Kav ha-Yashar (lit. The Just Measure; קב הישר), authored by Rabbi Tzvi Hirsch Kaidanover (1648[ citation needed]–1712; Rabbi at Frankfurt, son of Aaron Samuel Kaidanover), is an "ethical- kabbalistic collection of stories, moral guidance, and customs", [1] and one of the most popular [2] works of musar literature of the last 300 years. It serves as a guide to " God-fearing piety and to preserving the norms of the community", framing its teachings in the context of " individual providence and the reckoning of sins and merits". [3] The title of the work alludes to the number of chapters it contains (קב = 102), as well as the author's name (הישר = הירש). [4]
Kav ha-Yashar was known for uplifting the spirits of Jewish communities in Europe after the Chmelnitzki Massacres of 1648-1649. [2] First published in 1705 in Frankfurt am Main, it has appeared in over 80 editions, in nearly every country in the world with a Jewish community. Kaidanover also prepared a Yiddish version, which went through at least 10 editions. [3]
The work draws on "Yesod Yosef", a mussar work infused with the Kabbalistic teachings of the Ari written by Kaidanover's teacher Yosef Yoske of Dubno; [5] and Kav ha-Yashar then constitutes "a deliberate effort to popularize Safedian Kabbalah by adopting a much more understandable style in Hebrew." [1] Relatedly, it reflects, to some extent, a Kabbalistic dualism, dividing all aspects of reality "according to their affinity" either with the divine or with impurity. [3]
External links
- Kav HaYashar (at Sefaria)
References
- ^ a b Moshe Idel: "YIVO | Mysticism and Mystical Literature".
- ^ a b Davis, Rabbi Avrohom (2007). Kav haYashar. Monsey, NY: Eastern Book Press. pp. xxvii.
- ^ a b c Introduction to "Sefer Kav HaYashar: The Just Measure", translation by Chaim. Y.
- ^ Kav HaYashar at Sefaria
- ^ ספרות-המוסר, tarbutil.cet.ac.il
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