"Tzafnat Paneach." Korzec. [1782]. First Edition.

"Tzafnat Paneach." Korzec. [1782]. First Edition.

Tzafnat Paneach. Amazing work by the G-dly, sacred man..Rabbi Yaakov Yosef [of Polnoye]... as he received from his famed rebbe..Yisrael Besh"t zlh"h. Korzec. [1782]. First edition.

Specifications: [1] 95 leaves, 30 cm. Stefansky, Chassidut 505. Thick white paper.

Background: Rabbi Yaakov Yosef HaKohen of Polonye was a leading  disciple of the Baal Shem Tov. He quotes ideas that he heard from the Besh"t, as he indicates, "I heard from my teacher" or "I received from my teacher."

This is one of the most significant chassidic works. It was one of the first chassidic works ever printed. It was published during the author's lifetime, by Rabbi Avraham Dov Ber Auerbach, Rabbi of Khmelnik, the author's son-in-law, who succeeded him as rabbi of Polonye.

Unique features: It was through this work that the Chid"a was familiarized with the chassidic movement. He writes in his Shem HaGedolim (entry: Tzafnat Paneach): "Nice sermons in the way of Parde"s in a few manners, authored by Rabbi chassid Yaakov Yosef, and he often stated introductions from his famed teacher...Yisrael Baal Shem Tov. And we already knew that this Rabbi printed Toldot Yaakov Yosef and we give him the praise and there it says that he authored the Ben Porat Yosef. Tzafnat Paneach was printed in Korzec in 1782.

This work was printed about a year after the excommunication on chassidut. The printing of the author's Toldot Yaakov Yosef in 1780 was one of the triggers for the rekindling of the battle against chassidut. This caused all of the author's works to be persecuted and banned and they are, therefore, rare.

Condition: Fine-very fine. The margins on the bottom of the title page have been professionally supplemented. The blank margins of leaf 52 have been cropped along the length of the leaf. Aging stains. Magnificent leather binding.