How Luzzatto’s Kabbalistic Writings were Disseminated in Poland and Lithuania

This chapter introduces the booklet titled Derekh ets hayim, which is a booklet on ethical topics that include sin and repentance, the battle against the evil inclination, Torah and commandments, and methods of studying kabbalah. It compares the content and style of Derekh ets hayim's body of literature on kabbalistic ethics to Luzzatto's other ethical works, particularly Mesilat yesharim and Derekh hashem. It also mentions how the Derekh ets hayim was originally intended to serve as an introduction to Kela"h pithei hokhmah, Luzzatto's main systematic work on speculative kabbalah. The chapter reveals the Zholkva and Shklov editions of Derekh ets hayim that were appended to Mesilat yesharim and appeared up to 1835, which contained complications and obscurities. It describes the titlepage of the Zholkva edition of 5526 that indicates that it was sent for printing by R. Elijah and rabbi R. Israel.