Bidspirit auction | Kabbalah – Sefer Eshl Avraham,

Kabbalah – Sefer Eshl Avraham, Furth, 461 [1701]. Sole edition. - Commentaries and novellae on matters of Kabbalah and explanations on passages of the Zohar, by Reb Mordechai Ashkenazi. At the beginning of the book is a splendid title page decorated with figures of Moshe and Aharon and an illustration of the battle of David and Goliath. On leaves 45b–46a appear extensive Kabbalistic diagrams occupying the entire page, in the form of “trees” of the emanation of the Sefiros and more. The book opens with numerous approbations from the leading sages of the period. Many of the novellae in the work were received by the author from his primary teacher, the mekubal Reb Avrohom Rovigo, one of the leading Italian Kabbalists of the 17th century and a distinguished disciple of the Ramaz, who also gave his approbation to this work. For this reason, the author named the book after him — Eshel Avraham. Reb Mordechai Ashkenazi studied Kabbalah for many years under his teacher Reb Avrohom Rovigo in the city of Modena. In [1700] he traveled with his teacher to Germany for the printing of Eshel Avraham. Before his teacher’s planned ascent to Eretz Yisroel, Reb Mordechai was sent to Jerusalem to prepare a place for the yeshiva his teacher intended to establish. In [1702] his family, together with his teacher and additional students, went up to Eretz Yisroel, but shortly after their arrival in Jerusalem, Reb Mordechai, his wife, and daughter perished in a plague. Furth, [1701]. Sole edition. Copy of the gaon Reb Tzvi Hirsch Leren of Amsterdam. On the title page appears his stamp: “HaKadosh Tzvi Hirsch son of my father, the Rav Moreinu HaRav Avrohom Moshe Leren zt”l, sheyichye.” Collation: 185 leaves. Size: 32-4 cm. Worming in a few leaves, with minor loss to text. Several leaves slightly darker than the rest of the volume. Good condition.