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Bidding Information
Lot #    8234
Auction End Date    10/19/2004 10:00:00 AM (mm/dd/yyyy)
          
Title Information
Title (English)    Asarah Mamarot
Title (Hebrew)    עשרה מאמרות
Author    [The Hayyei Adam's Copy] R. Menahen Azarya of Fano
City    Amsterdam
Publisher    Judah ben Mordecai & Samuel ben Moses ha-Levi
Publication Date    1649
          
Collection Information
Independent Item    This listing is an independent item not part of any collection
          
Description Information
Physical
Description		    First edition of commentary. 158 ff., 202:150 mm., heavy use staining, corners rounded and frayed affecting letters, old hand on title, bound in modern half leather and cloth boards.
          
Paragraph 1    The Hayyei Adam's, R. Abraham b. Jehiel Michal Danzig (1748–1820), copy with his inscription on title. Born in Danzig, he studied in Prague at the yeshivot of R. Joseph Liebermann and R. Ezekiel Landau. True to his family tradition, he refused to derive any material gain from his studies and earned his livelihood as a merchant. Although required at times to travel long distances to trade fairs in Germany, he continued to learn with great devotion. From 1794 to 1812 he served as dayyan in Vilna, in an honorary capacity; only in his old age, after losing his possessions, was he obliged to accept remuneration for his services. R. Danzig wrote a number of halakhic works, but his fame rests upon two publications: Hayyei Adam ("Man's Life"), covering all the laws of the Shulhan Arukh dealing with daily conduct, based on the Orah Hayyim sections, with an addendum called Nishmat Adam, in which he justified his decisions which were not in accordance with the accepted view (Vilna, 1810); and Hokhmat Adam ("Man's Wisdom") covering all the laws of the Shulhan Arukh dealing with the dietary regulations etc. contained in the Yoreh De'ah section, with an addendum called Binat Adam, which included discussions on various relevant halakhic subjects and responsa (Vilna, 1812).

Both works were initially intended for youthful students and for educated laymen not fully versed in rabbinic literature who, in attempting to determine Jewish law, found themselves unable to grapple with the intricacies of the Shulhan Arukh and with its maze of conflicting opinions. In these works, R. Danzig shows himself possessed of considerable pedagogical talent. He arranges the laws methodically, defines his terms lucidly and precisely, presents the various views and their sources, and renders his own decisions and his reasons for them - all in clear, simple language. The pleasant tenor of his writing, which is suffused with unquestioning faith and true piety, contributed largely toward the acceptance of his works.

Hayyei Adam appeared in almost a hundred editions. Groups called "Hevrot Hayyei Adam" were formed in several communities for the regular study of the code. R. Danzig's merits as a codifier were recognized also by renowned rabbis and codifiers, who gave due consideration to his decisions. His books include much of historical interest with regard to the daily life of Lithuanian Jewry in his generation.

          
Detailed
Description		    Asarah Ma'amarot (Ten articles) on the transmigration of the soul. Many of these kabbalistic interpretations were made for the first time in the course of sermons delivered by the Author. Included in this edition is the commentary, Yoel Moshe, by R. Moses of Framkfurt.

R. Menahem Azariah of Fano(1548–1620), Italian rabbi and kabbalist. The scion of a wealthy family and a prolific author, he was a recognized authority on rabbinic law and the foremost exponent in the West of the kabbalistic system of R. Moses Cordovero. Under the influence of R. Israel Sarug, who during his stay in Italy spread the knowledge of the mystical system of R. Isaac Luria, R. Menahem Azariah became an admirer of the latter, though without departing from the system of R. Moses Cordovero. A pupil of R. Ishmael Hanina of Valmontone in Ferrara, he was active in Ferrara, Venice, Reggio, and Mantua. Together with his brothers he aided the victims of the earthquake of 1570. He was a patron of Jewish learning, contributing funds for the publication of such works as R. Cordovero's Pardes Rimmonim (Salonika, 1584) and R. Joseph Caro's commentary Kesef Mishneh (Venice, 1574–76) on Maimonides' Code.

          
Paragraph 2    (החלק הראשון) שחיבר... ר' מנחם עמנואל... נדפס מחדש ונוסף עליו הפירש... בשם יואל משה, שהוציא לאור תעלומות... ר' משה בן הר"ר שלמה הלוי (אשכנזי) זלה"ה מילידי... פרנקפורט ומקום תחנותו... לע"ע במדינת פולין בק"ק זאלקווא...

מתוך ההקדמה: הפירוש הלז לא כולו מעצמי רק משני אריות (רבותי... ר' יהודה ליב בן... ר' שמואל ז"ל... ושמע מפיו מ"ו... ר' אריה ליב... מלעמבורג)... ואני... עשיתי רק... מעוט... על-פי קראקא ת', עם השיר.

הסכמות: ר' מנחם מענדל ב"ר יצחק ר' אביגדורש [באס], ורנקבורט, כו אייר ת"ח; ר' יעקב ב"ר אורי הכהן שיף, ורנקבורט, במדבר ת"ח; ר' מתתי' ב"ר יעקב הלוי, שהיה אב"ד בק"ק מגנצא [ועתה] אחד מבני הישיבה מק"ק פרנקבורט; ר' עזריאל ב"ר יצחק ברילן מורנקפורט; ר' יהודא חיים ב"ר יעקב אחד מבני הישיבה, [פרנקבורט]; ר' נתן ב"ר יצחק יעקב בון, אב"ד מגנצא, עלפלד, יד סיון ת"ח; ר' נפתלי ב"ר אהרן מרדכי שנייטיך, ורידבורק; ר' יודא ב"ר שמואל רויטלינג מילר, בינג, יח סיון ת"ח; ר' שאול לוי מורטירה, אמשטרדאם; ר' יהודא ליב ב"ר אברהם דוד אליעזר היילפרון שהיה אב"ד בק"ק הע,נא, ורנקפורט, יב סיון ת"ח; ר' אברהם דפונשיקה, המבורגו; ר' דוד ב"ר יוסף פרדו, אמשטרדאם, ויצא ת"ט; ר' מנשה בן ישראל, אמשטרדאם; ר' יצחק אייזק ב"ר יהושע מעמריך, שהיה אב"ד בק"ק אמשטרדאם; ר' אברהם ב"ר יהושע מווירמיישא, אמשטרדם.

          
Reference
Description		    CD-EPI 0148597; EJ
        
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Listing Classification
Period
17th Century:    Checked
  
18th Century:    Checked
  
Location
Holland:    Checked
Russia-Poland:    Checked
  
Subject
  
Kabbalah:    Checked
  
Characteristic
Autographed:    Checked
First Editions:    Checked
Language:    Hebrew
  
Manuscript Type
  
Kind of Judaica