Classic: Tzror Hamor - Commentary on the Torah, Venice 1546. Second Edition.

Classic: Tzror Hamor - Commentary on the Torah, Venice 1546. Second Edition.

A complete, fine copy of Tzror HaMor - a fundamental commentary on Torah authored by 15th century Rabbi and Kabbalist R. Avraham Saba (1440-1508). Originally from Castille, Spain, he was forced to flee to Portugal during the time of the Spanish Inquisition. However, upon his arrival in 1496, King Manuel I of Portugal ordered all Jews to be expelled from Portugal, all Jewish children to become Christians, and all Hebrew books to be burned. His two sons were forcibly taken from him, and he fled from Oporto, abandoning his entire library and succeeding only at the risk of his life in saving his own works in manuscript.

He fled to Lisbon, but before reaching there was told of a new order of the king decreeing the death of any Jew with whom a Hebrew book or tefillin (phylacteries) were found. He hid his manuscripts and tefillin under an olive-tree and entered the city. Upon leaving Lisbon he attempted to recover his hidden treasure, but being discovered by the king's guards, he was thrown into prison, and after a six months' confinement was exiled from Portugal. He then went to Fez, Morocco, where he resided for ten years. Soon after his arrival he fell ill; his great privations and terrible sufferings having undermined his health.

This present work is one of the five works which he rewrote from memory after losing his precious manuscripts. 

 

Second Edition, first edition was printed in Venice 1522-3. 

 

In overall very good condition, light stains. Ownership of “Shmuel Trevash” (of the famed Trevash family, direct descendants of Rashi, quite possibly the Gaon R. Shmuel Trevash who served as Rabbi Alsace France), with additional marginal glosses and corrections. 

 

Bound in a new ornate leather binding. 

 

165 pp. 

Vinograd, Venice 293.