Orphaned, unloved

I’m sad to say that I’ve just picked up another abandoned commentary on Pirkei Avot from the streets of Jerusalem. This time it’s Melitz Yosher al Pirkei Avot, by Rabbi Reuven Melamed, rosh mesivta at Ponevezh Yeshivah and a talmid muvchak of the celebrated mashgiach of Ponevezh, Rabbi Yechezkel Levenstein ztz”l.

Self-published in Bnei Brak 1990, this book is in mint condition and shows signs of never having been opened. It is handsomely produced, with clear, vowelised Hebrew for the mishnayot and baraitot and well-spaced, unpointed text for the commentary itself.

I look forward to dipping into this little book and reporting on some of its more interesting content. Meanwhile, does any reader know anything of this book and its author?

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Postscript

On the same topic, readers may remember that not long ago I found another unwanted edition of Avot that contained two commentaries—the Tiferet Tzion of Rabbi Yitzchak Ze’ev Yadler and the Kerem Chemed of his grandson Rabbi Yehudah Rabinowitz (see earlier post on Facebook and on the Avot Today blog)—which I picked up from a street sale for the princely sum of 10 shekel. I’ve been sampling the Tiferet Tzion daily over my breakfast and can testify to it being a gentle, traditional commentary that takes pleasure in delving into the Gemara in order to highlight or illustrate the teachings in Avot. Even though I’ve not yet finished the first perek, I’m delighted to say that I’ve got far more than 10 shekels-worth of value for my purchase.