Bidspirit auction | Sha'are Tzedek. With Handwritten Glosses

Sha'are Tzedek. With Handwritten Glosses in Italian. Reva di Trento, 1561. - A Foundational Book in Kabbalah. First Edition. On the principles of the Ten Sefirot. By the divine kabbalist Rabbi Yosef Gikatilla. This book serves as a gateway to the chambers of Kabbalah and the Sefirot, as stated in the introduction: ”In righteousness and justice all His deeds come to enter the inner sanctuary of divine Kabbalah.” Since the light of the Ari (Rabbi Isaac Luria) began to shine, the great kabbalists have instructed not to study the earlier kabbalistic writings that preceded him. The only kabbalist whose works were exempted from this directive and continue to be studied to this very day is Rabbi Yosef Gikatilla, the author of Sha'arei Tzedek (”Gates of Righteousness”). Throughout the book, there are numerous handwritten notes and glosses in an ancient Italian script, in both Hebrew and a foreign language. Some of the notes are cut off due to trimming of the page edges. The divine kabbalist Rabbi Yosef ben Avraham Gikatilla [circa 1248–1305]: One of the foremost kabbalists in Spain during the 13th century. A disciple of the prophetic kabbalist Rabbi Avraham Abulafia. In his youth, he authored Gan Na'ul (”Nut Garden”), dealing with gematriot and combinations of divine names. Among his kabbalistic works: Sha'arei Tzedek, Sefer HaChashmal, Sha'arei Orah, Sefer HaNikud, Sod HaNachash, and others. Riva di Trento, 1561 (Shin-Kaf-Alef). Printed by Yaakov Marcaria. First edition. 52 leaves (pages). Page numbering is irregular. 19 cm. In good condition. Repairs to the title page, the following two pages, and the last four leaves. Some wormholes. Stains present. Bound in old vellum cover. Referenced in Stefansky, Fundamental Hebrew Books, no. 340. A complete copy of a foundational work in Kabbalah, with handwritten marginalia.