Manuscript, Kitzur Likutei Amarim - Mahadura Kama of the Tanya - An Earlier Version than the Printed Edition - ...

Manuscript, Kitzur Likutei Amarim - Mahadura Kama of the Tanya - An Earlier Version than the Printed Edition - Eastern-Europe, End of 18th Century
Manuscript of the book Kitzur Likutei Amarim - Mahadura Kama of the Tanya, fundamentals in worship of G-d, by the Admor HaZaken R. Shneur Zalman of Liadi - the Baal HaTanya. Particularly neat Rashi script [Eastern Europe? Ca. 1792-1796]. This manuscript is a copying of the first 42 chapters of the Tanya, based on the Mahadura Kama version of the book (and not on the text and format of the printed book). The Tanya was first printed in 1797. Up until then, it was circulated through handwritten copies which the Baal HaTanya distributed from the summer of 1792. The Mahadura Kama manuscripts can be classified into two categories, some consisting of 42 chapters (presumably earlier editions), such as this copy, and some containing 51 chapters. The printed edition of the Tanya is comprised of 53 chapters, as well as 12 chapters of Shaar HaYichud VehaEmuna. On many pages, the copyist inserted additions in the margins, whether single words or entire sentences. Some additions consist of words omitted during the copying, and appear in the original Mahadura Kama, and others are later additions, based on the text of the printed Mahadura Batra. Three lengthy additions were copied on the first page preceding the body of the work, based on the printed text of the Mahadura Batra. The Mahadura Kama version of the Tanya was printed for the first time in 1982 in Brooklyn, at the behest of the Rebbe of Lubavitch, and entitled Likutei Amarim Mahadura Kama (from manuscript). This book contains marginal notes documenting the thousands of textual variations found between nine different manuscripts known to the publishers of the book, as well as explanations of the differences between the texts of Mahadura Kama and Mahadura Batra. This present manuscript was however not known to the publishers, and contains several textual variations which do not appear in any other manuscripts of Mahadura Kama, and are not mentioned in the book. The Rebbe of Lubavitch explained in one of his discourses the significance of Mahadura Kama, noting that in the Talmud and in the Arizal's writings, importance is given to earlier versions. Similarly, studying the differences between Mahadura Kama and Mahadura Batra can afford us a new depth of understanding in the teachings of the Baal HaTanya. The Rebbe himself analyzed the variations between the two versions on several occasions (see: Torat Menachem, 1982, I, p. 482). Background of the writing of the Tanya: In the 1790s, the Baal HaTanya (1748/9-1812) was the only Chassidic leader in Belarus, which in those days, according to Russian government census, was home to tens of thousands of Chassidim. In that period, a mighty stream of followers flocked to his court to receive his advice on topics of service of G-d, which stole a lot of his time. People were sometimes compelled to wait for weeks to be allowed to consult with the Rebbe in a private audience, much to the Rebbe's displeasure. The Rebbe wrote three letters during the course of those years, instructing entrance to be restricted for those who had already had an audience with him, so that those who had not as yet consulted with him could enter with greater ease. The Rebbe consequently proceeded to compose booklets of guidance to Chassidim on topics of worship of G-d, as a substitute for private sessions. He handed over the booklets for copying ca. the summer of 1792, and thereafter periodically supplemented, corrected and updated them. These booklets resulted in the book Tanya. In a letter to his followers (which later became the preface to the Tanya), the Baal HaTanya wrote that the booklets, name Likutei Amarim, consist of responses to many requests for guidance in worship of G-d posed by fellow Jews of the country. As he is unable to respond to each question individually, he is writing all the answers to recurrent questions, so that each and every one can find the answer and advice appropriate to his difficulty in his service of G-d, without having to press forth to receive a private audience with the Rebbe.After inaccurate copies began to circulate, the Baal HaTanya decided at the end of the summer of 1796 to have the booklets published in Slavita. To that end, he edited and rearranged the booklets, adding new chapters, such as chapters 30-32, which do not appear in the Mahadura Kama booklets, and inserting sentences and paragraphs into existing chapters. He likewise changed the division of the chapters. Conversely, some sentences and passages where removed for the printed version, thus each edition includes some exclusive content lacking in the other. At the end of the preface to the printed edition, the author added a passage describing the circulation of the booklets and the reasons which impelled him to print them: "After these booklets (of the Mahadura Kama) became widespread amongst our people in many copyings realized by all kinds of scribes, the multiplicity of copies resulted in numerous scribal errors, they therefore offered… to bring these booklets to print, cleansed from any error and thoroughly edited". R. Zusha of Anipoli in his approbation likewise writes of the extensive distribution of Mahadura Kama booklets, and of the numerous errors which compelled the author to bring them to print, contrary to his original intention. Ownership inscription on the front endpaper of: "the rabbi, outstanding in Torah and fear of G-d… R. Yisrael Tzvi"; "Belongs to R. … Avraham son of R. Yehuda"; recent stamp: "Consecrated to the Sephardi Community of Sarajevo, from the property of the late R. Asher son of R. Yehuda Finci". [30] leaves. 58 written pages. 16 cm. Good-fair condition. Stains and wear. Original leather binding, damaged and partly detached.