Bidspirit auction | Responsa of the Alshich –

Responsa of the Alshich – First Edition. Venice, 1605 - Responsa, by the holy Gaon Rabbi Moshe Alshich, one of the foremost halachic authorities of Safed in the 16th century. Venice, printed by Zuan di Gara, 1605. First edition. Before us is the first edition of the responsa of Rabbeinu Moshe Alshich, published approximately five years after his passing by his son, Rabbi Chaim Alshich, who also edited and proofread the work for publication. The year of printing is alluded to on the title page through the verse: “From Moshe to Moshe, there arose none like Moshe.” The responsa is considered one of the foundational works of halachic literature in later generations. The Shach frequently cites the Alshich’s rulings, quoting his responsa dozens of times in his commentary on Choshen Mishpat – testimony to the work’s authoritative standing among the great halachic decisors. The author, Rabbeinu Moshe Alshich (c. 1508–1600), was one of the foremost sages of Safed and an important disciple of Maran Rabbi Yosef Karo, from whom he received rabbinic ordination, earning the title “HaRav HaMusmach” – “the Ordained Rabbi.” In Kabbalah, he studied under the holy Arizal, while in the realm of revealed Torah he ranked among the leading halachic authorities of his generation. He served as a member of the great rabbinical court of Safed, headed yeshivas and taught numerous disciples, among them the divine Kabbalist Rabbi Chaim Vital. His responsa also constitute a primary historical source for the history of Safed during its flourishing period in the 16th century. Rabbeinu Moshe Alshich is one of the select few Torah giants throughout the generations whose name became permanently associated with the appellation “HaKadosh” – “the holy.” From his lifetime until the present day, he has been universally known as “the Alshich HaKadosh” – a rare distinction reserved for only a handful of the greatest sages of Israel. [1], 243 leaves. 18.5 cm. Condition: Good–very good. Age stains. Simple binding.