(RaMCHa”L). Mesilath Yesharim [“The Path of the Upright” ]

LUZZATTO, MOSES CHAIM

Naphtali Herz Levi the Physician

Amsterdam

1740

FIRST EDITION. With approbation of R. Raphael Meldola of Bayonne, France, and an introduction by his son, David who together with Jacob Bassan edited this work. (This approbations and introduction were withdrawn from many subsequent editions)

Vinograd, Amsterdam 1521

An immensely influential work of ethics, especally beloved by adherents of the Mussar Movement. It is asserted by the noted scholar Joseph Avivi, that despite its deceptively exoteric appearance, in reality Mesilath Yesharim is the quintessence of Luzzatto’s kabbalistic teaching. See J. Avivi, Zohar RaMCHa”L (1997) pp. 208-33