Bidspirit auction | Responsa — Mahari”l. Cremona, [1556]

Responsa — Mahari”l. Cremona, [1556] Rare - A cornerstone of Ashkenazic halakhic and customary tradition. A book of responsa by Rabbi Jacob ben Moses ha-Levi of Mainz — the Mahari”l, one of the foremost decisors of Ashkenaz and a principal shaper of the halakhic and customary character of German Jewry in the Middle Ages (d. circa 5187 / 1427).  The present edition is an early printing from the year 5317 [1556], printed in Cremona, Italy, at the press of Vincenzo Conti — one of the important centers of Hebrew printing in the sixteenth century. This edition is among the earliest printings of this foundational work and reflects the initial dissemination of the Mahari”l’s teachings in print. The book contains legal rulings, halakhot, and customs covering the entire yearly cycle — Sabbaths, festivals, fast days, and communal practices — and constitutes a primary and authoritative source for Ashkenazic custom. The rulings and customs of the Mahari”l served as a foundation for Ashkenazic halakhah for generations, and their influence is evident in the writings of the Rema and in subsequent halakhic literature. Before us, therefore, is a rare foundational work of the highest historical and halakhic importance, reflecting the transition from an oral tradition of legal decision-making to the world of print, and the formation of Ashkenazic halakhic identity at the dawn of the early modern period. Condition: Very good. Fine white paper. Damaged early vellum binding. Handsome margins.