Sepheth Emeth [commentary to Book of Proverbs (Mishlei.)]

YA’AKOV YISRAEL, MAGGID OF KREMNITZ.

Shlomo Yarish Rappoport

Lvov

1788

First edition . Verso of opening blank with inscription and signature of R. Avigdor Caro “from the family of the Tana R. Chanina Caro and other Tzadikim and Chassidim.” Lengthy scholarly note in another hand on rear pastedown. Also family-lineage and list of a private library.

Vinograd, Lemberg 44.

A disciple of R. Shimshon Meisels of Zolkiew and R. Yitzchak of Belz, the author (d. 1799) was a celebrated traveling Maggid who was highly praised by the Chozeh of Lublin. Renown for his other Biblical commentaries Shevet MeYisrael (1772) and Agudath Eizov (1782), the Kremnitzer Maggid’s works are widely cited, including by the Malbim, the Chasam Sofer and especially by R. Moshe Teitelbaum in his Yismach Moshe (see introduction to Shevet MeYisrael (2011) pp. 5-6 and 27-8). The printer, Shlomo Yarish Rappaport, also produced in this year of publication, 1788, the first edition of the celebrated Noam Elimelech. It has been suggested that a typesetter of his was one of the 36 hidden Tzadikim.