Bidspirit auction | Ir Gibborim by the author

Ir Gibborim by the author of Ollelot Ephraim and Kli Yakar. Basel 1580. First Edition. - Sefer Ir Gibborim is a collection of homiletic and ethical discourses on the weekly Torah portions and various topics, authored by Rabbi [Shlomo] Ephraim of Luntshitz, the Chief Rabbi of Prague – renowned for his classic works Ollelot Ephraim and Kli Yakar. First Edition. Basle, Ambrosius Froben, 1580. “HaMechokek, Israel Zifroni. On the title page is the signature of Rabbi Binyamin Pissarro, one of the distinguished sages of Italy and one of the wealthy and prominent figures of Ferrara. He was: a mohel, an extraordinary Torah scholar, and a man of profound piety and fear of Heaven. His father was the righteous Gaon Rabbi Mordechai Shalom Pissarro, who merited raising sons of righteousness. Rabbi Binyamin himself was known as a generous philanthropist and supporter of Torah. Rabbi Ephraim Luntschytz later issued an expanded version of Ir Gibborm entiled Oleloth Ephraim following criticism received for his alleged neglect to cite sufficient sources in the earlier work. He defended himself by stating: “At the time [that I wrote Ir Gibborim] I had neither bread to eat, nor clothes to wear, and had no seforim to consult… I wrote only the things that my memory retained from my youth.” See M. Carmilly-Weinberger, Censorship and Freedom of Expression in Jewish History (1977) pp. 151-52. 137 Leaves. 30.5 cm.