Toldos
Yaakov Yosef

WARSAW 1881 

A Torah commentary by

Rabbi Yaakov Yosef
of Polnoye

who was the senior desciple of the
Baal Shem Tov

this is all 5 parts on the 5 chumashim

Breshit Shmot Vaikra Bamidbar Devarim

This is the first published Hasidic book, and to this day has remained the single most important work in the entire hasidic literature.

The book vividly espouses the vital religious way of Hasidism with its promise of nearness to God for "all who call upon Him in truth."

The significance of this volume is that it is the main source for the teachings of the Baal Shem Tov for we have nothing from his own pen (save for a few letters). What Rabbi Yaakov Yosef did was to devotedly and scrupulously record the teachings of his master and to elucidate and develop them through his own thinking in a manner so rich and fruitful that what had been the treasured property of the few was made available to all.

According to Hasidic tradition the book sold but few copies and was harshly suppressed, even put to the torch in a number of communities. The remaining copies were so sought after for study that they "were devoured by eager spirits with such appetite that they were literally worn to pieces

Rabbi Yaakov Yosef was an early follower of the Baal Shem Tov, but originally a virulent opponent of the Chassidic movement and its leader.

20 x35 cm.
condition: vf