Physical Description

76 ff. octavo, 183:115 mm., wide margins, usual age staining A very good copy bound in contemporary boards.

Detail Description

Sha’ar ha-Gilgulim by R. Hayyim Vital. The title page describes it as being on the souls, gilgul, embryo, and yibum with many details, the first part including through chapter 36 frequently printed. The second part, from chapter 36 until the completion of 73 chapters brought in the Shem ha-Gedolim, the seforim section, letter gimel which has now come before him, so states R. Ezekiel Shraga Halberstam, av bet din Strapkov. There is an introduction by Ezekiel, errata, and the text in two columns in rabbinic letters. First printed as Sha’ar ha-Gilgulim (Frankfort a. Main, 1684) this volume contains, as noted on the title page, additional chapters not previously printed. Sha’ar ha-Gilgulim is on the transmigration and reincarnation of souls by R. Hayyim ben Joseph Vital (1542-1620), who received these teachings directly from R. Isaac Luria (ha-Ari, 1534-72), who received them from the prophet Elijah who appeared to him regularly. It is on transmigration and reincarnation, and ibburim, the impregnation of souls into other bodies. In the first instance a soul must return to repair damage or achieve goals and perfection not previously attained. With ibburim a good soul enters the body of another to assist it in removing particles of evil; in some cases, however, the entering soul is itself troubled and becomes a dybbuk. Sefer ha-Gilgulim distinguishes between new and old souls, the former those that have not yet been on earth and are not descended from Adam, therfore considered to be on a higher level. Numerous examples are provided, detailing biblical personalities and their reincarnations to the time of the Ari. Souls return to marry their true wives, whom they did not marry the first time. Someone who informs on an Israelite, causing his money to be given over to an idolater, is punished by returning as a barking dog.

Hebrew Description:

דומה לדפוס פרנקפורט תמ"ד.

Bibliography:

BE gimel 292; Heller, 17th Century; CD-NLI 0130691