Bidspirit auction | Shu”t HaGeonim Prague, c. 1590

Shu”t HaGeonim Prague, c. 1590 * A remarkable collection of teshuvos, comprising approximately 400 concise rulings from the era of the Geonim. The responses are presented anonymously, without identifying the authors. This sefer is commonly referred to as Shu”t HaGeonim HaKetzaros – “The Short Responsa of the Geonim” – due to the exceptionally brief nature of most entries. Some contain no more than five words! This is the second edition. The first was printed just a few years earlier in Constantinople in 1575. Notably, this edition introduces - for the first time - an index arranged by halachic subject matter, in contrast to the Constantinople edition, which follows the sequential order of the teshuvos A stunning illustrated title page appears at the front, featuring angelic figures and mythical creatures, and a Star of David symbol (!). At the bottom of the title page appears the emblem with the distinct symbol of a Kohen, the personal insignia of the printer “the honorable elder” Mordechai ben Gershom HaKohen of Prague (Yaari, Diglei HaMadpisim HaIvri'im, no. 38). An important halachic sefer, it was reprinted multiple times within a span of just twenty-five years: Constantinople (1575), Prague (c. 1590), and Mantua (1597). Prague, c. 1590. Page Count: [46] leaves . Condition: Good, some stains. Signatures on title page. Leather binding. It is worth noting that some of the teshuvos in this sefer are not from the Geonim but are based on rulings from the Shulchan Aruch and other halachic works. This was mentioned by Rabbi Mordechai Eliyahu Rabinowitz of Izbica in the introduction to the Vilna 1884 edition. See further: Atarah LeChaim, Jerusalem 2000, pp. 439–459.