A New Light in the World

Rav Simcha Zisel, the Alter of Kelm, testified that the Vilna Gaon said, “I saw a great light descend to this world in the form of the sefer Mesilas Yesharim.”

In his introduction to Mesilas Yesharim, the Mahari Maltson wrote that when the sefer first appeared, the Vilna Gaon said, “A new light has come into the world. If the Ramchal were still alive, I would walk on foot to see him and meet him face to face.” He added that the Gaon reviewed the sefer often. When the Gaon received the Ramchal's sefer Adir BaMarom, a commentary on the Idra Rabbah of the Rashbi, he put on Yom Tov clothes to celebrate. It is also known that the Gaon said that had he lived in the Ramchal's generation, he would have walked twelve milin to meet him.

Rav Yaakov Yosef of Ostrog testified that he heard from the Maggid of Mezritch that the Ramchal's generation did not understand him and did not appreciate his great righteousness.