Bidspirit auction | Kereti U’Peleti. Altona, 1763. First

Kereti U’Peleti. Altona, 1763. First Edition – The Only Book Published During the Author’s Lifetime. Previously Unrecorded Title Page - Kereti U’Peleti. Altona, 1763. First Edition – The Only Book Published During the Author’s Lifetime. Previously Unrecorded Title Page. Kereti U’Peleti, novellae and commentary on the Shulchan Aruch, Yoreh De’ah, by the illustrious Rabbi Jonathan Eybeschütz. Altona, 1763. First edition. The principal halachic work of Rabbi Jonathan Eybeschütz, and the only one published during his lifetime. On the title page, the author writes: “For fifty years that I have occupied the seat of halachic authority, I have witnessed practical cases, and thus halachic questions have arisen.” The work is divided into two sections: Kereti, presenting halachic analysis and rulings based on the writings of the Rishonim and Acharonim together with the author's own conclusions; and Peleti, devoted to in-depth Talmudic discussions and analytical studies of the halachic authorities. The work was accepted as a foundational halachic text and was reprinted in numerous subsequent editions. In his introduction, the author recounts episodes from his life, surveys his literary works, addresses the celebrated controversy between himself and Rabbi Jacob Emden (the Ya'avetz), and explains why he chose not to seek rabbinic approbations for the book. Rabbi Jonathan Eybeschütz (1694–1764), Chief Rabbi of the united communities of Altona, Hamburg, and Wandsbek (AHU), was among the foremost halachic authorities of Ashkenaz, a renowned yeshivah head, and a distinguished kabbalist. Counted among the greatest authors of halachic literature, he achieved lasting fame through his works in the revealed Torah, while his involvement in Kabbalah gave rise to the famous controversy with Rabbi Jacob Emden—one of the best-known rabbinic disputes in European Jewish history. A Bibliographical Discovery. The present copy contains a completely different title page from that found in all previously recorded copies of this edition. The decorative border differs from the standard version described in the bibliographical literature, and the word ”Sefer” is printed in a distinctive and elegant typographical design unknown in any other examined copy. Ownership signature on the title page of Rabbi Jacob Beit, a scholar of Hamburg who later served among the rabbis of Rotterdam, signing his name in an unusual acronymic form. Stefansky, Sifrei Yesod, no. 177. [3], 34 [actually: 35], 165 leaves. 30.5 cm. An attractive, impressive copy printed on fine-quality paper. Very good condition. Minor marginal defects to the outer edges of a few leaves. Handsome contemporary half-leather binding.