Autograph signature. On title-page of Chaim Vital’s Eitz Chaim.

AVIGDOR BEN JOSEPH CHAIM OF PINSK.

Koretz

1784

One page.

A strong opponent of the nascent Chassidic movement, R. Avigdor served as rabbi in several communities throughout Poland-Lithuania during the 18th century. In 1785 he was famously appointed Chief Rabbi in Pinsk in place of Rabbi Levi Yitzchak of Berditchev who was forced out by the Mithnagdim (opponents of Chasidism.) Over time, the enmity between the two camps continued to grow and in 1794 he was deposed from his position by the Chasidim. Embittered, R. Avigdor embarked upon a vicious campaign denouncing Chasidism, indeed the complaints he lodged with the Russian government eventually led to the imprisonment of R. Shneur Zalman of Liadi.