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Kabbalistic work providing two hundred-fifty-two explanations of Moses’ prayer at the beginning of parashat Va-Ethannan to cross the Jordan and see Erez Israel (Deuteronomy 3:23 ff.) by R. Nathan Nata ben Solomon Spira (Shapira, c. 1585-1633). R. Spira, a grandson of R. Nathan Nata ben Samson Spira (Shapira, d. 1577) served, from 1617, as rabbi in Cracow, not accepting a salary as he was self sufficient and did not need the money. He later was av bet din and also headed a yeshivah in that city. Although a Talmudic scholar of considerable repute, R. Spira’s reputation and great esteem in which he is held is based on his deep interest in Kabbalah, striving to and greatly responsible for the dissemination of Lurianic Kabbalah in Poland. Megalleh Amukkot, his most important work, was brought to press by his sons.
The title is from “He uncovers deep things (megalleh amukkot)” (Job 12:22). An architectural frame surrounds the text, which praises the author and states that the contents of the book are described in the introduction. Next are the introductions, in a single column, from R. Spira’s sons, Solomon and Moses. Sixteen paragraphs, all but the first two in Solomon’s introduction, and the three paragraphs of Moses’ introduction, begin, “gave” נתן, a play on Nathan, praising qualities of their father. Solomon relates that his father actually wrote 1,000 interpretations Megalleh Amukkot but said, “it is sufficient רב לך (252)” (Deuteronomy 3:26), and that when his father recited Tikkun Hazot it was with a sad voice sufficient to raise sukkot David, and that the prophet Elijah revealed to him that the ministering angels used this refrain, a dirge recited by the heavenly family over the destruction of the Temple. The text follows, in two columns in square letters, homilies and kabbalistic interpretations on the prayer of Moses. It is followed by an index and the epilogue of the of the editor. It had been R. Spira’s intent to interpret Va-Ethannan in 1,000 ways but he passed away before he could reach that goal. R. Spira also wrote a commentary on the entire Torah, also entitled Megalleh Amukkot (Lvov, 1785); Hiddushei Anshei Shem, glosses to the Sefer ha-Halakhot of Rav Alfasi, today published with editions of that work; and a work explaining the small letter alef in the word Va-Yikra (Leviticus 1:1) in 1,000 different ways, no longer extantm as well as works that remain in manuscript. Spira’s tombstome states that, “here is buried the holy, godly man from the early sages, upon whom it was said that Elijah spoke to him “face to face” (var. cit.).
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