Tanya · Part I; Likkutei Amarim, Approbation, Chapter 1
1
הַסְכָּמַת
APPROBATION1Note that the name of the author was withheld both from the front cover as well as from the Approbations in the first seven editions. Only beginning with the eighth edition (Shklov ‘574 [1814]), the author’s name was included in the title cover posthumously, when also the Approbation by the author’s sons first appeared.
by the famous rabbi and chasid, G–dly man, of saintly renown, our teacher Rabbi Meshulam Zusil of Anipoli:2The author’s colleague and a disciple of Rabbi Dov Ber of Miezricz.
I have seen the writings of this rabbi and gaon, G–dly man, saintly and pure, lucid speculum, and well he did, G–d in His wonderful kindness having put into his pure heart to accomplish all this in order to show the G–dly people His holy ways.
It was [the author’s] intention not to publish these writings in print, since it is not his custom. However, because these kuntresim3See below, p. 907. have spread in the midst of all Israel in numerous copies by sundry copyists, and, as a result of the many transcriptions, the copyists’ errors have multiplied exceedingly, he was impelled to bring these kuntresim to the printing press.
And G–d has aroused the spirit of the [two] partners, the outstanding and distinguished scholar R. Sholom Shachne,4The author’s son-in-law and father of Rabbi Menachem Mendel of Lubavitch, third leader of Chabad. the son of R. Noah, and the outstanding and distinguished scholar R. Mordechai, the son of R. Shmuel haLevi, to bring these kuntresim to the printing house in Slavita. So I said of this good deed, more power to you.
However, they were apprehensive of the growing number of printing establishments which are wont to cause damage and ruin to the accredited ones. In view of this, we have resolved to give this approbation so that no man should dare lift his hand and foot to cause any damage, Heaven forfend, to the said printers by encroaching upon their exclusive right in any manner.
It is to restrain any person from reprinting this book without the knowledge of the said printers for a period of five full years from the date below. He who will heed these, my words, will be blessed with good.
These are the words of one who demands this for the glory of the Torah, this day, the third, twice blessed with “it is good,”5Genesis 1:10, 12. of the weekly portion Tavo, in the year פדותינו (556).6I.e., 5556; it is customary to omit the millennial.
הַסְכָּמַת
APPROBATION1Note that the name of the author was withheld both from the front cover as well as from the Approbations in the first seven editions. Only beginning with the eighth edition (Shklov ‘574 [1814]), the author’s name was included in the title cover posthumously, when also the Approbation by the author’s sons first appeared.
הָרַב הֶחָסִיד הַמְפוּרְסָם, אִישׁ אֱלֹהִי, קָדוֹשׁ יֵאָמֵר לוֹ, מוֹרֵנוּ וְרַבֵּנוּ הָרַב רַבִּי מְשׁוּלָם זוּסִיל מֵאֲנִיפָּאלִי:
by the famous rabbi and chasid, G–dly man, of saintly renown, our teacher Rabbi Meshulam Zusil of Anipoli:2The author’s colleague and a disciple of Rabbi Dov Ber of Miezricz.
הִנֵּה בִּרְאוֹתִי אֶת הַכְּתָבִים שֶׁל הָרַב הַאי גָּאוֹן אִישׁ אֱלֹקִים קָדוֹשׁ וְטָהוֹר אַסְפַּקְלַרְיָא הַמְּאִירָה, וְטוֹב אֲשֶׁר עָשָׂה וַאֲשֶׁר הִפְלִיא ה׳ חַסְדּוֹ וְנָתַן בְּלִבּוֹ הַטָּהוֹר לַעֲשׂוֹת אֶת כָּל אֵלֶּה לְהַרְאוֹת עַם ה׳ דְּרָכָיו הַקְּדוֹשִׁים.
I have seen the writings of this rabbi and gaon, G–dly man, saintly and pure, lucid speculum, and well he did, G–d in His wonderful kindness having put into his pure heart to accomplish all this in order to show the G–dly people His holy ways.
וּרְצוֹנוֹ הָיָה שֶׁלֹּא לְהַעֲלוֹת אֶת הַכְּתָבִים הָהֵם לְבֵית הַדְּפוּס מֵחֲמַת שֶׁאֵין דַּרְכּוֹ בְּכָךְ. רַק מֵחֲמַת הִתְפַּשְּׁטוּת הַקּוּנְטְרֵסִים הָהֵם בְּקֶרֶב כָּל יִשְׂרָאֵל בְּהַעְתָּקוֹת רַבּוֹת מִידֵי סוֹפְרִים מְשׁוּנִּים, וּמֵחֲמַת רִבּוּי הַעְתָּקוֹת שׁוֹנוֹת, רַבּוּ הַטָּעוּיּוֹת־סוֹפְרִים בִּמְאֹד. וְהוּכְרַח לְהָבִיא הַקּוּנְטְרֵסִים הָהֵם לְבֵית הַדְּפוּס.
It was [the author’s] intention not to publish these writings in print, since it is not his custom. However, because these kuntresim3See below, p. 907. have spread in the midst of all Israel in numerous copies by sundry copyists, and, as a result of the many transcriptions, the copyists’ errors have multiplied exceedingly, he was impelled to bring these kuntresim to the printing press.
וְהֵעִיר ה׳ אֶת רוּחַ הַשּׁוּתָּפִים, הֲרֵי הוּא הָרַבָּנִי הַמּוּפְלָג הַוָּתִיק מוֹרֵנוּ וְרַבֵּנוּ הָרַב רַבִּי שָׁלוֹם שַׁכְנָא בֶּן מוֹרֵנוּ הָרַב וְרַבֵּנוּ רַבִּי נֹחַ, וַהֲרֵי הוּא הָרַבָּנִי הַמּוּפְלָג הַוָּתִיק מוֹרֵנוּ הָרַב וְרַבֵּנוּ רַבִּי מָרְדְּכַי בֶּן מוֹרֵנוּ הָרַב וְרַבֵּנוּ רַבִּי שְׁמוּאֵל הַלֵּוִי, לְהָבִיא הַקּוּנְטְרֵסִים הָהֵם לְבֵית הַדְּפוּס בִּסְלַאוִויטַא. וּלְפָעֲלָא טָבָא אָמַרְתִּי יִישַׁר חֵילָא.
And G–d has aroused the spirit of the [two] partners, the outstanding and distinguished scholar R. Sholom Shachne,4The author’s son-in-law and father of Rabbi Menachem Mendel of Lubavitch, third leader of Chabad. the son of R. Noah, and the outstanding and distinguished scholar R. Mordechai, the son of R. Shmuel haLevi, to bring these kuntresim to the printing house in Slavita. So I said of this good deed, more power to you.
אַךְ עָלוּ בְּלִבָּם מָגוֹר מִסָּבִיב מִן הַדְּפוּסִים אֲשֶׁר רַבּוּ, שֶׁדַּרְכָּן לְהַזִּיק וּלְקַלְקֵל הַמְאוּשָּׁרִים. אֵי לָזֹאת, גָּמַרְנוּ בְּלִבֵּינוּ לִיתֵּן הַסְכָּמָה, לְבַל יָרִים אִישׁ אֶת יָדוֹ וְאֶת רַגְלוֹ לִגְרוֹם לְהַמַּדְפִּיסִים הַנִּזְכָּרִים לְעֵיל שׁוּם הֶיזֵּק חַס וְשָׁלוֹם בְּהַשָּׂגַת גְּבוּל בְּשׁוּם אוֹפֶן.
However, they were apprehensive of the growing number of printing establishments which are wont to cause damage and ruin to the accredited ones. In view of this, we have resolved to give this approbation so that no man should dare lift his hand and foot to cause any damage, Heaven forfend, to the said printers by encroaching upon their exclusive right in any manner.
וְאָסוּר לְשׁוּם אָדָם לִדְפּוֹס הַסֵּפֶר הַנִּזְכָּר לְעֵיל בִּלְתִּי יְדִיעַת הַמַּדְפִּיסִים הַנִּזְכָּרִים לְעֵיל, עַד מֶשֶׁךְ חָמֵשׁ שָׁנִים רְצוּפִים מִיּוֹם דִּלְמַטָּה. וְשׁוֹמֵעַ לִדְבָרַי אֵלֶּה – יָבֹא עָלָיו בִּרְכַּת טוֹב.
It is to restrain any person from reprinting this book without the knowledge of the said printers for a period of five full years from the date below. He who will heed these, my words, will be blessed with good.
הֲלֹא כֹּה דִּבְרֵי הַדּוֹרֵשׁ זֹאת לִכְבוֹד הַתּוֹרָה, הַיּוֹם יוֹם ג׳ שֶׁנִּכְפַּל בּוֹ ״כִּי טוֹב״, פָּרָשָׁה תָּבֹא, שְׁנַת פְּדוּתֵינוּ לִפְרָט קָטָן.
These are the words of one who demands this for the glory of the Torah, this day, the third, twice blessed with “it is good,”5Genesis 1:10, 12. of the weekly portion Tavo, in the year פדותינו (556).6I.e., 5556; it is customary to omit the millennial.
הַקָּטָן מְשׁוּלָם זוּסִיל מֵאֲנִיפָּאלִי.
The insignificant MESHULAM ZUSIL of Anipoli