For almost twenty years, it was impossible to obtain the book 'Ganzei Yisrael' by Rebbe Rabbi Yisrael of Tscherotkov. These days we are informed that it has reappeared in a magnificent and elaborate edition. The book is considered special not only among the Hasidim of the House of Rozhin, but also among preachers, thinkers, and scholars of Hasidism.
The editor and publisher, the author's grandson - the Reverend Rabbi Israel Friedman, rabbi of the Chortkov Hasidim in Manchester - tells us about the essence of the book and its uniqueness in the world of Hasidic thought.
What makes people think about this book more and connect with it?
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""A Jew who is not a Hasidic, and certainly has no connection with Rozhin, recently told me," says Rabbi Friedman, "that for years he has not been apart from this book. He feels that when he studies and reads this book, it is as if the Rebbe is speaking directly to him. This is a tremendous miracle, the man told me. Nearly a century has passed since his holy sayings were spoken, and with all this, I feel that he is speaking to me and to our current generation.
The Rebbe of Chortkov writes in his book lofty and sublime things on the one hand, and on the other hand, he speaks to each and every one, and everyone can connect and find in it what they need. This is why many are drawn to peruse and contemplate this wonderful book.
""He was a very punctual Safra Rabba and had a wonderful order, as can be seen from the manuscript of the book. In addition to what his followers wrote, he would write down his articles for himself.".
What are the main principles on which the book is based?
""You can see a number of general guidelines that are listed throughout the book. The principle of "sanctify yourself with what is permitted to you" is a central motif throughout the book. Another thing the Rebbe emphasizes in many articles is that a person should not rely on others, but rather that all the work is solely on him. Another central principle is the idea of itaruta delta and itaruta delila, in which he explains many principles and matters throughout the year.".
The book is also widely used by rabbis and preachers who are not affiliated with Hasidism. What brings them to use the book are the wonderful and unique requirements and ideas in it. Unlike other Hasidic books. The book consists of both deep Hasidic foundations and ideas in the service of God and wonderful Gothic ideas. The book is built heavily on the foundational books of Jewish thought such as the Sefer HaEchirim, Maharal, Behinut Olam, Abarbanel, Kozari and the Rambam.
In this magnificent edition, you chose to add chapters on the histories of all the Admory Chortkovs at the end of the book. Why?
""The truth is that it is not so customary to add historical chapters to Hasidic books. However, when one studies the Torah and understands who the man who said the words was, as well as the period in which the words were said, this is the meaning that the author of the Mimra would paint before him. It is not that we need to "understand" the man, but to understand and get to know the background. The goal is to present in a nutshell what "Tshortkov" was, what was there, how the Hasidic people felt towards their rabbis, Z"A. The Rebbe of Tshortkov was a tremendous thinker, a genius in all of Torah. He was the leader of all of Israel at that time and his influence was on all aspects of Haredi Judaism in Eastern Galicia.
He was very active in educational matters in Galicia. In those days, there were almost no yeshivahs for young people there, he made sure that yeshivahs were established, and later he was involved in the great enterprise of the Lublin Sage Yeshivah, of which Maharam Shapira was one of its followers.
The Rebbe of the Rebbes
The Rebbe of Tschertkov was the Rebbe of the Rebbe. The Rebbe "Abir Yaakov" of Sedigora and the Rebbe Rabbi Avraham Yehoshua Heshil of Kapitsnitz, who were leaders of Haredi Judaism in our time, held themselves as his disciples on the path of leading the community and in his unique outlook.
The manuscript was unknown for many years, and parts of it were lost over the years. The Rebbe died in 1934, and it was not until 1965 that the book was first printed by Rabbi Michael Halevi Shechter, the late Rabbi. In 1986, it was reprinted with additions and corrections in a magnificent edition by Rabbi Israel Spiegel, the late Rabbi. This edition included many more articles from various manuscripts and letters from Hasidim. The book included additional articles that were not in the previous edition - some from manuscripts and some from the book Nezer Yisrael, published by the Hasidic Rabbi David Moshe Spiegel.
The book appears in three volumes. 2 volumes on the Torah. And a third volume on the festivals, with the addition of extensive indexes.
Distribution: Sfatei Tzaddikim Institute; Vaig – Book Distribution.
