Bidspirit auction | Novellot Chokhmah – Hanau/Basel 1631

Novellot Chokhmah – Hanau/Basel 1631 – With the Rare Fold-Out Page, Antique Rabbinic Signatures, and Manuscript Additions. - Sefer Novellot Chokhmah / Novellot Or, a collection of writings and teachings compiled by Rabbi Shmuel Ashkenazi, primarily drawn from the works of Rabbi Yosef Shlomo Delmedigo (known as the Yashar of Candia). First Edition. Hanau [due to the censor the printing place is given as Basel], 1631. The title page was completed in antique manuscript. On the first leaf are ancient rabbinic signatures. Bound at the end are 5 manuscript pages titled “Omissions the Printer Left Out”. [2],   2-195, [1], 196-206, [2] Leaves. Contains the extremely rare fold-out page. Stefansky Sifrei Yesod, 356. Novellot Chokhmah / Ta'alumot Chokhmah / Novellot Or is part of a compendium based on manuscripts received from the Land of Israel shortly after the passing of the Arizal. These writings explore the World of Garments (Olam HaMalbush), the Realm of Tohu (Chaos), the Shattering of the Vessels (Shevirat HaKelim), and more. ”Novellot Or” deals with philosophy and natural sciences, compiled for his student Rabbi Shmuel Ashkenazi, mainly from a youthful work by the Yashar titled Or Shevat HaYamim. Rabbi Yosef Shlomo Rofeh Delmedigo (Yashar of Candia) (1591–1655) was one of the most remarkable Jewish polymaths of his era: “The all-encompassing rabbi, philosopher, Rabbi Yashar of Candia, was wise in all wisdoms, distinguished in mathematics, philosophy, astronomy, logic, medicine, and above all a Torah scholar, brilliant Talmudist, and masterful preacher” — Chida, Shem HaGedolim. Born in Candia (modern-day Crete), studied Torah until age 15, then traveled to Padua, Italy to study sciences and even studied under Galileo Galilei. Returned to Candia at 22, became a physician, and built a private library of over 7,000 volumes. In 1616 he traveled to Egypt, where he triumphed in scholarly debates. Then to Constantinople, where Rabbi Yaakov ben Nachmias introduced him to Kabbalah. Traveled to Poland to study further Kabbalah under Rabbi Shlomo ben Uriah, then to Lithuania, where he served as personal physician to Duke Radziwiłł and taught Torah. In 1620 he moved to Hamburg, Germany, serving as rabbi of the Sephardic community and began writing Matzref LaChokhmah. In 1628, he became the Chief Rabbi of the Sephardic community in Amsterdam, where he corresponded with Rabbi Menashe ben Israel, praising him in Novellot Chokhmah. He attempted to immigrate to Eretz Yisrael, but only reached Prague, where he engaged with the famed Chavat Yair, and where he eventually passed away and was buried. In his final writings, Rabbi Delmedigo emphasized: “There is no Divine will in philosophical debates, only in the discussions of the Talmud... All His delight is in their dialectics… I now dedicate my remaining days entirely to our holy books.” Even his older contemporary Rabbi Yom Tov Heller, author of Tosafot Yom Tov, cites his teachings with deep respect in his commentary on the first Mishnah in Berachot. For more on his life and philosophy, see Matzref LaChokhmah (ed. Rabbi Y. Becker, Jerusalem, 2007).