Sidrei Taharoth [commentary collecting all of the Talmudic literature pertaining to Tractate Keilim]

LEINER, GERSHON CHANOCH

Jozefow, 1873

First Edition. Tipped in at end: Folding map of the Land of Israel prepared by Grand Rabbi Gershon Chanoch Leiner, entitled: Zoth Tihiyeh Lachem Ha’aretz LeGvulotheha Saviv [“This will be for You, Your Land with it’s Surrounding Boundaries”], with author’s personal stamp on the map.

See Wajntraub, Hebrew Maps of the Holy Land pp. 162-4.

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 Rabbi Mordechai Joseph Leiner of Izbica, the author (known as the “Ba’al HaTecheleth”) claimed to have discovered the natural source for the techeleth (blue dye) for the tzizith fringes - a secretion extracted from the cuttlefish squid. His techeleth are worn by various Hassidic sects today. Leiner wrote Sidrei Taharoth to serve as an anthology of all rabbinic material extant on the Mishnayoth of Seder Taharoth. Although Leiner completed his work on the entire Order, only Keilim and Ohaloth were issued - the rest was lost during the Holocaust.