L'Veit Ya'akov by "HaRav HaKollel" of New York, Rabbi Jacob Joseph, with a Dedication in his Handwriting

L'Veit Ya'akov by "HaRav HaKollel" of New York, Rabbi Jacob Joseph, with a Dedication in his Handwriting
L'Veit Ya'akov - sermons on the weekly Torah portions, special Shabbats and more, by Rabbi Jacob Joseph [Charif], "HaRav HaKollel" of New York. First edition. Vilna, 1888. Handwritten author's dedication.
Author's stamp on the jacket cover with his handwritten dedication indicating that he is gifting his book to Rabbi Eliezer Zalman Grievsky, author of Ginat Egoz.
The book is comprised of two parts, sermons on the weekly Torah portions and halachic novellae; and sermons for special Shabbats and hadrans. Printed at the end of the second part: "Words of my friend and kindred spirit, the honorable Rabbi ..." - comments by Rabbi Chaim Ozer Grodzinsky on the author's words.
The gaon Rabbi Jacob Joseph [d. 1902] was known as "R' Ya'akov Charif" from his early days of study in Volozhin due to his great sharpness. He was born in Krozhe, Lithuania, in 1841, and studied, as mentioned, in Volozhin. From there he moved to Kovno to study at Rabbi Yisrael Salanter's study hall. Rabbi Salanter drew him close, groomed him and formed his mussar personality. He served as rabbi in Vilon, Yurburg and Zhagory. He was appointed maggid and chief rabbinic instructor of Vilna in 1883, one of the most respected rabbinical positions in the world during that era. He spoke with grace and people would come en masse to hear his words, which were intertwined with Rabbi Yisrael Salanter's mussar doctrine. He printed this renowned book of sermons L'Veit Ya'akov in 1888 in Vilna, and that same year he was received as "HaRav HaKollel" of New York. There he found room for a wide range of activities to raise the banner of Judaism: He founded a yeshivah there, enacted many regulations with respect to the system of ritual slaughter and kosher supervision, and, towards the end of his life, founded the well-known Rabbinical Association of America. He was greatly honored when he passed away, with many accounts reporting the participation of approximately 100,000 (!) people at his funeral. He was the first and last "Rav HaKollel" of New York; no one else held this honorable title after him. (Refer to: Tnuat HaMussar Part II pages 295-310).
His grave in New York is a pilgrimage site for prayer and salvation, andֲ  thousands of Jews from all Chareidi circles in the United States visit his grave on his yahrtzeit. Many of these petitioners have been answered.
104, XII; 64 pages, 22 cm. Fine condition. Tears in the margins of the jacket cover without damage to text. Hard binding with jacket cover.