The manuscript of Rav Moshe Chaim Luzatto's book Taktu
Tefillos (515 Prayers) had been lying on a shelf
gathering dust for nearly 250 years, unknown to researchers
and mevakshei Hashem, until several years ago when it
was found intact and well-preserved in an archive.
Rav Yosef Buksbaum, head of Machon Yerushalayim, recounts:
"Several decades ago I acquired an important collection of
manuscripts from the library of the Munkatcher Rebbe, author
of Minchas Elozor. He had received some of the
manuscripts from his father, the previous Munkatcher Rebbe,
author of Darchei Tshuva. I have been able to publish
more than ten important works from this collection. Among
the books was a manuscript in antique binding written in
Italian script (written in loshon hakodesh but in
Italian script, which is different from standard handwriting
and, like Spanish script, has unique characteristics), which
was unfamiliar to me.
"Rav Berish Weinberger, who was one of his followers and a
regular visitor in the home of the Rebbe, the ba'al
haMinchas Elozor, and even published several books
written by the Munkatch dynasty, once came to my home and
asked to see the books written by the Rebbe that were in my
possession and to relive memories. During the course of
conversation he asked to see `the book written in Italian
script.' I handed him the manuscript, expecting him to
elucidate and explain the contents of the book. `Who wrote
this, I do not know,' he told me, `but I remember the Rebbe
would handle this holy book with awe and trembling after
Tikkun Chatzos, and read one or two of the
tefillos out loud in heart- rending sobs."
Rav Buksbaum continued, saying, "One day a well-known
researcher, Professor Meir Benayahu (son of the Rishon
Letzion Rav Yitzhak Nissim), came to my home for a visit and
I asked him to examine the book, hoping he might be able to
assess its quality and determine who wrote it or at least
the precise period of the manuscript. He picked up the
manuscript and, leafing through it, grew as white as a
sheet. When I drew closer and asked him what was wrong, he
was trembling slightly and with tremendous excitement, he
replied, `The whole world has been searching for this
manuscript for 200 years already! This manuscript must be
the only one of its kind in the world, written by ish
haElokim, Rabbenu Moshe Chaim Luzatto, and is his
collection of prayers, Taktu Tefillos, corresponding
to the word, vo'eschanon.
"Once the signal had been given with the initial
identification, the existence of the book was made known to
Chavuras HaRamchal, a group of talmidei chachomim
including HaRav Chaim Friedlander, HaRav Shmuel Dvir, HaRav
Yitchok Shlomo Zilberman, zt"l, and ylct"a
HaRav Sholom Ulman and others, who studied HaRav Luzatto's
works. When several of these geonim arrived at my
home and, trembling with awe, examined the book, they
declared beyond a shadow of doubt that it was indeed the
long- lost book, 515 Prayers by HaRav Moshe Chaim
Luzatto.
"In simplified terms the book consists of 515 prayers,
corresponding in numerology to the word, vo'eschanon,
with every tefilloh aimed at a specific tikkun
designed to hasten the arrival of the Moshiach and, as a
whole, to remove all of the impediments in order to bring
Goel Tzedek.
And now, the amazing story lying behind the Italian script.
During one of Rav Buksbaum's trips to the United States he
paid a visit to HaRav Yitzchok Shternhill, zt"l,
author of Kochavei Yitzchok, who served many years
ago as the rosh yeshiva in Munkatch. Then the rov of
the Shearis Hapleita kehilla in Baltimore, he was an
exceptionally gifted scholar and a great genius, and had
been very close to the author of Minchas Elozor, who
often quotes him in his seforim. In the course of
our conversation about the manuscripts from the Rebbe's
library, we eventually touched on the subject of the book
515 Prayers by Ramchal.
At this point HaRav Shternhill filled in a few details,
adding an astounding fact: "I once saw the book you have at
home in the home of the Munkatcher Rebbe. You may have
noticed that on the inside cover of the book are one or two
tefillos in Ashkenazi writing, unlike the entire text
which is written in Italian writing. This is the handwriting
of HaRav Yekusiel Gordon of Vilna, one of the Ramchal's
leading students."
Rav Shternhill continued, saying, "As is well-known, many of
the Ramchal's writings were available to the Vilna Gaon. The
introduction to the sefer Mayim Adirim by HaRav
Menachem Mendel Mishklov (one of the famous talmidim
of the Gaon) mentions the fact that the Ramchal's writings
were read by the Vilna Gaon. Rav Yekusiel Gordon of Vilna
brought them to him. One sefer of the Ramchal was
even published by the Gra's loyal followers.
"The book 515 Prayers was in the hands of Rav
Yekusiel Gordon, who even wrote his name beremez,
"Koisiel," in several places, inserting it into the
manuscript at several places on the margin of the page.
"When he brought the book to the Gra, he noted that it was
inaccessible due to the difficult Italian script, and was
thus difficult to read smoothly. Therefore Rav Yekusiel
copied over the first two tefillos in Ashkenazi
script on the inside of the book cover. It goes without
saying that this was enough for the Vilna Gaon to learn how
to read the Italian script, and he then studied the book
continuously. It did not budge from his desk for several
months."
After consulting with gedolei Yisroel, particularly
the head of Machon Yerushalayim, HaRav Yitzchok Hutner,
author of Pachad Yitzchok, who was stirred by the
fabulous book and its holy contents, Rav Buksbaum decided to
respond to the entreaties made by mevakshei derech
Hashem. With openhearted generosity he allowed Chavuras
HaRamchal to publish the book then (1979-5739), and it has
since been republished in several editions by HaRav Ulman.
HaRav Shariki, head of Machon HaRamchal, also published the
sefer with vowels, punctuation and headings in a
special edition that captured the market, allowing a large
audience of readers to peruse the book and benefit from its
fabulous contents.
The process of printing the book was marked by a striking
set of circumstances, perhaps containing their own symbolic
significance. When Rav Buksbaum authorized the first
printing of the book, two conditions were made. First, that
the book include a dedication to his father, R' Mordechai
Buksbaum, and second, that the first copy be delivered to
him at his home.
On the afternoon of Tisha B'Av 5739, a courier knocked on
the door of Rav Buksbaum's home carrying the first few
copies of the book straight from the bindery. Overwhelmed
with excitement, Rav Yosef opened the cover of the first
book to see print and on the last page he noticed the words
of the great writer, HaRav Moshe Chaim Luzatto, written some
250 years ago: "And it was completed on Thursday, Tisha
B'Av, toward evening. May it be His will that mourning will
turn into happiness and joy speedily in our days, Amen."
