Bidspirit auction | Lekach Tov – Fundamentals of

Lekach Tov – Fundamentals of the Torah and the Upright Path. Amsterdam, [1658]. Rare - A foundational educational and ethical work from the 17th century: Lekach Tov, a concise yet profound composition dealing with the fundamentals of the Jewish faith, belief, character refinement, and the upright path, intended “to educate youths” in the spirit of Torah and moral instruction. The book is arranged in an original and distinctive format of questions and answers between rabbi and student, in which the rabbi poses the questions and the student provides the answers—an educational reversal of roles that encourages thought, responsibility, and internalization, reflecting an advanced pedagogical approach for its time. The author, Rabbi Abraham Yagel of Montecilisi, was among the leading sages of Italy in the early modern period. In addition to his greatness in Torah scholarship—both revealed and mystical—he was a physician and a broadly educated intellectual, well versed in the sciences and the wisdom of his age. Rabbi Menachem Azariah of Fano (the Ram’a) wrote of him: “Unique in his generation in the science of the spheres, and expert in all branches of knowledge.” The work Lekach Tov, though modest in size, is regarded as highly influential. It appeared in numerous editions and was even translated into Yiddish and Latin—testimony to its wide circulation and educational importance beyond the Jewish world. Rabbi Isaiah Horowitz, author of Shenei Luchot HaBrit, cites passages from this book in his renowned work, providing further evidence of its status as a foundational text. 14 leaves. Height: 13 cm. Condition: Very good. Age stains. New vellum binding.