Ibbur Shanim. By Rabbi Yissachar ben Sussan. Sefer Yesod on Customs of Eretz Yisrael, and The Jewish Calendar. ...

Ibbur Shanim. By Rabbi Yissachar ben Sussan. Sefer Yesod on Customs of Eretz Yisrael, and The Jewish Calendar. Venice, 1579.

Personal Copy of Rabbi Nachum Dover Friedman of Sadigura. With an interesting inscription from the brother-in-law of the Rm"a from Pano.

Ibbur Shanim is also known as Tikkun Yissachar.

This is a comprehensive work on setting the Jewish calendar, calculating years, solstices and new moons, laws and customs of Kriyat HaTorah and Haftorot of the entire year.

Complete copy of the first edition. The book was initially printed without the author’s agreement or knowledge, and included erasures and additions, (as he relates in his introduction of his later edition). It was printed in Constantinople, 1564, under the title Tikkun Yissachar.

Rabbi Yissachar therefore reprinted a corrected version of his composition, with new additions.

On the page at the end of the book there is a long inscription in Italian handwriting, the writer is Hezekiah Poa, brother-in-law of the Rm"a of Pano, among other things he mentions the circumcision of his son Gedaliah by his brother-in-law!

This book is the first to provide proof of Jerusalem and Tzfat’s custom to call up everyone for a blessing on the Torah on Simchat Torah, including the youth. Rabbi Yissachar writes, that this was the custom practiced in the presence of his Rabbi, The Ralbach in Jerusalem (56, 1). It is similarly the first reference we find of the custom to eat fruits on Tu Bishvat.

Rabbi Yissachar ben Sussan was born in Fez, Morocco, at the beginning of the 15th Century. He emigrated to Jerusalem in his youth and studied Torah under the Ralbach. Rabbi Yissachar later relocated to Tzfat where he served as a community leader of the Ma’aravim community. He was one of Tzfat’s sages, during the generation of Rabbi Yosef Caro, the Ari HaKadosh and others. The date of Rabbi Yissachar’s passing is unknown.

This copy was received as a gift by Rabbi Nachum of Sadigura. It bears his stamp ‘Minchat Shai’ indicating this. It also includes his stamp with his name: Nachum Dover Friedman along with a symbol of a lion in the center.

Rabbi Menachem Nachum Dover Friedman (1843-1883) referred to as Rabbi Nachum Berenyu, was a most prominent 19th Century Hebrew Book Collector. He was famed for his erudition in Torah. His passion for Jewish books and manuscripts led him to build up an extensive and prominent library with thousands of items, including most rare and valuable pieces. It morphed into one of the largest private and rare collections of that era with over 4000 titles.

Rabbi Nachum marked his ownership of his books in a unique way: He inscribed his name in his books in a special way along with his personal stamp in Hebrew and German. In the center of this stamp was the picture of a lion. In addition, Rabbi Nachum had 3 stamps which he used to categorize the book’s origin. “Nachlat Avot” - Inheritance, “Minchat Shai” – Received as Gift, and “Kinyan Kaspi” – Fiscal Purchase.

Venice, 1579.

136 leaves. 20 cm. Great condition. With original, leather binding and lovely pages. On the verso of the final leaf appears signatures and handwriting.