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Four independent works bound together. The first title, Devar Eliyahu by R. Elijah ben Solomon Zalman of Vilna (Vilna Gaon, Gra, 1720-97), is a commentary on the book of Job with glosses by R. Abraham Barush, and, for the first time, additional glosses by R. David Luria. There are two title pages, a note to the reader by R. Barush and an introduction. The text is followed by likkutim. R. Elijah ben Solomon Zalman of Vilna (Vilna Gaon, Gra, 1720-97) is a dominant figure in Jewish intellectual thought, his importance and prestige undiminished, as great today, if not greater, than in his own time. The Vilna Gaon’s extraordinary intelligence, expressed by his expertise in Torah at the age of three, outdistancing his tutors while a young child, his incredible proficiency over the entire expanse of the written and Oral Torah by nine, by which time he was already studying Kabbalah, accompanied by complete piety, are attested to by numerous reputable sources. More than seventy works, encompassing Bible, halakhah, Talmud, and Kabbalah, are attributed to the Vilna Gaon.
The second work is Marpeh le-Nefesh on ha-Sha’aret ha-Nefesh. attributed to the son of the son of the Rashbaz (R. Simon ben Zemah Duran), that is, Zemah ben Solomon Duran. It was found in a genizah of manuscripts and is brought to press by R. Menahem Mendel of Dobrovna. It is an ethical work and also includes responsa of R. Zemah ben Solomon ben Simeon Duran to R. Abraham Kanki and to R. Simeon the son of R. Solomon Duran. The third work is Ra’ishit Da’at by R. Isaac Elijah Menahem Ascoli. It is intended to instruct Jewish youth in wisdom and understanding and the fear of the Lord, to teach them proper conduct for contemporary times and in the time of the Temple in a pure and clear language. Page 38 has a detailed diagram of the mizbe’ah. The pages of Ra’ishit Da’at are bound out of order, that is, 49 through 59 follow the final work, Teshu’ot Yisrael. Teshu’ot Yisrael, the final work is by the renowned Menasheh ben Joseph Ben-Israel (1604-67). It is a defense of Jews and Judaism against false accusations brought against the Jews. |
