Nimukei Ha'Ridbaz - Chicago, 1904 - Includes an Important Preface Describing the Spiritual Condition of the Jews of ...

Nimukei Ha'Ridbaz - Chicago, 1904 - Includes an Important Preface Describing the Spiritual Condition of the Jews of the USA - Dedication by the Author
Nimukei Ridbaz - commentary on the Torah, "by Ma'or Ha'Golah, the Tzaddik who is famous all around the world Rabbi Ya;akov David [Ridbaz]". Chicago, 1904. First, rare edition.
On the title page of the book, a handwritten dedication by the author: "the honorable …. He who respects him Ya'akov David Ridbaz rabbi of Slutsk".
The handwriting of the Ridbaz is extremely rare and dedications on his books are extremely hard to find!
Author's preface - a detailed description of the spiritual condition of the Jews of the USA
At the beginning of the book, a preface written by the Ridbaz, which is considered a most important document of the history of the Jewish communities of the USA in modern history and of the conception of the most prominent rabbis regarding the spiritual challenges that faced the Jews of the USA. So for example, the Ridbaz writes: "even observing the Sabbath is extremely difficult for someone who is not truly God-fearing, since the evil inclination shows him that by desecrating the Sabbath he will earn twice as much …" In addition, the Ridbaz painfully describes the spiritual problems in the field of education, Kashrut, Kiddushin, Gittin and more. The situation was so difficult those days that the Ridbaz adds: "I have seen God-fearing Jews who curse the day they came to this country", "My brothers and people … Wake up from your sleep and look around … every day, the distance between us and our Father in heaven is increasing … God forbid that no Jews will remain in the following generation [in the USA]!"

To rectify the situation "I have told myself that maybe I will establish a yeshiva and bring boys to it … and maybe I will introduce Torah to this country and Israel might rebuild due to such actions…"
In 1903, the Ridbaz was elected chief rabbi of the Russian-American congregations in Chicago, trying to introduce order into the religious services of his congregations, but met obstruction and opposition on the part of a former rabbi and his followers.
Unable to withstand the persistent opposition, the Ridbaz resigned his position ten months later. Thereafter, he traveled extensively throughout the United States, lecturing and preaching. In 1905, the Ridbaz left America and moved to Safed.

The Ridbaz [Rabbi Ya'akov David ben Ze'ev Wilovsky] 1845-1913, Av Beit Din of Slutsk and Safed.

On the Forsazt leaves, stamps of Rabbi Shmuel Aryeh Alshevski, head of the Rabbeinu Yitzchak Elchanan yeshiva (died in 1943).
[6], 28, 28-33, 32-44; 2-22, 21-30, [1] leaves.

Condition: Good. The dedication is slightly cut off due to the cutting of the leaves by the binder. The first leaves are detached and slightly dry. The first leaf of the commentary on the Torah is missing. Except for this, most of the leaves are in excellent condition.