayei Adam and either commented upon or disputed his points.
He adds that, “without a doubt, these people are unfamiliar with the ways of Poskim, as the way of our holy Torah is that one builds and another demolishes, and surely this brought great nachas ruach to the Gaon”. He wrote a similar comment in his sefer Chochmas Adam, but was forced to censor his words and print a new page.
