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

The unusual typography of this edition is described by Elkan Nathan Adler as follows: “Mr. Deinard, who is not only a Hebrew author of eminence, but also a collector, has thought fit to publish this little book of seventy-six pages in an extraordinary shape, about two inches wide by eight inches long, on leaves of the following colours: blue, brown, green, pink, yellow and vermilion orange, only two pages being white!” Adler, About Hebrew Manuscripts (republished, 1970) p.125. The work itself contains a wealth of detail relating to Chassidic life-style. Due to its severe tone in disparaging the Baal Shem Tov and other Chassidic leaders, most all copies of this polemic were purchased by the Chassidim themselves and subsequently 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. The introduction by Deinard contains the usual Deinardian mixture of vitriolic venom penned agaist Graetz, Rodkinson, Aaron Walden and others, coupled with serious bibliographical and historical information. According to Deinard, the true author of this work is Yaakov Bachrach, the author of numerous scholarly woks on Ketav Ashuri and Astronomy. Deinard states that he is also the author of Mitzraf HaAvodah - another annonymous pamphlet written in the form of a dialogue between Chassidim.