Pe'at HaShulchan (by R. Yisrael of Shklow, Disciple of the Vilna Gaon) – Safed, 1836 – First Edition

Pe'at HaShulchan (by R. Yisrael of Shklow, Disciple of the Vilna Gaon) – Safed, 1836 – First Edition

Pe'at HaShulchan, laws pertaining to Eretz Israel, by R. Yisrael of Shklow, disciple of the Vilna Gaon. Safed: R. Yisrael Bak, 1836. First edition.
The author, R. Yisrael of Shklow (1770-1839), a close disciple of the Vilna Gaon (who studied with him during his final days), published the books of the Vilna Gaon and disseminated his teachings, and was a leader of the immigration of the Vilna Gaon's disciples to Eretz Israel.
In a lengthy and important introduction at the beginning of the book, the author relates his trials and tribulations after his immigration to Eretz Israel, including a plague that broke out in the Galilee in 1813, the passing of his wife when they fled to Jerusalem, the passing of their children from the plague which also spread to Jerusalem, and the passing of his parents in the Galilee. He goes on to recount his subsequent return to the Galilee, his imprisonment during the Siege of Acre, his miraculous rescue from a collapse of houses during winter in Safed, and more.
The rest of his introduction is a highly important biographical source for the Vilna Gaon. R. Yisrael of Shklow describes at length the greatness of his teacher, his method and practices, his outstanding expertise in Torah and sciences and more.

[5], 2-109, [1] leaves. 30.5 cm. Good-fair condition. Stains. Worming and tears to margins of title page and several other leaves. Parts of the text are blurred in several places. Stamp and handwritten inscriptions. Original binding worn, front side loose, with many open tears and worming to spine and endpapers.

One of the last books published in Safed before the 1837 earthquake, after which the author and printer, R. Yisrael Bak, moved to Jerusalem.
The present copy includes final leaf of errata.

Vinograd, Otzar Sifrei HaGra, no. 1543.

"And may the merit of our great and holy rabbi stand at my right side… All my aspiration and hope is his great merit, as G-d granted me the merit of seeing the light of the face of the king while still alive, half a year before he was recalled to the heavenly yeshiva, and I merited to attend to him and be like a servant to the king twenty days before his passing. Many times I recited Scripture and Mishnah before him, and my hand did not leave him until our glorious crown was removed from our head" (introduction of R. Yisrael of Shklow to Beur HaGra on Shulchan Aruch Orach Chaim, Shklow 1803).