Meir Netivim, Two Parts – By Rabbi Meir Margolies, Disciple of the Baal Shem Tov – Polonne, 1791-1792 – First Edition

Meir Netivim, Two Parts – By Rabbi Meir Margolies, Disciple of the Baal Shem Tov – Polonne, 1791-1792 – First Edition
Or Olam – Meir Netivim, two parts. Part I – responsa, Part II – pilpul, homiletics and allusions on the Torah portions, by R. Meir Margolies Rabbi of the Lviv region and Ostroh, a leading disciple of the Baal Shem Tov. Polonne, [1791-1792]. First edition. With the approbations of prominent Chassidic leaders – R. Levi Yitzchak of Berditchev, R. Zusha of Annipoli and the Ohev Yisrael of Apta. Includes novellae by R. Levi Yitzchak of Berditchev, printed at the beginning of the book. Two parts in two volumes.
The author, R. Meir Margolies (1700/1708-1790), a prominent rabbi in his times, was a leading disciple of the Baal Shem Tov, and one of the first to cleave to him, even before the Baal Shem Tov became famous. R. Meir is considered a "colleague-disciple" of the Baal Shem Tov and mentions him in several places as "my teacher" and "my friend". In his book Sod Yachin UBoaz (Ostroh, 1794), he writes of "my teachers, prominent in Torah and Chassidut, headed by my friend the pious R. Yisrael Baal Shem Tov… and from my youth, when I attached myself with bonds of love to my teacher and friend R. Yisrael Baal Shem Tov… I knew with absolute certainty that his conduct was in holiness and purity, piety and ascetism… occult matters were revealed to him…". His son R. Betzalel, who succeeded him as rabbi of Ostroh, writes in his approbation to the book Shivchei HaBaal Shem Tov (Berdichev 1815 edition): "…as I heard from my father… who from his youth was part of the holy entourage of the Baal Shem Tov, and R. Meir would frequently speak in his praise…".
The Meir Netivim was a prolific author in both revealed and esoteric realms of the Torah, in halachah and in homily. After his passing, his writings were arranged and published by his sons. The series of books was entitled Or Olam. This book – Meir Netivim, two parts, was his first book to be published. The book opens with enthusiastic approbations by prominent Chassidic leaders, including R. Levi Yitzchak of Berdichev, R. Zusha of Annipoli and the Ohev Yisrael of Apta. The foreword contains novellae by R. Levi Yitzchak of Berdichev on Tractate Pesachim. The sons of the author relate to this in the foreword (p. 4b), writing that they deemed it fitting to mention some of the Torah novellae of R. Levi Yitzchak, since he had a special affection for this holy composition. The final eight leaves of the book contain novellae on Tractate Berachot by the author's brother, R. Yitzchak Dov Ber Margolies Rabbi of Yazlovetz, close disciple of the Baal Shem Tov.
Stamps of R. Dov Ber Burstein Rabbi of Botoshan, and of "Beit Midrash of R. Mordechai Orenstein – Botoshan". Handwritten inscriptions on title page of vol. I.
Two volumes (first volume incomplete). Vol. I: 30, 33-44, 47-97 leaves. Lacking leaves 45-46. Leaf 28 bound out of sequence, after leaf 25. Vol. II: [1], 3-56 leaves. Approx. 32 cm. Overall good-fair condition, many leaves in good condition. Stains. Minor wear to some leaves. Tears to first two leaves of vol. I and to margins of final 15 leaves of vol. II, not affecting text, repaired with paper. Worming in several places. Stamps and handwritten inscriptions. New leather bindings.
Stefansky Chassidut, no. 313.