Bidspirit auction | Rokeach – Fano, 1505 –

Rokeach – Fano, 1505 – First Hebrew Book Printed with a Title Page - Rokeach, by R. Elazar [of Worms] son of R. Yehudah. Fano: Gershom Soncino, Erev Pesach 1505. First edition. A foremost work of halachah and ethics. Many bibliographers hold this to be the first Hebrew book printed with a title page. The title page reads, in large letters: ”Rokeach, authored by R. Elazar son of R. Yehudah”, and in smaller letters: ”Proofread very carefully by the leader, luminary of our exile, R. Yehudah of Pesaro”. The author, R. Elazar of Worms (ca. 1160-1234), was a kabbalist and halachic authority, a leading member of the Chassidei Ashkenaz and the Tosafists. He was a disciple of his father's cousin R. Yehudah HeChassid, and of his father R. Yehudah son of R. Kalonymus of Mainz. He authored many works in halachah, Biblical commentary, ethics and kabbalah, but is best known for his famous Rokeach, which he composed after his wife and children were murdered in his presence (the numerical value of Rokeach is equal to that of his name, Elazar, as he writes in his preface). The Rokeach contains halachic rulings and customs, and serves as an important source for many rulings of the early Tosafists and Ashkenazi Torah scholars in the 12th century. It encompasses a variety of fields and Talmudic topics – halachic pilpul, rulings, customs, reasons for halachot, ethics, and allusions. This book was recognized as a primary source on halachah and custom, and had a far-ranging impact on halachic literature, and its teachings have gained recognition and acceptance throughout the Jewish world. The Pnei Yehoshua writes that he greatly rejoiced when his opinion followed that of the illustrious Rokeach, who merited Divine Inspiration (Megillah 16a); the Bnei Yissachar similarly mentioned that the Rokeach received revelations from Eliyahu HaNavi (Kislev-Tevet, discourse 2, section 2). Colophon on last leaf: ”The Rokeach authored by R. Elazar son of R. Yehudah is completed, in Fano on Erev Pesach, 1505”. Inscriptions and signatures on title page and in several places by ”Aharon Altaras”, ”Mr. Aharon Altaras”. Inscription in Sephardic script on title page: ”My father and master, my crowning glory, passed away on the fourth day of Sivan, 1733”. Stamp on endpaper (Latin characters): ”Hugo J. Bondi, Frankfurt. a. M” (Hugo Jonas Bondi, 1863-1943, born in Mainz; businessman who resided in Frankfurt and was an administrator of the Adath Jeshurun Orthodox community in the city; perished in the Holocaust in the Theresienstadt ghetto). [109] leaves (various handwritten numberings added in margins of leaves, some erroneous). 28.5 cm. Color edges. Good-fair condition. Stains, including dampstains and traces of former dampness. Tears and worming, affecting text, partially repaired with paper filling and tape. Gathering partially detached. Old binding, with leather spine and corners. Light wear and defects to binding. Provenance: Collection of Hugo Jonas Bondi, Frankfurt am Main.