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Kabbalistic work by R. Aaron ben Abraham of Kardina with the commentary Dan Yadin of R. Samson ben Pesah Ostropoler. The subject matter are the doctrines of Lurianic Kabbalah as explained by R. Ostropoler. His explanations are completely different form those of R. Hayyim Vital. From 28b until the end of the volume is Likkutei Shoshanim, additional writings of R. Ostropoler.
R. Samson ben Pesah Ostropoler is considered among the greatest kabbalists of Polish Jewry. He was a preacher and Maggid in Polonnoye (Volhynia) where he died a martyr’s death together with 300 of his followers (July 22, 1648) during the Chmielnicki massacres. R. Ostropoler, one of the principal proponents of Lurianic Kabbalah in Poland, corresponded with many contemporary kabbalists. None of his writings was published during his lifetime and it is not until the following generation that scattered quotations in his name are found in various kabbalistic books. A grandson published his notes in a commentary on the Zohar, Aspaklarya Me'irah (Fuerth, 1776). R. Ostropoler’s main work was a commentary to the Zohar, Mahaneh Dan, which is no longer extant. Anti-Christian and elaborate messianic hints appear in his writings. It is reported that he predicted the year of the coming of the Messiah and forecast the Russo-Japanese War. The unique character of R. Ostropoler’s writings led to their being widely quoted in later kabbalistic literature.
R. Aaron ben Abraham of Kardina, referred to on the title page as the author of Iggeret ha-Tamim, and his city, Kardina, mentioned on the title page, are otherwise unknown except for extremely obscure allusions in the text. It was suggested, as early the 18th century that both Sefer Karnayim and Dan Yadin were written by the same person, which is confirmed by an analysis of all R. Ostropoler’s remaining writings.
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