Bidspirit auction | Sefer Yafeh To’ar, on Midrash

Sefer Yafeh To’ar, on Midrash Rabbah – Bereshit, by Rabbi Shmuel Yaffe Ashkenazi. Fürth, [1692]. Second Edition. Impressive Volume. - A comprehensive and extensive commentary on Midrash Rabbah. In modern editions of Midrash Rabbah, a shortened version of this commentary is printed. The author, Rabbi Shmuel Yaffe Ashkenazi [1525–1595], was one of the scholars of the Ottoman Empire and the rabbi of the Ashkenazi community in Constantinople. He was a student of Maharibal (Rabbi Yosef Ben Lev) and Rabbi Shlomo Alkabetz, the author of Lecha Dodi. He is known for his major work Yafeh To’ar, one of the most significant commentaries on Midrash Rabbah, as well as his Yafeh Mareh on the Jerusalem Talmud. Some believe he was related to Rabbi Mordechai Yaffe (author of Levushim) and Rabbi Shmuel Yaffe, the father of Rabbi Yoel Sirkis (Bach). Owner signatures: ”The modest Shlomo Zalman from Kraków, ” ”Eliezer, son of the esteemed Rabbi M”Z from Treshin.” On the flyleaf: ”Yisrael... [?].” Two title pages, the first illustrated. [1], 180 leaves. Approx. 32 cm. Condition: Good–very good. Age stains. Broken Leather binding.