Or HaYashar Siddur – Rite and Customs of Koidanov – Vilna, 1877 – First, Rare Edition – Siddur Used by the Rebbes ...

Or HaYashar Siddur – Rite and Customs of Koidanov – Vilna, 1877 – First, Rare Edition – Siddur Used by the Rebbes and Chassidim of Koidanov, Lechovitz, Karlin and Slonim Throughout the Generations, Basis for Printing Their Siddurim – Rite Which Rebbe Aharon of Belz Prayed from – Segulah Book, "First Buyers Will Be First to be Blessed... Should Buy This Siddur... and It Will Be Good For Him"
Year-round siddur, based on the rite of Rebbe Shlomo Chaim Perlow of Koidanov and his customs, with Or HaYashar – practices and kavanot by R. Meir Poppers, edited by R. Tzvi Hirsh of Poznan. The siddur was compiled and brought to print by R. Yitzchak of Vileyka. [Vilna, 1877]. First edition.
Rare siddur. The present copy is lacking the first six leaves and final leaf.
The prayer text in this siddur was established by Rebbe Shlomo Chaim Perlow of Koidanov, grandson and close disciple of Rebbe Mordechai of Lechovitz.
The text was memorized by two of his grandsons, R. Yitzchak Perlow posek in Vileyka (1850-1902), author of Erez BaLevanon (Vilna 1899), who compiled and published this siddur; and Rebbe Aharon Perlow of Koidanov (1839-1897). In his foreword (lacking in the present copy), R. Yitzchak writes how he recorded the prayer text of his grandfather (Rebbe Shlomo Chaim Perlow of Koidanov), word for word from memory, with the assistance of his brother-in-law Rebbe Aharon Perlow of Koidanov. He also recorded dozens of customs and practices of his grandfather.
The siddur also includes the Or HaYashar composition – essays on ethics and kabbalistic practices by R. Meir Poppers, edited, arranged and expanded upon by R. Tzvi Hirsh Chazan of Poznan, as first printed in Amsterdam 1709.
In the approbation of Rebbe Aharon of Koidanov to this siddur (lacking in the present copy), the Rebbe blesses whoever buys the siddur: "I request of our Jewish brethren, especially our fellow Chassidim, to each buy this siddur at its designated price, and they should not try to save on the money, and first buyers will be first to be blessed, especially our fellow Chassidim, it is fitting that they should not pray from any other siddur using any other text, rather everyone should buy this siddur... and it will be good for him".
This siddur was reprinted with various additions in 1903, 1928 and in other editions. In his foreword to the 1903 edition, the publisher mentions the present edition, describing how it was immediately cherished and enjoyed, and rapidly sold out, to the extent that the last copies were sold at a high price (meaning that already then these siddurim were rare). The rebbes of Koidanov, Lechovitz, Karlin and Stolin, and the Beit Avraham of Slonim all prayed from this siddur. Current siddurim of Karlin and Stolin Chassidim are based on the text of this siddur. This siddur was referred to by elder Koidanov Chassidim as "Dem Rebben's Siddur", and in the Chassidic world as "Der Koidanover Siddur".
Rebbe Chaim Meir of Narol testified in his approbation to the 1979 edition of the siddur that this siddur was very cherished by the rebbes of Belz, especially by Rebbe Aharon of Belz: " Many Tzaddikim and Chassidim drew fear of G-d from this siddur, especially the rebbes of Belz, and I personally witnessed Rebbe Aharon of Belz praying from this siddur, especially the mussaf prayer of Shabbat Rosh Chodesh".
The author of the present siddur, Rebbe Shlomo Chaim Perlow of Koidanov –elder rebbe of Koidanov and founder of the dynasty (1797-1862) was the grandson and disciple of Rebbe Mordechai of Lechovitz and Rebbe Asher of Stolin (his grandfather Rebbe Mordechai of Lechovitz passed away in Stolin on his wedding day). He combined in his conduct and approach the influences of both these grandfathers. He was also associated with the Beit Aharon of Karlin. The Koidanov Chassidut which he founded was at that time one of the largest Chassidic courts in Lithuania. His practices were published in an independent booklet, which was bound at the end of later editions of this siddur.
Incomplete copy. 7-255 leaves. Lacking 7 leaves: first 6 leaves (including two title pages; replaced in photocopy), and final leaf. 20 cm. Dry and brittle paper. Fair condition. Stains, including dark dampstains. Wax stains in several places. Extensive wear. Tears, including many open tears, affecting text (paper repairs to two leaves). Worming to several leaves. Old binding, worn.
Listed in the Bibliography of the Hebrew Book based on a picture of the second title page from the copy in the National Library of Finland. There is no physical copy in the National Library in Jerusalem (only a link to the digitized copy in the Schneersohn Library, Moscow). Not listed in Stefansky.