Bidspirit auction | Complete Set of the Levush

Complete Set of the Levush Books - Important Edition Edited by Rabbi Yehuda Aryeh of Modena. Venice, [1620] - This is one of the earliest and most important edition of the Levush books, published and edited by Rabbi Yehuda Aryeh of Modena - one of the leading sages of Italy. Complete set of Sefer Halevush, on the four parts of the Tur. Five sections in four volumes. By the Gaon Rabbi Mordechai Yoffe, a leading Posek who was known after his books as Baal Halevushim.  The Levush books were accepted by all Jewish communities as fundamental Halachic books and they are frequently referred to by all following Poskim. Many commentaries were written on this book by leading Acharonim, the most well-known of these being the Eliya Rabba and Eliya Zuta commentary.    Appearing at the beginning of the Orach Chaim section is a foreword by the editor, Rabbi Yehuda Areyeh of Modena. At the end of the Even HaEzer section, an approbation by the rabbis of Venice, including Rabbi Yehuda Aryeh of Modena.  On the flyleaf of the first volume, there is a handwritten ownership notation of Leib ben Eliyahu Posner of Amsterdam.  On the leaf following the title page (of the first and second volumes), there is an additional ownership notation of Mendel Oppenheim bar Shmuel of Heidelberg.  Baal Halevush and his books:  The Gaon Rabbi Mordechai Yoffe, Baal Halevush (1530-1612) the leading disciple of the Rema. President and head of Vaad Shalosh Aratzot. Served as Rav of the pedigreed communities of Lublin, Prague and Posna.  Was famed for his monumental series of books, the Levushim (or Levush Malchut), ten books, each one of them titled Levush... based on the verse from the Megillat Ester: וּמָרְדֳּכַי יָצָא מִלִּפְנֵי הַמֶּלֶךְ בִּלְבוּשׁ מַלְכוּת תְּכֵלֶת וָחוּר וַעֲטֶרֶת זָהָב גְּדוֹלָה וְתַכְרִיךְ בּוּץ וְאַרְגָּמָן וְהָעִיר שׁוּשָׁן צָהֲלָה וְשָׂמֵחָה (Megillat Ester 8: 15).  The complete work includes 10 books - ten Levushei Malchut on the four parts of the Tur, Rashi's commentary on the Torah, the Rambam's Moreh Nevochim and more.  The five books of the Levush on the Shulchan Aruch was meant to elucidate the logic of the Halachot appearing in it. The Levush became a popular Halachic book among Ashkenazic communities, although eventually, it was pushed aside by other glosses written on the Shulchan Aruch. The book is considered an important Halachic book and Poskei Halacha often base their Psikah on it.  The Chafetz Chaim, in his book Nidchei Yisrael, introduces a story explaining why Rabbi Mordechai titled his books Levushim:  Rabbi Mordechai was a handsome man and a Christian noblewoman desired him. She invited him to her house to discuss some business and demanded that he succumb to her. Rabbi Mordechai refused and escaped from her house via the sewage, destroying all his clothes. To commemorate his overcoming temptation, Rabbi Mordechai authored the ten Levushim.  Venice, [1620]. Bragadin Press at the house of Giovanni Cajon.  The year on the title pages of the volumes is ש”פ; however, at the end of Sefer Levush Habutz Veha'argaman it was written that the printing of the book was completed in Kislev שפ”א.  Volume I: Sections I-II - Levush Hatchelet [Vehachur] section I [and II] on Orach Chaim. 201, [2] leaves.  Volume II: section III - Levush Ateret Zahav on Yoreh Deah. 148, [2] leaves.  Volume III: section IV - Levush Habutz Veha'argaman on Even HaEzer. 87 leaves.  Volume IV: section V - Levush Ir Shushan on Choshen Mishpat. 162, [2] leaves.  36 cm. Very good condition. All volumes are in fine, ancient, original leather bindings. The front board of the first volume is detached. Quality paper. Aging stains.