Sefer Toldas Adam – The Bibliography of R. Zelmele Volozhiner, Dyhernfurth 1801-1809. First Edition. Two Volumes in One

Sefer Toldas Adam – The Bibliography of R. Zelmele Volozhiner, Dyhernfurth 1801-1809. First Edition. Two Volumes in One

Sefer Toldos Adam is the definitive biography of the great R. Zelmele of Volozhin, who was the younger brother of Reb Chaim Volozhiner. It was written over the course of several years by R. Zalman Zev, the Maggid of Vilna, and includes stories, anecdotes, and Torah thoughts involving Reb Zelmele, many of them related to the author directly by Reb Chaim Volozhiner himself. 

This copy includes part II, which was subsequently published in 1809, with a separate title page. In his preface to Nefesh Hachaim, Reb Itzele of Volozhin makes a reference to Toldas Adam, noting that the author had prepared a third volume for print, however it was apparently never printed. 

R. Shlomo Zalman of Volozhin (1756-1788), commonly known as “Reb Zelmele”, the younger brother of R. Chaim of Volozhin and a foremost disciple of the Vilna Gaon. Although he passed away at the age of 32, he was proficient and well-versed in the entire Torah, (i.e. Tanach, Talmud Bavli, Yerushalmi, Sifra, Sifri, Tosefta, Mechilta, Rambam, Tur, and all areas of Kabbalah). Reb Chaim Volozhiner famously said about him that his level of proficiency in all these areas was comparable to one who says “Ashrei” without any effort (this saying originates from this very work, Vol. I, ch. 9). 

A magnificent copy in its original binding, with gilded edges and special marbled endpapers. Spine rebacked. Most likely, it was produced for a distinguished individual. Part II is printed on high-quality green tint paper. 

Page size: 18cm

Part I: [4], 105 pp. 

Part II: [3], 25 pp.