Bidspirit auction | Rare First Edition: Zos Chukas

Rare First Edition: Zos Chukas HaTorah by Rabbi Avraham Chizkuni. Venice, [1659]. Copy of Rabbi Shmuel Heller Sefer Zos Chukas HaTorah, abridged kavanot of the Arizal, by R. Avraham Chizkuni. Venice: printer not indicated.  The book comprises a summary of the kavanos of the Arizal on central topics. Edited by Rabbi Moshe Zacuto - the Remez. Venice, 1659. First edition. The author, R. Avraham Chizkuni (born in 1627), was an Ashkenazi scholar and kabbalist. Born in Cracow, he was a disciple of Rabbi Yom Tov Lipman Heller, the author of the Tosfot Yom Tov. Was considered a reputable Mekubal by the Mekubalim Rabbi Eliezer Nachman Poah and Rabbi Moshe Zacuto. His father, Rabbi Chizkiya, also known as Rabbi Feibel, was the Shamash of the old synagogue of Krakow (a position that only ”an excellent Lamdan, Ish Hashem merited holding) [from Toldot Yisrawel Vechachamav BePolin]. The Chzikuni had vast knowledge of Talmud, Poskim and Kabbalah and taught Torah and Chassidut in Krakow. When he was thirty two, he authored his book Vezot Chukat HaTorah (Venice, 1659), which is an abridged version of the Ari's Sefer Hakavanot. In their approbations, the above Mekubalim greatly praised him and so did Rabbi Binyamin Halevi, a disciple of the Ari and Rav of Rabbi Moshe Zacuto.  Signature of Rabbi Shmuel Heller of the last page! Rabbi Shmuel Heller born in 1803, was raised in the home of the Chozeh of Lublin, and following his counsel ascended to Eretz Israel.in 1817 He served as Dayan & later Rabbi of Safed for 60 years from 1841 onwards A highly respected rabbinical leader of the chassidic community deeply involved in its contacts with Eastern Europe, with the local Sephardic community and its rabbis, with the Ottoman authorities and with the local Arab population. He wielded great influence in setting the public agenda. His rulings and actions reveal a clear trend that placed at its center the Land of Israel and the ancient traditions that represented for him a coveted, pre-exile world. He craved what was perceived as authentic to the Land of Israel and strove to connect with local traditions (See Otzar HaRabanim 19134). He passed away in Safed on the 22nd of Teves, 1884. He authored: Taharat HaKodesh, Derech Nesher, Kavod Melachim, Divrei Mishpat, Shivrei Luchos, and others