First Printing: Etz HaDa'at by Shimshon Morforgo. Venice, 1704. Glosses and Revisions, Handwritten by the Author?

First Printing: Etz HaDa'at by Shimshon Morforgo. Venice, 1704. Glosses and Revisions, Handwritten by the Author?

Elucidation of the book Bechinat Olam by R' Yedayah HaPenini Habderash"i (with the text), by Rabbi Shimshon Morforgo of Mantua, author of Shemesh Tzedakah. Venice, 1704.

The goal of this book was to strengthen the standing and power of Jewish philosophy, and its preference over Kabbalistic doctrine, which was spreading in Italy at the time.  The commentator Rabbi Shimshon Morforgo wrote anonymously, but his name is hinted at in a clever way in the letters praising this book (similar to approbations) written by the author's friends.

Poem at the end of the book by poet Ya'akov Frances, opposing Kabbalistic study.

For an expanded discussion of this book, refer to M. Benayahu's article, "Sefer Etz HaDa'at L'Rabbi Shimshon Morforgo" in Alei Sefer, 6-7, 129-144.

There are over [10] supplements and erasures in tiny Italian script. All the supplements are on the elucidation Etz HaDa'at. The contents demonstrate that these were apparently written by the author himself. M. Benayahu, in the article mentioned above, indicates that there are several copies with handwritten glosses, "apparently by the author himself."

(Benayahu even writes that the author, in his letter, (printed in the above-mentioned article) complains about mispagination for leaves 21-24. Given that there are no revisions on these leaves in this copy, this shows that they were already rearranged. However, a revision does appear in this copy on page 24a!)

38 leaves, 25 cm. Wide margins. Light-colored, high-quality paper.

Moderate-fine condition. Dampstains, simple binding. Narrow worming perforation in several leaves.