Halacha Pesuka – The Only Approbation Given by the Maggid of Mezeritch – Turka, 1765

Halacha Pesuka – The Only Approbation Given by the Maggid of Mezeritch – Turka, 1765
Halacha Pesuka, novellae on Shulchan Aruch Yoreh Deah, with the text, by R. Todros son of R. Tzvi Hirsh of Rivne. Turka, [1765]. The only book which received an approbation from R. Dov Ber, the Maggid of Mezeritch.
This book includes the only known approbation from R. Dov Ber, the Maggid of Mezeritch. He writes: "Although I usually refrain from writing approbations for any book, this book is different… and is fitting to be printed…". He signs his approbation: " Dov son of R. Avraham, Maggid of Greater Mezeritch and Kerch". The book also includes approbations by other leading Torah scholars, including R. Chaim HaKohen Rappaport Rabbi of Lviv.
This composition is a summary of the laws of Yoreh Deah, with a short commentary containing the sources of the rulings, as the Maggid wrote in his approbation: "he summarized the words of the poskim…". The Maggid's approbation shows the importance he attributed to a book which presents practical halachic conclusions (for this reason, he greatly urged his disciple the Baal HaTanya to compose his Shulchan Aruch).
The author, R. Todros of Rivne, was a follower of the Maggid of Mezeritch at the time the latter resided in Rivne. The Maggid praises him highly in his approbation to this book. The Maggid came to Rivne after R. Yosef Yoske of Rivne (author of Yesod Yosef and Likutei Yosef) exerted efforts to bring him there. The Maggid was later appointed as rabbi of Rivne. While residing in Rivne, he traveled to his teacher, the Baal Shem Tov, and drew many disciples, including the tzaddik R. Leib Sarah's. After the passing of the Baal Shem Tov, the Maggid left Rivne and established his court in Mezeritch.
Signatures and ownership inscriptions on the title page and the preceding leaf: "Menachem Mendel Barushok", "This book belongs to the notable… R. Leibush Cohn of Lodz…" (his stamps appear on this page and on the back endpaper: L. Cohn – Lodz), "… Pinchas son of Chanoch Henich", "Simcha Wolf, Rabbi", "Simcha Wolf ---".
14, 56 leaves. 35 cm. Fair-good condition. Stains and wear. Large, dark dampstains to many leaves. Small tears to title page, some repaired with paper, affecting several words of the text and the title page border. Inscriptions. Censor stamps. New leather binding.
Stefansky Chassidut, no. 173.
One of the few books printed in the Hebrew printing press in Turka (Lviv Oblast, Western Ukraine).