Bidspirit auction | Classic: Sefer Nefesh HaChaim, Vilna-Horodna

Classic: Sefer Nefesh HaChaim, Vilna-Horodna 1824. First Edition. - A complete copy of Sefer Nefesh HaChaim, written by R. Chaim of Volozhin and published by his son R. Itzele after his father’s death. R. Chaim Volozhiner (1749-1821) the leader of all Jewry in the early 19th century and foremost disciple of the Vilna Gaon. He established Yeshivas Etz Chaim of Volozhin circa 1808, and raised an entire generation of the greatest Torah scholars. He was recognized as the leader of the generation in the literal sense, and referred to by R. Akiva Eiger as ‘Mofes HaDor’ (in a letter currently in a private collection).  Nefesh HaChaim was written primarily to refute various beliefs amongst Chassidic circles, particularly that of the Ba’al HaTanya. As such, Nefesh HaChaim became perhaps the most widely circulated book amongst “Misnagdim” throughout Russia and Lithuania in the 19th century. Additional passages deemed by R. Itzele too critical of the Chassidim were not inserted, and remain in manuscript form, currently held in the Russian State Library.  In fact, in his work ‘Avi HaYeshivot’ on R. Chaim Volozhiner (Jerusalem 2012), author Dov Eliach relates that Nefesh HaChaim was found in virtually every home (amongst the “Misnagdim”) even by those who did not possess a complete set of Talmud Babli and other basic fundamental Jewish books.  A great deal of Segulos have been attributed to this holy work, and without doubt brings a great source of blessing and protection into one’s home. See, for example “The Soul of Emunah”, R. Reuven Schmeltzer (Israel Bookshop Publications, 2020, pp. 211-212, footnote 9), a famous miraculous story regarding a Dibbuk which took place in 1909: “R. Zvi Hircsh Levenberg related that when R. Elchanan Wasserman was in America in 1938, he told him the entire account of the Dibbuk… Rav Levenberg remembered him relating a part that was not well-known: At first when the girl with the Dibbuk came to Radin, the Dibbuk did not talk to them at all. When Rav Moshe Rosenstein zt”l, later the Mashgiach of Lomza, entered the room, he asked the Dibbuk why it was not talking. The Dibbuk replied that there was too much Kedusha in the room, as there was a Sefer on the windowsill. That Sefer was none other than Nefesh HaChaim by Rav Chaim Volozhiner”.  In overall very good condition, light wear and stains due to heavy use.  [6], 17, 10, 8, [1], 4; 17 pp.  Vinograd, Vilna 183.  Stefansky Hebrew Classics 478.