Bidspirit auction | Rare: Etz HaChaim, First Edition,

Rare: Etz HaChaim, First Edition, Izmir 1729 – Signatures of Rabbi Avraham Korkidi & Rabbi David Fransish. Marginallia. - Sefer Etz HaChaim – Novellae and Sermons on the Weekly Torah Portions and on the Rambam. By the Gaon of Izmir, Rabbi Chaim Abulafia. Only Edition, Izmir, 1729, printed by Yonah ben Yaakov and David Chazan. On the title page is the autograph signature of the renowned Rabbi Avraham Korkidi, author of Vayikach Avraham. Rabbi Avraham Korkidi was born in Izmir in 1813 to Rabbi David and Gioia Margalit. He studied in the famed ”Beit Yaakov Rabbi” Yeshiva in Izmir, founded by the philanthropist Rabbi Yaakov Rabbi and headed by Rabbi Raphael Yosef Chazan, later Rishon LeTzion in Jerusalem and author of Chikrei Lev. Among the students there were Rabbi Chaim Palaggi and his sons, and Rabbi Avraham Palaggi, with whom Rabbi Avraham Korkidi was close. Rabbi Avraham Palaggi later testified about him: “He studied much, reviewed much, beloved by Heaven and people, spoke gently, with a sweet tongue, his soul desired Torah, illuminating night as day, constantly reviewing and innovating Torah with rare insight.” He married Shultana, daughter of Rabbi Chaim Moshe ”Morenu HaKohen”, head of the Izmir Beit Din and author of Pnei Chammah. In 1841, a devastating fire struck Izmir, destroying much of the Jewish quarter, including the Beit Yaakov Rabbi yeshiva. He and his brother Rabbi Moshe were forced to leave the city. Rabbi Moshe became a teacher in the community of Tire, while Rabbi Avraham became a shochet and cantor in Kuşadası (about 70 km south of Izmir). He had already been connected to this community, as he delivered a sermon there in 1834. He served Kuşadası for about 15 years, then moved around 1855 to Bergama (approx. 90 km north of Izmir), serving there as rabbi, preacher, and shochet for 30 years. Bergama was a wealthy town with a vibrant Jewish community, many of whom were involved in agriculture and industry. Rabbi Avraham Korkidi passed away in 1885. Antique signature: David Fransish. Antique marginal glosses in various parts of the volume. [8], 84, 142, 12 Leaves. 28.5 cm.