Physical Description:

Only edition. [6], 103 ff., 208:152 mm., extra wide margins, light damp staining, heavy stock, small stains in lower title. A very good copy bound in contemporary full leather boards, tooled in gild, clasps.

Detailed Description:   

A book of sermons on Genesis by R. Abraham b. Elijah Broda (known also as Abraham Chelebi; 1625?–1717), prominent rabbinical scholar and dayyan in Constantinople. Born in Constantinople, he was appointed rabbi there at an early age. When the Shabbatean movement began to spread, he became one of its adherents. In 1666 he was a signatory to a letter of the rabbis of Constantinople and Smyrna supporting Shabbetai Zevi's messianic claims. However, a year later they sent another letter now expressing opposition. In 1688 or somewhat later, he served as rabbi and preacher in Adrianople, afterward returning to Constantinople. Following the war between Venice and Turkey (1685–87), in which the Venetians conquered the Peloponnese (Morea), he traveled to raise ransom money for the Jews who had fallen captive. In 1694 he was in Leghorn and from there proceeded to other Italian cities. In 1695 he was in Amsterdam, Germany, and Austria, and in 1696, again in Venice. After this journey he settled in Jerusalem, where he spent his remaining years as chief rabbi. Among his disciples were many Ashkenazim, including R. Nethanel Weil. In 1697 R. Abraham published Birkat Avraham, in the introduction to which he mentions a book he wrote on the Bible. A few of his numerous responsa were published in works of his contemporaries.

Hebrew Description: