Sefer Pri To’ar of the holy Or HaChaim Hakadosh, Amsterdam 1742 – First Edition
Peirot Ginosar, a compilation that encompasses two foundational compositions on Yore De’ah, featuring ‘Pri To’ar’ by Rabbi Chaim Ben Atar, author of the holy ‘Or Ha’Chayim’, and ‘Pri Chodosh’ by Rabbi Chezekiah de Silva. First edition of the Pri To’ar, Amsterdam 1742.
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The rationale behind Rabbeinu Or Hachaim’s composition, combining his sefer with Rabbi Hezekiah’s sefer Pri Chodosh, stems from his realization that the Pri Chodosh speaks ‘against the great’ (referring to the Shulchan Aruch). Rabbeinu Or Hachaim often addresses such matters in his writings. Driven by this understanding, he chose to present The Pri Chodosh alongside his own Pri To’ar.
A poignant description of the encounter between the Or Hachaim and the Pri Chodosh, as recounted by the Chid”a: "…and I was privileged in my childhood to go with the mentioned rabbi [the Or Hachaim] and all the members of his yeshiva to the tombstones of the Tzaddikim in Jerusalem, and when we reached the Pri Chodosh’s tombstone, we witnessed him staying there alone for about a quarter of an hour. The sound of his lips were in whispers, and we understood that he sought forgiveness, expressing that he meant for the sake of heaven etc."
The composition, miraculously born: In the introduction, he writes about the publication of this book, stating: "…Hashem blessed me with a miracle in this essay… because God desired the live and in his Torah, and he awakened in me a generous spirit that I did not know yesterday or today…"
