Or Yisrael – First Edition – Frankfurt, 1702
Or Yisrael is a commentary on the teachings of the Zohar, the secrets of the Sefirot, and explanations of the meaning behind cantillation marks, crowns, and the vowels. The book also provides interpretations for many perplexing Talmudic passages and aggadot, as well as explanations on many Psalms. Volume II is on the sections of the Shulchan Aruch, Orach Chaim. It was written by Rabbi Yisrael Yafe, Av Beit Din of Shklov, a city in the province of Riasyn. Printed by Rabbi Michael Gatschelik in the first edition in Frankfurt, 1702.
The title page includes illustrations of Moses and Aaron, Jacob’s dream, King David, and more.
The book received numerous endorsements from great Torah scholars of Lithuania, Poland, Meharin, and Germany, such as the Yad David, Rabbi Abraham Broda of Prague, and many others.
A fascinating event occurred with the endorsement of Semichat Chachamim, Rabbi Naftali Katz, which reached the author "after the printing of the book had already been completed two weeks earlier." The author decided to print the endorsement separately on page 7, but it is missing from most copies; however, it appears in this one. At the end of the page, the author writes: "This page was printed on Thursday, the 27th of Tishrei, 1703."
In several parts of the book, the author describes the elevated spiritual levels he attained, including the revelation of Eliyahu HaNavi. He warns, particularly in the introduction, against cantors and public leaders who do not carry out their duties with proper reverence, stopping their prayer with singing in the middle of the service. He also criticizes rabbis who give halachic rulings based on summaries and abbreviations, instead of deeply studying the Talmud and the early authorities. Furthermore, the author claims that the root cause of our prolonged exile is the neglect of studying the teachings of the Kabbalah.
After the book was published, some raised concerns about the book containing allusions to the heretical sect "Shatz" (may their names be blotted out). However, in his subsequent work, Tiferet Yisrael, the author included an apology and explanation in the introduction. He clarified that the reason for these suspicions was his use of Kabbalistic references to the word "Tzvi, " which, according to his true intent, referred to the Land of Israel, also called "the land of the Tzvi." The many endorsements of the book confirmed the author’s explanation.
