Mesillat Yesharim – First Printing

Mesillat Yesharim – First Printing
Mesillat Yesharim, includes matters of mussar and fear of G-d, by Rabbi Moshe Chaim Luzzatto – the Ramchal. [Amsterdam, 1740]. Printed by Naftali Hertz Rofeh. First edition.
Printed in the lifetime of the Ramchal, by his leading disciples in Amsterdam. With introductions and poems by the editors and publishers (not printed in the following editions), as well as an index, "Mafteichot HaMa'amarim", and a closing by the author (omitted from most editions).
Mesillat Yesharim is a refined clear summary of all the Ramchal's books (Derech Hashem, Da'at Tevunot, 128 Pitchei Chochma, etc.), written in a precise language, showing depth of thought. In his introduction to the book Mesillat Yesharim – im Iyunim (with study), Rabbi Yechezkel Sarna mentions a tradition passed down in the name of the Vilna Gaon that until Chapter 11 not one unnecessary word can be found in the book [!]. Rabbi Yerucham of Mir used to tell his disciples that Mesillat Yesharim is structured from all the Ramchal's books on Kabbalah, but he "lowered" the thoughts and expressed them in language we can understand so that as we study it, we imagine that we have a connection to it", (Da'at Chochma U'Mussar, Part 1 p. 249).
In the author's introduction, he explains that the book was written to acquire the wisdom of mussar and fear of G-d which cannot be acquired only by knowledge. The benefit gained from the book is not in the novelty of ideas written in the Mesillat Yesharim, but by its constant review and repetition and much meditation which anchor the thoughts inside a man's soul. Indeed, this book has been accepted throughout the Disapora as the primary book of mussar study.
When the Vilna Gaon first laid his eyes on the book he proclaimed that a new light has come down into the world and out of his love for the book, he paid a gold dinar for it. Rabbi Y. Meltzen wrote in his introduction to Derech Hashem that he heard Torah scholars say in the name of the Vilna Gaon that if the author was still living, he would walk all the way to Italy to greet him. The Vilna Gaon was accustomed to reviewing the book again and again.
Chassidic leaders as well understood the great qualities of the book and the holiness of its Kabbalistic author. The Magid of Kozienice said that all the levels he reached in his youth were from the book Mesillat Yesharim. The holy Rebbe of Apta, author of Ohev Yisrael and Rabbi Menachem Mendel of Rimanov diligently studied Mesillat Yesharim in depth and had awesome and wonderful things to say about it. The Rebbe of Apta was used to saying that he received his spiritual direction and his education first and foremost from the book Mesillat Yesharim (Sefer HaChassidut, p. 146). Rabbi Nachman of Breslev was accustomed to instruct newcomers to Judaism to study Mesillat Yesharim and the Rebbe author of Bnei Yissaschar wrote in in his additions to the book Sur MeRa V’Ase Tov that “this book will quench your thirst and … its words are sweeter than honey”. Rabbi Ya’akov Yosef of Ostroh writes in his approbation to the book 138 Pitchei Chochma by the Ramchal (Koritz 1785): “The book Mesillat Yesharim, the path the tsaddikim tread, written by …Rabbi Moshe Chaim Luzzatto is the Torah which Moshe presented to Israel to understand the words of our Sages and their ‘riddles’, by its straight sayings..”. In his introduction to the book, the publisher quotes the words he heard from the Magid of Mezritch that “his generation was not worthy to understand his righteousness and abstention”.
The tsaddik, Rabbi Yosef Zundel of Salant told his great disciple Rabbi Yisrael of Salant that upon receiving a farewell blessing when leaving the Volozhin Yeshiva, he asked Rabbi Chaim of Volozhin which mussar book to study. His teacher responded: “All mussar books are good to study, but Mesillat Yesharim will guide you”.
From the time the book was printed in 1740, it was reprinted in hundreds of editions [!], and until today it remains the primary mussar book in Torah and Chassidic study halls.
[6], 63 leaves. 15.5 cm. Good-fair condition, worming to text. Stains and slight wear. On the title page is an owner’s inscription from Italy: “Moshe ben E. Avraham Padovani”. Library stamps. New fabric binding.