Bidspirit auction | Shu”t Mahari ben Lev: First

Shu”t Mahari ben Lev: First edition – Part I and Part III, Salonika–Kushta, 1557–1573. - Shu”t and novellae on tractates by the great rabbi, Rabbeinu Yosef ben Lev (Mahari ben Lev), two parts [Part I and Part III] — first and rare editions printed during the author’s lifetime. Rabbi Yosef ben Lev — the Mahari ben Lev [circa 1500–1580] — was among the greatest halachic authorities of Sepharad, and his responsa is counted among the most important responsa works printed by the sages of the generation of Maran the Beis Yosef. Shu”t Mahari ben Lev is among the earliest printed works of the later responsa literature. The Chida cites in the name of “a great man in wisdom and fear of Heaven” who received a tradition from elders that in the generation of the Beis Yosef there were three sages named Yosef worthy of authoring the Shulchan Aruch: Rabbi Yosef Karo, Rabbi Yosef ben Lev, and Rabbi Yosef Taitatzak (Shem HaGedolim, entry: Beis Yosef). Mahari Alfandari wrote in a responsum printed at the end of Maggid MeiReishis: “The Mahari ben Lev, the Maharshdam, and the Maharshach — for us are as the Rif, Rambam, and Rosh in their generation.” In this context, it is noteworthy that at only about 34 years of age, he signed a proclamation to the Jewish community of Salonika. His signature appears third on the proclamation, after Rabbi Yosef Taitatzak and Rabbi Yosef Karo, who were considerably older than he. Part I: Salonika, 1557. 157, [12] leaves. Part III: Kushta, 1573. 2–134, [2], 126–191 leaves. The fourth part, printed in Kuru G’ishmi in 1598, is exceedingly rare and is almost never encountered. Stefansky, Sifrei Yesod, 293. Signature and a few annotations on the opening leaves [in both volumes]. Part I: Printed without a title page; in its place appeared the printer’s introduction beginning: “The printer said: seeing that the Talmuds were burned [in Italy in 1554], I said… after completing this sefer… I shall begin printing the Talmud.” In the present copy this leaf is lacking. Staining throughout the sefer. On the final leaves [indexes], repaired tears with restoration affecting text. Part III: Front binding detached. Lacking title page and four leaves at the end of the volume [indexes and poem]. On the second leaf, repaired tears and restoration with loss to text. Worming with slight text loss on some leaves. Margin trimming slightly affected the text on one leaf. Aside from the above, very good condition.