"…Kol Raz Lo Anis Lei B’Razi HaTorah…" – Gan Y-H, on Sefer Yetzirah, Breslov 1831, First Edition – Completion of the Vilna Gaon’s Commentary – Extremely Rare Book!
The book Gan Y-H is a deep commentary on Sefer Yetzirah (traditionally attributed to Abraham Avinu), written by Rabbi Chaim, Av Beis Din of Vidz (in Lithuania, now in Belarus), and published in Breslov in 1831, the first edition.
In the introduction, the author mentions his intent to write a commentary on Sefer Yetzirah, but as the Vilna Gaon had already done so, he focused only on the sections that the Gaon did not explain in his commentary on Sefer Yetzirah (Horodna 1806). He writes, “…Nevertheless, there is no Midrash without novelty, and there are things in my hands that the above-mentioned Gaon did not clarify, so I relied on the understanding of those who can understand by themselves, and I have followed his path briefly and expanded on the ideas for people like myself…”
To highlight the author’s greatness, it is worth noting the words of the famous Rabbi Avraham Abeli Pazweler, Av Beis Din of Vilna, in his glowing approbation of this book: “While still alive, he showed me his sharpness in pilpul, reasoning, and his studies according to halacha, he was the famous sharp one, Rabbi Chaim Z”l, Av Beis Din of Vidz… and he was not hidden from the secrets of Torah, his works are to be admired…”
An extremely rare and precious book!
