Schneur Zalman of Liadi. Lu’ach Birkath ha-Nehenin [laws of blessings upon food]. Appended: Seder Netilath Yadayim [ritual of washing hands before a meal]

(CHASSIDISM)

Mordecai Rubenstein

Zolkiew

1801

Second Edition of Birkath ha-Nehenin; FIRST EDITION of Seder Netilath Yadayim. Title within typographic border. On title, Russian censor’s stamp 1837. Charming tailpiece of birds and fledglings in nest

Vinograd, Zolkiew 570; Mondschein, Siphrei ha-Halacha shel Admo”r ha-Zaken - Bibliography (1984) pp. 202-205, no. 2

Early Halachic Work by Founder of Chabad Chassidism Though simple in appearance, the laws of blessings upon food are actually highly complex, as the publisher's introduction dilates upon, while greatly praising R. Shnuer Zalman's skills in this area Though ostensibly there was an earlier edition of Birkath ha-Nehenin, printed in Shklov in 1800, no copy has ever been located, thus this Zolkiew edition is the earliest surviving edition. For the relationship between author and publisher, see J. Mondschein, Siphrei ha-Halacha shel Admo”r ha-Zaken - Bibliography (1984), pp. 64-66, 202-205; see also Ch. Liberman, Ohel Rachel, Vol. I (1980), p. 165, no. 17