Discovery! "None of its treasures can be compared to it" – A testament to the Torah scholarship of the ...

Discovery! "None of its treasures can be compared to it" – A testament to the Torah scholarship of the tzaddikim of the Gur dynasty across generations.

"And the words that I have put in your mouth shall not depart from your mouth, nor from the mouth of your descendants, nor from the mouth of your descendants' descendants, " says the Lord, "from now and forever."

Sefer "Me'orer Zikaron" – a concise review of the entire Order of Nashim in the Talmud, printed anonymously, combined with the Sefer " Masef HaMachanot" – a compilation of references on the Talmudic order from the responsa literature attributed to the Mahar"m HaGiz, author of 'Mishnat Chachamim',

Altona, 1727 – First edition.

The Transmission of Torah Knowledge from Generation to Generation in the Gur Dynasty.

On the title page: The holy seal of Rebbi Yisrael Alter, the 'Beit Yisrael' of Gur, Zt''l. It should be noted that his seal, inscribed with his name and " From Gura Klavaria" underneath, is rare and possibly unique, surviving from his time in Poland.

On the front flyleaf, the Rebbe inscribed in his holy handwriting, for eternal remembrance : "From my revered grandfather, the Sefat Emet Zt''l. And perhaps still from the Chidushei Harim Zt''l."

It is almost unknown for seforim from the Rebbe's time in Poland to have survived, as he fled in haste. Thus, it appears that the Rebbe deemed it necessary to carry this small sefer with him, demonstrating how precious it was to him and how diligently he studied it even during times of distress. "None of its treasures can be compared to it" literally!

The Rebbe testifies that the sefer originally belonged to his holy grandfather, the 'Sefrat Emet', and perhaps even to the 'Chiddushei HaRim' Zt''l. It is also possible that the sefer belonged to his father, the 'Imrei Emet', who gave it to his son, the 'Beit Yisrael', while still alive, so that he would study it constantly. Thus, we have a holy sefer that was studied and memorized by all the tzaddikim of the Gur dynasty and passed down to the 'Beit Yisrael' Zt''l.

The 'Beit Yisrael' did not usually make notes on seforim, making this sefer exceptional in that he chose to record his lineage as a lesson for future generations, providing reliable evidence of the effort and dedication to Torah study.

Rabbi Pinchas said in the name of Rabbi Yochanan, "Anyone who is a Torah scholar, and his son is a Torah scholar, and his grandson is a Torah scholar, the Torah will never cease from his descendants, as it is said, 'And this is my covenant with them, says the Lord: My spirit that is upon you, and my words which I have put in your mouth, shall not depart from your mouth, nor from the mouth of your descendants, nor from the mouth of your descendants' descendants, ' says the Lord, 'from now and forever.'" (Baba Batra 89b)

About the Author and the sefer

Sefer 'Me'orer Zikaron' was written as a concise review of the Talmud. The author includes special topics, mostly from the Tosafot's commentary, on the Order of Women. Designed for those already proficient in Talmud, as an ordinary reader would find it "like a dream without explanation." The author claims that one who studies this sefer "can review the entire Talmud in a week."

The author is described by the 'Knesset Yehezkel' in his approbation as "one of the sages of old." It is mentioned that the manuscript was preserved by a friend who persuaded him to print it. This friend is likely the remarkable scholar Rabbi Moshe HaGiz, author of 'Mishnat Chachamim', who resided in Altona at that time, the same city as the 'Knesset Yehezkel'. He is known for his emphasis on the necessity of review and memorization of the Talmud and his opposition to the "pilpul" method of studying.

A Discovery and Testament of Torah Labor and Transmission from Generation to Generation.

Good to very good condition, with minor restoration work on the title page and small restorations on three additional pages, slight wear on the margins of two pages.  Bound in a restored, handsome, old half-leather cover, with stains, and is housed in an elegant, ornate leather case.

"Rabbi Yehoshua ben Karcha says, 'Anyone who studies Torah and does not review it is like a person who sows without reaping.'" (Sanhedrin 99a)