DAVID-MAGGID OF MAKOW. Zemir Aritzim [anti-Chassidic tract]

AUCTION 2 | Tuesday, June 03rd, 1997 at 1:00

Fine Judaica: Books, Manuscripts and Works of Art Including Property from a Dutch Private Collector and the Late T. Nachum Gidal

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Lot 236

(CHASSIDISM)

DAVID-MAGGID OF MAKOW. Zemir Aritzim [anti-Chassidic tract]

Second edition 16pp. Ex library, portion removed from opening and closing leaves, contemporary sheep-backed boards, rubbed, 8vo Vinograd, Koenigsberg 256; Weiner 3646; M.Carmilly-Weinberger, Censorship and Freedom of Expression in Jewish History (1977) pp.137-38

(Koenigsberg),: n.p. 1798 (i.e. 1860)

Est: $800 - $1,200

PRICE REALIZED $600

Uncommon tract, with a wealth of detail relating to Chassidic life-style. Due to its severe tone in disparaging the Ba’al Shem Tov and other Chassidic leaders, most all copies of this polemic were bought up by their followers and destroyed. The author, was a central figure in the historical controversy between the disciples of Chassidism and their opponents. Steeped in Chassidic life as a young man, R. David became atttracted to the philosophic outlook of Elijah Gaon of Vilna and adopted the Gaon’s war against the Chassidic philosophy. See E.R. Malachi, in: Sefer Hayovel shel Hadoar (1952) pp. 286-300