Bidspirit auction | Responsa of Maharalbach. Venice, 1565.

Responsa of Maharalbach. Venice, 1565. First Edition. Foundational Work - Book of She’elot u-Teshuvot (Responsa) by Rabbi Levi ben Habib — known as the Maharalbach. Venice, 1565. First edition. A fine copy. The first edition of the important collection of responsa by one of the great sages of his generation. The author was among the leading rabbis of his time — the generation bridging the end of the period of the Rishonim and the beginning of the Aharonim — and served as the Chief Rabbi of Jerusalem. The book contains responsa that became cornerstones of halakhic literature in several fields. On fols. 248–276: “Peirot Shevi‘it” — the laws and calculations of the Sabbatical year; an interpretation of Rambam’s Hilchot Kiddush HaChodesh (Sanctification of the New Moon) and calculations of the astronomical cycles and moladot, with accompanying tables and geometrical diagrams. On fols. 277–328: “Kuntres Ha-Semikhah” — “The Discourse that Took Place Between the Sages of Safed [headed by Rabbi Yaakov Beirav] and the Sages of Jerusalem [headed by the author] Concerning the Question of Renewing Rabbinic Ordination.” With diagrams of the lunar cycle and tables of the moladot. Includes the index leaves and all the diagrammatic and tabular leaves, but lacking the final [2] errata leaves. Stefansky, Sifrei Yesod, no. 292. [4], 276 [should read 210], 277–328 ff. 27.5 cm. Condition: Fair. Worm holes, some tears, simple loose binding.