Illustrated Manuscript - (Tosefet) Ma'aseh Rav - Composition on the Doctrine of the Vilna Gaon in the Handwriting ...

Illustrated Manuscript - (Tosefet) Ma'aseh Rav - Composition on the Doctrine of the Vilna Gaon in the Handwriting of his Great-Grandson, Rabbi Elazar Landau - 1828 - the Copy from which the Book had been Printed (the 1896 Edition) - Includes Torah Novellae by Rabbi Elazar Landau, which have never been Printed
The book "Ma'aseh Rav" was first written by Rabbi Se'adya (died in 1813), the disciple of the Vilna Gaon.
The composition was edited by Rabbi Yissachar ber (died in 1855) and printed for the first time in 1832. The composition describes in detail the halachic customs of the Vilna Gaon. Rabbi Yissachar Ber added a small part of the book from other writings of the Vilna Gaon which had already been printed as well as things he had heard from others. This book is considered an authentic evidence of the halachic doctrine of the Vilna Gaon.

The manuscript before us
The manuscript before us is a copying of Rabbi Se'adya's composition and was written in 1828, that is, four years before the publishing of the first edition of the book "Ma'aseh Rav". The manuscript differs from the printed version of the first edition of the book, as will be explained hereinafter.
Indeed, the original composition, "Ma'aseh Rav", was printed by Rabbi Yissachar Ber himself, in 1832; however, unlike the printed version, the manuscript before us contains additions titled "Tosefet Ma'aseh Rav. Beside these additions, there are also things that Rabbi Elazar Landau had heard from Rabbi Ya'akov Kahana, the son-in-law of Rabbi Avraham, the Vilna Gaon's brother. Extremely important additions on the customs of the Vilna Gaon and rabbi Chaim of Volozhin.
The manuscript before us, titled "Tosefet Ma'aseh Rav", was printed for the first time in Jerusalem,1896 by Rabbi Eliyahu Landau, Rabbi Elazar's son.
At the end of the manuscript there are two and a half pages of Torah novellae by Rabbi Elazar Landau, which have most likely never been printed. At the end of the book there are also four Hanhagot noted by the author.
There are lingual differences (which have not been examined) between the manuscript and the printed versions.

A detailed description of the composition
The title page is completed by photocopy, illustrated, with an inscription: "a book of Halachic novellae and customs by the Gaon Rabbi Eliyahu…"
The composition contains 13 leaves: an illustrated title page. Leaves 1-11: Ma'aseh Rav with additions. The additions, among them one in the name of Rabbi Ya'akov Kahana, were written in a column on the side of each page, under the title "Hegeh".
Leaves 12-13: Torah novellae handwritten by Rabbi Elazer Landau, which have never been printed.

Artistic script accompanied by lithographic illustrations
Nice, eloquent, Ashkenazic script. Brown ink. Illustrations and decorations throughout the book, most likely by Rabbi Elazer himself (!). Such a phenomenon - illustrations by a Lithuanian rabbi - is extremely rare.

The biography of the geniuses
The writer of the manuscript before us, Rabbi Elazer Landau, was the son of Rabbi Ya'akov Moshe, the son of Rabbi Avraham, the son of the Vilna Gaon. He was born in circa 1812 in Slonim.
The additions that appear in the manuscript before us are especially by Rabbi Ya'akov Kahana, who studied with the Vilna Gaon for twenty one years, until the Vilna Gaon's death.
On the book "Ma'aseh Rav" its editions and significance, see the comprehensive article of Reb David Kamenetzky in "Yeshurun" issue 21. The manuscript was kept in the archive of a well-known collector of the books of the Vilna Gaon.
Condition: Good. The title page is completed by photocopy. Moth damage to most leaves of the book, restored and in excellent condition.