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Clever verse on the Megillah from R. Jekuthiel ben Leib Gordon, a kabbalist and student of R. Moses Hayyim Luzzatto (Ramhal, 1707-46). The title page describes the work as “this Megillah is called before and after Megillah” by R. Jekuthiel ben Judah Leib ha-Rofe from vilna. He was a student of ha-Rav, the great R. Moses Hayyim Luzzatto, and learned from him the wisdom of Kabbalah and also to make verse, of which manuscripts are in the library in Paris, by the well known supporter of Torah and wisdom, who seeks the welfare of his people, baron Hertz Ginsburg. It informs that this volume was copied from a manuscript in the library at Oxfrod (Bodleian) by Aryeh Leib Schlossberg (Leon Schlosberg). There is a brief introductory page from the author, which says that this Megillah is a praise for the Torah, each man is given his portion, and it is his intent (his portion) to write all the deeds מעשה of Megillat Esther in the word Megillah, forwards and backwards, beginning and end, in honor of R. Solomon Zalman Segal Sinzheim. It is signed Jekuthiel ben Judah Leib of Vilna, Doctor of Brisk, Litta. The verse follows. It is comprised of four pages of twenty two lines each, in which alternating lines begin with either a heh הor a mem מ.
R. Jekuthiel ben Leib Gordon, (18th century), kabbalist. Gordon went from Vilna to study medicine at the University of Padua. He became acquainted with Moses Hayyim Luzzatto in Padua. At that time, Luzzatto was organizing his group for study and messianic activity. Gordon, who became his foremost disciple, was one of the first seven who signed the "regulations" of Luzzatto's circle around 1728. In 1729 Gordon wrote a letter in which he related in detail the activities of Luzzatto, especially the revelation of the maggid, the divine revelatory agent which disclosed to Luzzatto the Zohar Tinyana ("second Zohar"). Gordon described Luzzatto's many mystical powers and told of how various zaddikim were revealed to him. This letter fell into the hands of Moses Hagiz, who saw that the activities recounted in the letter were close to Shabbatean practices, and asked the rabbis of Venice to intervene and stop them. Gordon supported Luzzatto in the ensuing controversy. He probably discontinued his medical studies to devote his energy to the activities of the group. A poem written by Luzzatto seems to indicate, with other sources, that Gordon was believed by Luzzatto and his circle to be a reincarnation (gilgul) of the soul of the hero Samson, who would be revealed in messianic times as Serayah from the tribe of Dan, and would be one of the leaders of the Israelite army in the apocalyptic wars. Gordon returned to Eastern Europe after Luzzatto had to cease his activities in Padua, but he probably continued to preach Luzzatto's teachings. |
