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Bidding Information
Lot #    11663
Auction End Date    9/20/2005 10:55:00 AM (mm/dd/yyyy)
          
Title Information
Title (English)    Sod Yesharim
Title (Hebrew)    סוד ישרים
Author    [Segulot] R. Leone (Judah Aryeh) Modena
City    Verona
Publisher    Francesco Rossi
Publication Date    1647
          
Collection Information
Independent Item    This listing is an independent item not part of any collection
          
Description Information
Physical
Description		    12 ff. irregular foliation, 140:89 mm., light age and damp staining, old hands, worming affecting letters expertly repaired. A good copy bound in modern cloth boards.
          
Detailed
Description		    One hundred Segulot (treasured secrets and cures) and fifty riddles by R. Leone (Judah Aryeh) Modena (da Modena, 1571-1648). There are two title pages, one for each part of the book, and both with a crown held by winged putti at the top. The title, Sod Yesharim, is from, “[I will praise the L-rd with my whole heart], in the assembly of the upright sod yesharim . . .” (Psalms 111:1), here to be understood as secrets (sod) of the upright. The text states that it is a, “‘treasure of [all] precious vessels’ (Hosea 13:15) and in it are one hundred segulot, ‘hidden riches of secret places’ (Isaiah 45:3), cures, wonders, and awesome matters, ‘the work of the L-rd; for it is an awesome thing that’ (Exodus 34:10) He puts strength into nature for the benefit of the human species.. . . And furthermore, fifty delightful riddles. . . .” Modena describes Sod Yesharim in his autobiography, writing that in it, “are several arcane remedies.” Each segulah begins with a header describing the contents. Examples are how to grow one’s signet on the pit of a peach; a cure for forgetfulness; how to darken the hair of the head or beard; guess a number; a coin; handle a snake; and stop bed wetting. Next are the riddles, with its own title page. At the end of the volume are solutions. A particularly clean copy of a fascinating and rare work.

Modena, described as an infant prodigy and hoary prodigal is among the most fascinating Jews of the Renaissance. He was born in Venice, to a distinguished family of French origin settled in Italy from the 14th century, and raised in Ferrara. Well educated in rabbinic and secular subjects, including music and dance, Modena had, by early adolescence, written a rabbinic responsum on prayer, translated Ariostous Orlando furioso and prepared a work on gambling (Sur Mera, Venice, 1595). In 1592 Modena moved to Venice where, among the twenty six occupations listed in his autobiography, are serving in the rabbinate, teaching, writing letters, and preaching regularly. He was a prolific writer on a wide variety of subjects.
          
Paragraph 2    ... יבאו בו מאה סגולות... רפואות פלאות...

המשפט "יצא הכל ובא..." מן השער של ההוצאה הראשונה, שבו האקרוסטיכון של המחבר, נשמט. לחלק החידות שער מיוחד: "סוד ישרים; בחלק הזאת השנית יבאו חידות...". סדר חילוק תורה נביאים וכתובים כפי ענין פרשת השבוע והמפתחות לסגולות, נשמט. עיין: מאיר בניהו, ידיעות על הדפסת ספרים והפצתם באיטליה, הדפוס העברי בוירונה, סיני, לד, תשי"ד, עמ' קעז. ההוצאה שלפנינו אינה ההוצאה השנייה, כפי שציינו הביבליוגראפים. ההוצאה השנייה היא של ויניציאה שנ"ט. עיין: 1934-1933 ,XXIV ,JQR, עמ' 50-48.

          
Reference
Description		    Heller, 16th Cent. Book pp. 856-57; Vin Verona 18; CD-EPI 0138682
        
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Listing Classification
Period
  
18th Century:    Checked
  
Location
Italy:    Checked
  
Subject
  
Characteristic
Language:    Hebrew
  
Manuscript Type
  
Kind of Judaica