Sifrei Yesod: Three Volumes of The Tzelach by the Noda BeYehuda First Edition during the Author’s Lifetime
The three volumes of the renowned scholarly work ‘Tzelach’ (an acronym for ‘Tzion LeNefesh Chaya’), containing explanations and halachic rulings on masechtos Pesachim, Berachos and Beitzah.
Authored by HaGaon Rabbi Yechezkel Segal Landau, Av Beis Din of Prague, the author of the ‘Noda BeYehuda’ – "the holy one of Israel and its glory, from whose words we drink daily" (in the words of Rabbi Yitzchak Elchanan of Kovno).
A fundamental and very important sefer, ‘Tzelach’ is regarded as one of the great sefarim of the Achronim on the Shas and halacha.
The three parts before us are:
- Part 1: Chiddushim on Pesachim, Prague, 1783-1784
- Part 2: Chiddushim on Berachos, Prague, 1791
- Part 3: Chiddushim on Beitzah, Prague, 1799
All are first editions, with the first two (Pesachim and Berachos) printed during the author’s lifetime.
Although the Noda BeYehuda wrote explanations for additional masechtos, the ‘Tzelach’ specifically focuses on these three masechtos, as he writes in the introduction to Pesachim. In the conclusion of the sefer (page 116b), he writes that the printing of his chiddushim on these three masechtos takes precedence over the printing of all his other works!
The Noda BeYehuda Rabbi Yechezkel Landau (1714-1793), Av Beis Din of Prague, was born in Apta, Poland. In his early youth, he studied in the famous kloiz in Brod where he gained mastery of both the Revealed and Hidden Torah. He served as a Dayan in one of the four Rabbinical courts of Brod. In 1745, he was appointed Av Beis Din of Yampoli, and ten years later, accepted the Rabbinate in the great city of Prague. There he served as Rav for close to forty years and founded his famous yeshivah which cultivated numerous Torah giants. His written legacy includes ‘Shu”t Noda B’Yehuda’, ‘Tzelach’ on Shas and ‘Dagul Merevava’.
He dedicated his two most famous sefarim to his parents: ‘Noda BeYehuda’ in honor of his father who was called Yehuda and ‘Tzelach’ (Tzion LeNefesh Chayah) in honor of his mother who was called Chaya.
Page Count:
- Part 1: [2], 223, [1] leaves
- Part 2: [3], 85 leaves
- Part 3: [2], 115 leaves
Condition: Overall good. Professional restorations on the title page of Part 1. Holes. Few stains.
Bibliography: Stefansky Sifrei Yesod, no. 79.
In his introduction, the Noda BeYehuda describes the tremendous effort he invested in this monumental Torah creation: "It is beyond belief to describe the immense toil I exerted in it, the many sleepless nights I endured."
His exertion was so great that as the printing of Tzelach on Maseches Pesachim neared completion, his doctors forbade him from engaging in any activity requiring deep thought and contemplation due to his physical weakness.
