Bidspirit auction | Kabbalah - Mevo Shearim, a

Kabbalah - Mevo Shearim, a Gateway to the Teachings of the Arizal. Koretz, 1784. First Edition Mevo Shearim, comprising introductions and fundamental sections to the teachings of the Arizal and the writings of Rabbeinu Chaim Vital ZYA”A, with glosses by Rabbi Yaakov Tzemach and the Ramaz. Koretz, 1784. First edition. Compiled by the mekubal Eloki Rabbi Yaakov Tzemach (d. 1666), one of the foremost mekubalim of all generations and among the great disseminators of Toras HaArizal. Raised as a Marrano in Portugal, he later settled in Salonika, where he openly returned to Yiddishkeit. From there he traveled to Tzfas and subsequently to Damascus, where he became closely attached to Rabbi Shmuel Vital, son of Rabbeinu Chaim Vital and a talmid of the Arizal, devoting himself to the study of Toras ha-Nistar. He later settled in Yerushalayim and joined the yeshivah of Rabbi Yitzchok Gaon. Together with his colleagues, he waged a determined battle against Shabsai Tzvi and his followers. Deeply involved in the writings of Rabbeinu Chaim Vital, he received permission through a she'eilas chalom to open the grave of Rabbeinu Chaim Vital and retrieve manuscripts that had been buried with him at his own request. This was done together with Rabbi Avraham Azulai, grandfather of the Chida and mechaber of Chesed L'Avraham. Among his well-known works is Nagid U'Metzaveh, a concise presentation of the Arizal's kavanos. He also authored Zohar HaRakia, Kol BaRamah, Tzemach Tzaddik, Olas Tamid, notes to Mevo Shearim, Tiferes Adam, Otzros Chaim, Erchei HaKinuyim, Adam Yashar, Zer Zahav, and numerous other works.