Pri Etz Chaim by Rabbi Chaim Vital
Edition of Rabbi Shabsai of Rashkov, Talmid of the Baal Shem Tov
Koritz, 1785
Pri Etz Chaim contains kabbalistic kavanos for prayers based on the writings of Rabbi Chaim Vital, arranged according to 29 chapters called ‘Shearim’. They were heard from the Arizal "according to the true kabbalah received from Eliyahu z"l" (title page).
This sefer is the first of four sections compiled by the kabbalist Rabbi Meir Poppers, talmid of Rabbi Yaakov Tzemach. It differs from the ‘Pri Etz Chaim’ compiled by Rabbi Nosson Shapira printed in 1782 (see below).
This is the first edition of this version.
This edition was corrected according to the proofread copy of the holy and renowned kabbalist Rabbi Shabsai of Rashkov, author of ‘Siddur Rabbi Shabsai’, prime disciple of the Baal Shem Tov.
The publishers write:
"We labored and found a very carefully proofread Pri Etz Chaim copied from the manuscript of the late Rav, the pious kabbalist Rabbi Shabsai Rashkover, whose writings are all presumed to be correct…"
The sefer includes approbations from the greatest kabbalists and chassidic leaders (given for the 1782 edition), including: Rabbi Chaim Tsanzer of Brod, Rav Yib"y, the holy Rabbi Yaakov Yosef of Ostroh, and Rabbi Asher Tzvi of Ostroh, author of ‘Mayan HaChochmah’.
The sefer quickly spread to all Jewish homes, and just one year later, in 1786, the sefer was printed again!
An impressive copy with wide margins.
The holy kabbalist Rabbi Shabsai of Rashkov was among the lofty saints who enjoyed the tutelage of the Baal Shem Tov and was part of the group of scribes who wrote for the Baal Shem Tov, in holiness and purity, and also copied kabbalistic manuscripts for him.
Rabbi Shabsai was especially famed for his siddur, known throughout the chassidic world as ‘Siddur Rabbi Shabsai’. In this siddur he collected, gathered and refined all the kavanos and versions of the Ari, and all the Rebbes and tzaddikim of chassidus who came after him prayed from his siddur.
Rabbi Shabsai was born in Rashkov in Bessarabia and his early years are shrouded in mystery. The holy Rabbi Zusha of Hanipoli in his approbation to the siddur calls him "the famous chassid, the G-dly kabbalist", and the author of ‘Toldos’ brings teachings in his name (see ‘Toldos Yaakov Yosef’ Parshas Metzora).
Koritz, 1785. First Edition of this version. Page Count: [1], 132 leaves. Large format with wide margins.
Condition: Good, light stains. Restoration to corners of first and last pages. Restored antique leather binding, new leather spine.
Bibliography: Rabbi Yosef Avivi, Kabbalas HaAri, Vol. 2, p. 649 no. 789.
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Three years earlier, a different version of the sefer ‘Pri Etz Chaim’ was printed in Koritz. It was actually a special editing of the sefer ‘Me’oros Nosson’ by Rabbi Nosson Shapira.
Rabbi Yosef Avivi writes about this: "Pri Etz Chaim was printed section by section. The first branch, kavanos for prayer, was first printed in Koritz 1785, press 789, under the name ‘Sefer Pri Etz Chaim’. Although in Koritz 1782 a sefer ‘Pri Etz Chaim’ was printed, it is not the sefer edited by Rabbi Meir Poppers." (ibid., p. 649)
The Pri Etz Chaim edition, Koritz 1786, is based on the present edition (1785 edition), and not on the 1782 edition.
