Zoth Tihiyeh Lachem Ha’aretz LeGvulotheha Saviv [“This will be for you your Land with it’s Surrounding Boundaries.”]

(ISRAEL, LAND OF).

(Jozefow

1873)

Map of the Land of Israel prepared by Grand Rabbi Gershon Chanoch Leiner, from his work “Sidrei Taharoth”

First appearance of the important map prepared by R. Gershon Chanoch Leiner (1839-91) the innovative Chassidic Rebbe of Radzyn. Issued in connection with his commentary to Tractate Keilim, wherein Chapter I Mishnah 6 states that the Land of Israel is holier than all other lands - thus the need for a map clearly delineating its borders. Grandson of the Rabbi Mordechai Joseph Leiner of Izbica, the author (known as the the Orchoth Chaim) claimed to have discovered the natural source for the techeleth (blue dye) for the tzizith fringes - a secretion extracted from the cuttlefish squid. See E. & G. Wajntraub, Hebrew Maps of the Holy Land pp. 162-4 who records this map with the dimensions: 370 x 230 mm. The present copy of the map is far larger (430 x 260 mm). Furthermore, this copy features two additions not in Wajntraub: Contains the personal stamp of Rabbi Gershon Henoch Leiner and a portion of the map is hand-colored in blue.