Bidspirit auction | Kabbalah: First Edition of the

Kabbalah: First Edition of the Second & Third Gates of Shemonah She‘arim by Rabbeinu Chaim Vital. Salonika 1862. Autograph of the holy Rabbi Chai Maimon of Tripoli. - The Second and Third Gates of Shemonah She‘arim (Sha‘ar Ma‘amarei Rashbi and Sha‘ar Ma‘amarei Ḥazal), composed by the divine kabbalist Rabbi Chaim Vital, according to what he received from his teacher, the holy Ari. First Edition. Salonika, 1862. On the title page appears a self-dedication inscription by the Holy Rabbi Chai Maimon of Tripoli. Dated 1865, stating that he received the sefer from the emissary (shadar) and renowned kabbalist, Rabbi Aharon Pereira of Jerusalem. Rabbi Chai Maimon was born in 1837 to his father, Ḥakham Yaakov,   in the city of Tripoli, Libya. He conducted himself with exceptional piety and holiness. When he would walk along the road, whether in summer or winter, he always held a fan in his hand and placed it before his face so as not to look beyond four cubits ahead. It was told about him that when he walked, people would see upon him something like a shining menorah, emanating from his very holiness. It was further related that when he would recite passages of the Zohar containing the teachings of Rabbi Shimon bar Yoḥai, witnesses would see in the ark of the main synagogue as if a great fire were burning, and as though Rabbi Shimon bar Yoḥai himself stood beside it. Even after his passing, it was said that he did not depart from his home, but would come every Friday night to recite Kiddush for his wife and his daughter’s children. He served as a dayan in the rabbinical court of Tripoli, Libya, and also established a yeshiva in the city, known as “Yeshivat Rabbi Ḥai Maimon.” He passed away at a young age of only 48, on Friday, the 27th of Elul, 1885. He authored several works, including: Hillula Rabba - a collection of Zoharic passages for study on a yahrzeit. Be’er Laḥcai -homiletical teachings and novellae on the Tanach. Stefansky, Sifrei Yesod no. 353. [2], 25, 69, 25 leaves. 30 cm.