Sefer Chizkuni by Rabbi Chizkiya b. Manoach. Cremona 1559. Signatures and glosses of Rabbi Chaim Volterra.

Sefer Chizkuni by Rabbi Chizkiya b. Manoach. Cremona 1559. Signatures and glosses of Rabbi Chaim Volterra.

The first edition of Rabbi Chizkiya b. Manoach’s commentary on the Pentateuch. Rabbi Chizkiya was one of France’s leading rabbis during the 14th Century. His commentary became a fundamental work, much referenced by later Torah scholars. The book’s name Chizkuni (‘to strengthen me’) is based on the author’s name Chizkiya. In his introduction to this master work, R' Chizkiya indeed petitions those who study his book to memorialize and strengthen him.

He further writes “And this is the elucidation of my dream, I swore by my soul…I am Chizkiya, for in my dream I heard G-d’s voice uttering the Ten Commandments…”.

This copy includes two handwritten signatures of Rabbi Chaim Volterra, as well as a number of glosses that may be in his hand.

Rabbi Chaim Volterra was one of Italy’s foremost rabbis. He served as Rabbi in the communities of Ancona, Senigallia, Finale Emilia and Venice during the mid-18th century. (See “Sinai” Vol. 25, pages 77-78 and approbation of Rabbi S. Ventura’s book “Nahar Shalom”.)

Cremona 1559. Vincenzo Conti.

167, [1] leaves. 20 cm.

Splendid condition. Light-colored and clean pages. Modern sleek binding. As in most extant copies, pages 155-156 were excised from this volume by censors.

Otzar Hasefer Database, No. 60076.