(CHASSIDISM). (R. YA’AKOV SHIMSHON OF ...

(CHASSIDISM). (R. YA’AKOV SHIMSHON OF SHEPETOVKA). Ma’aseh Shehaya / Nora’ah…

pp. 8. Modern wrappers. 8vo.

Warsaw, (1892).

    A student of the Maggid Dov-Baer of Mehzeritch, R. Ya’akov Yosef of Polenoye and R. Pinchas of Koretz, R. Ya’akov Shimshon of Shepetovka (d. 1801) served as rabbi of Shepetovka, Slavuta and Bar, before moving to Eretz Israel. He is buried in Tiberias near R. Nachman of Horodenk.

    The present Chassidic tale (also known as Divrei Noam, Ma’aseh D’Rebbi Ya’akov Shimshon of Shepetovka and other names) describes how R. Yechezkel Landau, the Noda Beyehuda, decreed that the first published Chassidic work, Toldoth Ya’akov Yosef, be publicly burned.

    Its distressed (deceased) author, R. Ya’akov Yosef of Polenoye appeared to his student R. Ya’akov Shimshon in a dream, instructing him to persuade R. Landau to change his mind. R. Ya’akov Shimshon did as he was told, traveling to Prague to meet the great sage. Disguised as a pauper, R. Ya’akov Shimshon first spoke with R. Landau about homilies, successfully explaining Chassidic derashoth that R. Landau had deemed problematic, and then displayed his sharp Halachic acumen.

    Having impressed R. Landau, R. Ya’akov Shimshon revealed his true identity and explained why he had come. The Noda Beyehuda heralded that Chassidism was only a boon to the Jewish people, and certainly not a threat. Hearing this, R. Ya’akov Shimshon knew he had fulfilled the wishes of his master R. Ya’akov Yosef.