Manuscript - Milei D'Avot on Tractate Avot - By Rabbi Itzele of Volozhin - Manuscript from the Library of Rabbi ...

Manuscript - Milei D'Avot on Tractate Avot - By Rabbi Itzele of Volozhin - Manuscript from the Library of Rabbi Yossele, Rabbi of Slutsk, with a Letter of Approbation in the Handwriting of his Son Rabbi Meir Feimer
Manuscript, Milei D'Avot - Commentaries on Tractate Avot, compiled from discourses delivered by R. Yitzchak of Volozhin and recorded by his disciple. Volozhin, [before 1849, written in the lifetime of R. Itzele of Volozhin who died in 1849].
Title of the first page: "The teachings I have merited hearing from the holy mouth of the Rebbe…R. Y. Rabbi of Volozhin, each week".
This manuscript was the source for the book Milei D'Avot (Vilna, 1888), but upon inspecting its content in comparison to the printed book, we found that the printed book was edited and rephrased, with many variations from the original manuscript.
On the first page is a letter of approbation handwritten and signed by R. Meir Feimer of Slutsk, who writes that this manuscript "was in the library of my father and I have had it in my possession for more than 20 years. And now, at the time the outstanding Rabbi Shlomo Hillel son of R. Yitzchak has presented me with his difficult situation - lack of livelihood and infirm state of health, I have given him the manuscript out of kindness, perhaps G-d will grant him success in his endeavors and he will be able to print it…Monday, Erev Rosh Chodesh Tevet 1886, Slutsk, Meir son of R. Yosef". This letter of approbation by R. Meir Feimer was printed in the beginning of the Milei D'Avot Vilna 1888 edition (printed by R. Shlomo Hillel Michaikin of Slutsk). Upon comparing this manuscript to the book Milei Avot which was based on it, many variations of content and style were found. This verifies that the aforementioned R. Shlomo Hillel edited and rephrased the book, possibly using the notebooks of other disciples mentioned in the preface or by his own initiative.
R. Yitzchak of Volozhin - R. Itzele Volozhiner (1780-1849), son of R. Chaim of Volozhin, was a prominent leader of Russian Jewry in the first half of the 19th century. In his youth, he had the special privilege of meeting the Vilna Gaon (his father's teacher) who praised R. Itzele's Torah proficiency and homiletic interpretations. After his father's death, he succeeded him as Rabbi of Volozhin and head of the yeshiva. He was considered one of the foremost leaders of Russian Jewry and headed assemblies and rabbinical delegations in St. Petersburg together with the Rebbe, author of Tzemach Tzedek and other eminent rabbis. He was also proficient in kabbalah and his profound glosses on his father's book Nefesh HaChaim are well-known. He was succeeded in the Volozhin Yeshiva by his sons-in-law, R. Eliezer Yitzchak Fried and the Netziv.
R. Yosef Feimer, Rabbi of Slutsk, known as R. Yossele Slutsker (1797-1864), was an illustrious Lithuanian rabbi and leading disciple of R. Chaim of Volozhin. He served as Rabbi of Luokė (at which time he taught the young Yisrael of Salant, who later became the founder of the Mussar Movement), and in 1829, he served as Rabbi of Slutsk. After the death of his friend R. Itzele of Volozhin, who was a prominent leader of his times, R. Yossele of Slutsk was considered the spearhead of his generation and foremost leader of the Jewish People. He stood at the helm of the famous rabbinical committee which assembled to reach a decision regarding the management of the Volozhin Yeshiva and also headed the rabbinical delegation to St. Petersburg in their attempt to cancel the infamous Cantonist decree.
His son R. Meir Feimer (c. 1840-1911) was an exceptional Torah scholar although he refused to succeed his father as Rabbi of Slutsk. From 1869-1875, he served as Rabbi of Brzeziny. In 1875, he resigned from the rabbinate and returned to Slutsk until he conceded in 1878 to serve as rabbi and Moreh Tzedek of the city. During 1890-1895, he served as Rabbi of Karelichy and Lyakhavichy and again returned to Slutsk without accepting any rabbinical position until his death. See many details of his biography in the book HaRishon L'Shushelet Brisk, by R. Chaim Karlinsky [gleaned from his youngest son R. Yosef Feimer (the II, 1874-1939) who served in the rabbinates of Slutsk and in the US. This manuscript bears stamps of R. "Yosef son of Meir Feimer of Slutsk", and a stamp of his cousin "Rabbi Chaim Karlinsky"].
[1], 63 leaves. 17.5 cm. High-quality paper. Good-fair condition. Wear and stains. Contemporary half-leather, worn binding.