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Sefer Imrei Shefer Sermons by Rabbi Naftali Ashkenazi of Safed - First Edition in the Author's Lifetime - Venice, 1601 - Sefer Imrei Shefer, ”authored by the sage Rabbi Naftali Ashkenazi of Safed... elucidating Ma'marei Chazal, and fine Pshatim... Likutim of some verses... Sefer Drush on several of Parashiyot Hashavu'a, Smachot, eulogies and varied Mamadim”. The work of the Chassid Rabbi Naftali Ashkenazi of Safed, First edition in the author's lifetime, Daniel Zanetti Press, Venice - 1601. 220 leaves. 20 cm. Some moth perforations, taping and stains. Late binding. Good overall condition.  The book is an important work containing among others eulogies for the passing of the Safed sages Rabbi Elazar Azikri the author of Sefer Chareidim, Rabbi Yaakov Birav (the second) and Rabbi Yaakov Abulafia. In addition, the author weaves into the book Chidushim by the rabbis of his town Safed: the Ari Hakadosh, the Alshich Hakadosh, Rabbi Shmuel de Uzeda the author of Midrash Shmuel, Rabbi Yisrael di Curiel the Rosh Yeshiva of Safed and author of Reishit Chochmah, and a Chidush he himself heard from the Rema of Fano: ”וראיתי לכתוב כאן ענין נאה... ודבר נחמד שמעתי אותו מפה קדוש פי דברי חכם חן ה''ה האלוף הישיש זקן ונשוא פנים בישישים חכמה כמהר”ר עזרא מפאנו נר”ו...”. The author Rabbi Naftali Ashkenazi was one of the sages of Eretz Yisrael in the time of the Gedolei Torah and Kabbalah, disciples of Maran the Beit Yosef, the Ari and his disciple Rabbi Chaim Vital. In his old age, he travelled to Venice, where he passed away in 1602. Rabbi Yehuda Aryeh of Modena eulogized him, stating that כל מעשיו בקדושה וחסידות גמורה, והכל נסתר ונעלם מצדו” and took care of distributing the book by publishing a letter of support (Kitvei Riam, Budapest 1906, Igeret 123).