Chofetz Chaim [“Desirer of Life”]

(KAGAN, YISROEL MEIR OF RADIN).

H. Dvorzetz

Vilna

1873

FIRST EDITION. WITH AUTOGRAPH MANUSCRIPT CORRECTIONS AND ADDITIONS IN THE HAND OF THE CHOFETZ CHAIM (see p. 46 and p. 159). Includes the scarce, eight-page list of subscribers - a most interesting record of names of the Chofetz Chaim’s earliest followers.

Friedberg, Cheth 1085; Weiner 4331.

First Edition of this Pioneering halachic work on the laws of lashon-hara and rechiluth (derogatory speech and malicious gossip.) Published anonymously, the author R. Israel Meir Kagan (1838-1933) was later acclaimed as the preeminent Halachic decisor and “tzaddik” of his generation. Today, he is universally referred as the Chofetz Chaim, after the title of this ground-breaking work.