Bidspirit auction | Magen Avraham – Sole Edition.

Magen Avraham – Sole Edition. Venice, 1603 - Magen Avraham, sermons and discourses on the weekly Torah portions, the festivals and matters of mussar, by the Gaon Rabbi Avraham Laniado. Venice, 1603. Sole edition. An important homiletic work from the flourishing period of Safed in the 16th century, containing sermons that reflect the spiritual world of the sages of Safed and their distinctive approach to the interpretation of Torah, Aggadah and mussar. The author, Rabbi Avraham Laniado (born 1545 – died c. 1620), was one of the sages of Safed. In his introduction, he attests that he merited to study under Maran Rabbi Yosef Karo. He was the son-in-law of the Gaon Rabbi Shmuel Laniado, author of Kli Yakar. During the years 1603–1604, Rabbi Avraham resided in Venice, where he devoted himself to bringing the writings of the sages of his family to print. During this period, he published his father-in-law’s Kli Yakar, as well as his own Magen Avraham, the work offered here. He subsequently returned to the East and served as rabbi of Aram Tzova (Aleppo), where he was among the leaders of the community until his passing. Before us is the first and only edition of this work, which was never reprinted, and is among the rare works authored by the sages of Safed and Aleppo at the beginning of the 17th century. The title page bears early ownership signatures, including: “HaTza’ir Yaakov HaLevi Agusht”, as well as the signature of Aharon Yonah son of Avraham Yonah, dated 1684. 180 leaves. 19 cm. Condition: Very good. Minor age stains. Antique vellum binding.