Sidrei Taharot on Tractate Kelim, by Rebbe Gershon Chanoch Henich Leiner, rabbi of Radzin (Radzyń Podlaski). Józefów, 1873. First edition.
Sidrei Taharot is an original, comprehensive and brilliant work on Tractate Kelim. The center of the page is occupied by the text of the Mishnah, followed by all the teachings of the Babylonian Talmud, Jerusalem Talmud and Midrashim pertaining to that Mishnah. The text of the Mishnah and Talmud is flanked by two commentaries from the author and compiler – one lengthy and one brief. The lengthy commentary is a discussion of the opinions of the Rishonim and Acharonim on the topic, and the brief commentary is a concise explanation of the words. The work is structured in a similar style to that of the Talmud – each Mishnah is followed by the word "Gemara", and the text even parallels the typography of the Talmudic tractates (the body of the text, in square typeface, occupies the center of the page, and is flanked by a brief commentary similar to Rashi on one side, and a more lengthy commentary replicating Tosafot, on the other – both in Rashi script. Ein Mishpat and Masoret HaShas are printed in the margins). A great controversy arose at the time surrounding this work. Some of the rabbis of Vilna published a statement opposing the work, as a matter of principle, concerned that a composition so closely resembling the Gemara might eventually be mistaken as an integral part of the Talmud. On the other hand, the work earned the approbations of many of the leading Torah scholars of the generation. Due to the opposition it engendered, the heading "Sefer Sidrei Taharot" was added at the top of each page of part II, with a notice at the foot of each page that the work is "compiled from the teachings of the Tana'im and Amora'im" – see below.
Fine, particularly wide-margined copy. A Hebrew map of Eretz Israel appears at the beginning of the book. The map (folded plate) shows the borders of the land and the territory of each tribe. It bears the stamp of the author: "Gershon Chanoch Henich Leiner, son of the holy rabbi of Izhbitza".
Ownership inscriptions of R. Efraim Fishel Yitzchak Fränkel of Shedlitz (relative of the Baruch Taam), and inscription attesting to having received the book from him (signature of recipient deleted). Several handwritten glosses.
[10], 544 pages + [1] plate + [1] title page wrapper. Map bound at beginning of book and not at end, as in other copies. Title page wrapper not recorded in the Bibliography of the Hebrew Book. Title page printed in black and red. 43 cm. Good condition. Stains. Title pages and approbations detached. Tears to map plate, including tear across the map. Original leather binding, damaged and partially detached.
Stefansky Chassidut, no. 434; see: Stefansky Classics, p. 37.

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The Polemic Surrounding Sidrei Taharot – The "Talmud" Compiled by the Rebbe of Radzin

R. Gershon Chanoch Henich Leiner (1839-1890), the Baal HaTechelet, was a sharp, original and outstanding Torah scholar, who authored his brilliant work Sidrei Taharot on Tractate Kelim at the young age of 33, before he was appointed rebbe and rabbi. This composition earned the enthusiastic approbations of leading rabbis of his times, such as R. Yitzchak Elchanan Spektor Rabbi of Kovno, R. Shimon Sofer Rabbi of Kraków, the Sho'el u-Meshiv, the rabbi of Kutno, the Nefesh Chaya, the Machaneh Chaim, R. Tzvi Hirsh Orenstein Rabbi of Brisk, R. Chaim Berlin, and others.

After the book was published, the author sent a copy to R. Betzalel HaKohen, a rabbi of Vilna, author of Reshit Bikurim. R. Betzalel responded with an enthusiastic letter of approbation, in which he addresses him with great esteem and thanks him for the book Sidrei Taharot "which is very dear to us… many will benefit from the light of his Torah".

A year and a half later, in summer 1875, R. Betzalel changed his views, and, together with six other rabbis of Vilna, publicized three lengthy and very sharp letters in the HaLevanon periodical against the book Sidrei Taharot. Their main argument was that ever since the closing of the Talmud, no one whatsoever has the authority to compile a Talmud on tractates which the Amora'im did not compose a Talmud on, and not even to imitate their structure. They contended that doing so negatively affects the faith in the holiness of the Oral Law: "Regrettably, in this lowly generation, one of the authors dared to collect from the Talmud for each Mishnah of Tractate Kelim … what in his opinion pertains to this Mishnah, and he gave it the name "Gemara", and woe to the eyes who witness such a thing… and woe to us that such a thing has happened in our times"; "It has become known to all now that in any case, there is absolutely no benefit in this book, this new Talmud of his". The rabbis of Vilna further warn that no author should have the audacity do such a thing, and caution the author not to reprint this work. (In their letter from the end of the summer 1875, the rabbis of Vilna claim that the fact no rabbi opposed the prohibition they issued two months prior, indicates that most the other rabbis, including those who originally gave approbations, concur with their opinion…). This condemnation by the rabbis of Vilna was not disregarded by the author and his colleagues, who retaliated in the HaMaggid paper, responding to all the claims of the Vilna rabbis, and thus a sharp and interesting polemic developed, which branches out to many matters of principle (see enclosed material).

The author was not inhibited by the prohibition of the Vilna rabbis, and immediately after publishing the volume on tractate Kelim, he began compiling and preparing for print part II of his work, Sidrei Taharot on Tractate Ohalot, following the same format as his first book. This book was only published after his passing (Piotrkow 1903). Some of the rabbis who had given their approbations, leading rabbis of the generation, were also not intimidated by the ban issued by the rabbis of Vilna on the book, and they once again issued letters of approbation and encouragement to the author for his second book. These include: R. Yitzchak Elchanan (Nisan 1876), R. Shimon Sofer (Av 1877), the rabbi of Kutno (Adar 1876), R. Tzvi Hirsh Orenstein (Tammuz 1876). The second book also contains congratulation letters which the author received from the Malbim and R. Shimshon Rafael Hirsch, as well as a particularly enthusiastic letter of approbation from the Sdei Chemed (Nisan 1888), with exceptional words of esteem for the author and his book. At the end of his approbation, the Sdei Chemed blesses the author that he should merit to publish his work on all the tractates of Order Taharot, "since G-d is with him and the Halacha follows his opinion".

One noticeable change was introduced in part II, as a result of the polemic aroused surrounding part I. A heading was added at the top of each page: "Sefer Sidrei Taharot" (to stress that it is a book and not the Gemara), and a notice at the foot of each page: "Compiled from the teachings of the Tanna'im and Amora'im". The publisher, Rebbe Mordechai Yosef Elazar son of the author, writes in his foreword to the book that his father had already thought of this change, "and so I was advised by the leading rabbis and Torah scholars of the generation, led by our colleague the prominent R. Chaim Soloveitchik Rabbi of Brisk".