Beschreibung:

Knesset HaGedolah, on Tur Yoreh De'ah, Part 1 (Simanim 1-68), by R. Chaim Benveniste. Constantinople, 1716. First edition. Copy of R. Uziel Meisels, disciple of the Ba'al Shem Tov and leading disciple of the Magid of Mezritch. On the endpapers are various inscriptions in an ancient handwriting, including an inscription in flowery language that the book belongs to R. Uziel [Meisels] Rabbi of the Ryczywół community. "This book belongs to the famous venerable luminary… R Uziel… Rabbi of the Ryczywół community". R. Uziel Meisels (1744-1785), rabbi and head of yeshiva in Ostrovtse (Ostrowiec Świętokrzyski), Ryczywół and Neustadt. In his youth, he knew the Ba'al Shem Tov and he cites teachings which he heard from the Ba'al Shem Tov in his books. Together with most of the disciples of the Ba'al Shem Tov, he followed his holy disciple R. Dov Ber, the great Magid of Mezritch, and often mentions him in his books: "I have learned this from my teacher R. Dov Ber". He also mentions R. Nachman of Kosava, disciple of the Ba'al Shem Tov and cites teachings of his companions, disciples of the Magid: R. Levi Yitzchak of Berdychiv, R. Elimelech of Lizhensk (Leżajsk), R. Zusha of Hanipol, R. Pinchas of Frankfurt, author of the Hafla'ah, R. Chaim Chaika of Indura, R. Menachem Mendel of Peremyshlyany and R. Shmuel Shmelke Horowitz of Ryczywół. Among his books: Tiferet Uziel on the Torah, Tiferet Zvi on Tractate Beitzah, Kerem Shlomo on Yoreh De'ah, Etz HaDa'at Tov on Tractate Ketubot and Menorah HaTehorah on the laws of Shabbat. In his introduction to Tiferet Zvi (Zhovkva 1803), his brother and disciple R. Yitzchak Meisels writes of the close bond his brother R. Uziel maintained with the holy brothers R. Pinchas Horowitz and R. Shmelke Horowitz of Nikolsburg and of his friendship with the brothers R. Meshulam Zusman (R. Zusha) and his brother R. Elimelech of Lizhensk, "Leading Torah scholars, outstandingly pious and holy, at one time they all were disciples of the Rabbi of the entire Diaspora… R. Dov Berish of Mezritch, called Rav Ber Ravoner". He relates that his brother's companions attested that R. Uziel "never tasted the flavor of transgression" and called him "G-d's servant". More signatures and inscriptions: page 4a bears the signature of "Gershon Pullitz" (ca. 1701-1771), Rabbi of Nikolsburg and Moravia, maternal grandson of R. Gershon Ashkenazi, author of Avodat HaGershuni. R. Shmelke of Nikolsburg succeeded him in the Nikolsburg rabbinate in 1773. On the inner side of the front cover are novellae, apparently in the handwriting of R. Avraham Plotkin, Rabbi of Svalyava in the Minsk region and inscriptions of his son R. Gershon Plotkin who writes of his father's death on the 22nd of Adar Bet 1927. [1], 4-246 leaves. Approximately 30 cm. Good condition. Stains and slight wear. Minor damages to title page. Elaborate ancient binding, wood covered with thin, light-colored leather, with embossed ornamentation and clasp remnants. The binding is slightly damaged and rubbed.