Or Olam Books – Sod Yachin UBoaz / HaDerech HaTov VehaYashar – By Rabbi Meir Margolies, Author of Meir Netivim ...

Or Olam Books – Sod Yachin UBoaz / HaDerech HaTov VehaYashar – By Rabbi Meir Margolies, Author of Meir Netivim, Disciple of the Baal Shem Tov – Ostroh, 1794 / Polonne, 1795

Two books – "Third Light" and "Fourth Light" of the Or Olam series, by R. Meir Margolies Rabbi of the Lviv region and Ostroh, author of Meir Netivim, leading disciple of the Baal Shem Tov. First editions.
1. Sod Yachin UBoaz – the will of R. Meir Margolies to his sons, with many profound kabbalistic and Chassidic thoughts. Ostroh: printer not indicated, [1794]. First edition. With approbations by R. Levi Yitzchak of Berditchev, R. Aryeh Leib of Apta and Sochatchov, R. Zusia of Anipoli, R. Chaim of Krasni, R. Yisrael "Maggid of Koznitz", and others.
Signature on the title page: "Shimon son of R. Avraham…".

[2], 3-22 leaves. 19.5 cm. Fair condition. Stains, including dampstains. Wear. Tears to upper margins of all leaves, including open tears affecting text, repaired with paper. Worming affecting text. Stamps. New binding.

2. Or Olam – Fourth Light – HaDerech HaTov VehaYashar (the good and straight path), a long poem composed of good practices and laws, briefly summarizing the four parts of the Shulchan Aruch and the 613 commandments. Polonne: Schneur son of Betzalel MiGeza Schorr, [1795]. First edition. With approbations by R. Meir of Konstantin – son of the Yaavetz, R. Levi Yitzchak of Berditchev, R. Avraham Yehoshua Heshel Rabbi of Kolbuszowa (later rabbi of Apta), and others.
This work was written by the author in response to a request by his son R. Shaul Margolies that he briefly summarize the four parts of the Shulchan Aruch. R. Meir wrote a long alphabetical acrostic poem, also forming his name Meir and the name of his son Shaul. The poem contains all the laws and practices of the four parts of the Shulchan Aruch and the 613 commandments.
Stamp on the title page: "Naftali Hertz son of R. Sh.Feivel [Shraga Feivel] of Kraków". Handwritten inscriptions on the title page.

[2], 3-40 leaves. 21 cm. High-quality greenish paper. Good condition. Stains, including dark stains. Minor marginal tears to several leaves. Many stamps (including censorship stamps) to title page. New leather binding.

The author, R. Meir Margolies (ca. 1707?-1790), a leading disciple of the Baal Shem Tov and one of the first to cleave to him, even before the Baal Shem Tov became famous. R. Meir is considered a "colleague-disciple" of the Baal Shem Tov and mentions him in several places as "my teacher" and "my friend". In his book Sod Yachin UBoaz (Ostroh, 1794), he writes of "my teachers, prominent in Torah and Chassidut, headed by my friend the pious R. Yisrael Baal Shem Tov… and from my youth, when I attached myself with bonds of love to my teacher and friend R. Yisrael Baal Shem Tov… I knew with absolute certainty that his conduct was in holiness and purity, piety and ascetism… occult matters were revealed to him…". His son R. Betzalel, who succeeded him as rabbi of Ostroh, writes in his approbation to the book Shivchei HaBaal Shem Tov (Berditchev 1815 edition): "…as I heard from my father… who from his youth was part of the holy entourage of the Baal Shem Tov, and R. Meir would frequently speak in his praise…".
R. Meir Margolies was a leading and prominent rabbi in his times. In his youth, he served as rabbi of Yazlovets and Horodenka. In 1755, he was appointed rabbi of the Lviv region. In 1766, he was appointed by the King of Poland as chief rabbi of Ukraine and Galicia. In 1776, he received an official letter of appointment from the King of Poland, Stanisław August Poniatowski (the rabbinical appointment, in gilt letters, is preserved until this day in the Dubnow archives in New York). In 1777, he was appointed rabbi of Ostroh and the region, in addition to his position as rabbi of the Lviv region.