Bidspirit auction | Kabbalistic Sefer Yesod, One of

Kabbalistic Sefer Yesod, One of the First Kabbalistic Books ever Printed: Sefer Ma'arechet HaElohut - Signature and Glosses. Ferrara, [1558]. First Edition - Rare and Complete and nice copy. Sefer Ma'arachot HaElohut, containing deep and fundamental Kabbalistic elucidations, attributed to Rabbeinu Peretz, one of Ba'alei Hatosafot, with the Minchat Yehuda commentary by the Gaon Rabbi Yehuda Chayat.  The book is accompanied by two commentaries: one of them by an unknown author and the second, the Minchat Yehuda commentary, a famed fundamental Kabbalistic commentary by the Mekubal Rabbi Yehuda Chayat (who was exiled from Spain), known as The Chayat.  The publisher of the book was Rabbi Yitzchak Delatesh, who added his glosses as part of the Minchat Yehuda commentary (some of them signed ”Eyal”). To this commentary, glosses by Rabbi Chaim ben Chasson of Ancona were added.  On the title page, an owner's signature: ”HaZair Mordechai...” In addition, there is a blurred ancient stamp on the title page. There is disagreement over the authorship of the book ; however, it is obvious that the book was written after the passing of the Rashba (who passed away in 1310) since the writer refers to him with the title ”זצ”ל”. The title page of the book attributes it to Rabbeinu Peretz, one of Ba'alei Hatosafot. The Ramak in Pardes Rimonim (Sha'ar VI chapter II) states that the author is Rabbi Tudros Halevi [the son of the brother of the author of the Yad Rama].  At the beginning of the book, a foreword by Rabbi Yehuda Chayat, with an authentic description of the suffering of the exiles from Spain . He recalls the travails and suffering he experienced during the Expulsion from Spain and in the following years until he reached Italy. He also describes his meeting with the the Yavetz, who asked him to write a commentary on this book. At the end of his foreword, he introduces a list of Kabbalistic books, stating his opinion on whether the book brings people closer or the opposite (among others, he sharply attacks the Mekubal Rabbi Avraham Abulafia and his books).  The book was printed in the same year during which Sefer Hazohar was printed for the first time in Mantova (Mantua); its printing even preceding that of the Zohar. The printing of the two books was done while a heated debate took place among Gedolei Hador regarding the question of whether the books should be printed at this time. In most editions of Sefer Hazohar, the famed Psak of Rabbi Yitzchak Delatesh, the publisher of this book, was printed, explaining at length why the printing of the book is permitted and referring the reader to Rabbi Yehuda Chayat's foreword, which was printed in this book.  Sefer Ma'arachot HaElohut is mentioned in the writings of leading Acharonim and Mekubalim: Rabbi Chaim Vital, the Ramak, the Shelah, the Maharal of Prague; even the Beit Yosef based a Psak Halacha of the Shulchan Aruch on it (Siman 28, 62) about taking one's Tefillin off while standing.  Ferrara, [1558]. The Press of Avraham ibn Usque. First edition.  [6], 286 leaves. 21.5 cm. good condition. Time spots. Nice leather binding. Bright quality paper. A rare and Complete and nice copy of a Kabbalistic Sefer Yesod, one of the first Kabbalistic books ever printed.