Sidrei Taharot, by the Radzyner Rebbe – Józefów, 1873 – Copy with Wide Margins and a Map of Eretz Israel

Sidrei Taharot – Anthology of the Talmud and Midrashim, with commentaries on Seder Taharot. Part 1 – Tractate Kelim, by Rebbe Gershon Chanoch Henich Leiner of Radzyn. Józefów, 1873. First edition.
Attractive copy with very wide margins. At the end of the book is a leaf with a Hebrew printed map of Eretz Israel, its borders and the division of land among the tribes [hand-colored].
The author, Rebbe Chanoch Henich of Radzyn [author of the Techelet], initiated the idea of arranging a “Gemara” on the Mishnayot of Seder Taharot. He gathered sections of the Babylonian and Yerushalmi Talmud and of midrashei Halacha connected to topics in Tractate Taharot and arranged them according to the order of the tractates. The work is structured like the Babylonian Talmud: the Mishnah followed by a compilation of the Gemara flanked by two commentaries [the long commentary and the short commentary, arranged by the Rebbe], Mesoret HaShas and Ein Mishpat Ner Mitzvah. This work stirred a great polemic and some rabbis opposed a work so similar to the Talmud, fearing that with time it will erroneously be considered part of the Talmud. On the other hand, the work merited approbations of many of the leading Torah scholars of his times. Due to the opposition, the title “Sefer Sidrei Taharot” was printed at the top of each page of Part 2 and at the bottom of the pages is a notice that the work is “compiled from the words of the Tana’im and the Amora’im”.
[10], 544 pages + [1] plate. 43 cm. Good condition, stains. Open tear to upper corner of title page. Ownership inscriptions. Ancient leather binding, without spine.
Stefansky Chassidut no. 434.