Bidspirit auction | Sefer Yesod on Megillas Esther

Sefer Yesod on Megillas Esther Yosef Lekach Cremona, 1576. First Edition. * A comprehensive and fundamental commentary on Megillas Esther by Rabbi Eliezer Ashkenazi. The sefer was written by Rabbi Eliezer in honor of the minister Don Yosef Nasi and in his honor, he named the sefer 'Yosef Lekach'. This commentary became one of the most classic commentaries on Megillas Esther and was embraced throughout all Jewish communities. It is well-known that the commentary of the Vilna Gaon on Megillas Esther (by way of pshat) is based on the sefer Yosef Lekach. For this reason, Rabbi Shmuel Brevda, one of the leading scholars of the Vilna Gaon's writings in recent generations, recommended printing the commentary of the Vilna Gaon's commentary alongside Yosef Lekach. (See: Peirush HaGra Im Sefer Yosef Lekach, the edition of Rabbi Chanan Dovid Nobel.) Rabbi Eliezer Ashkenazi (Italy, 1512 – Cracow, 1585) was one of the greatest sages of his generation. He corresponded in halachic matters with the Beis Yosef, the Rema, the Maharshal and others. As noted by the Pnei Yehoshua in his approbation to a later edition, “All the Gedolei Hador sent their questions to him.” He is also well-known for his sefer Ma’asei Hashem, which includes the Haggadah with his commentary. In the same year, a second edition was printed in Cremona. For details of the textual variations, see M. Benayahu, The Hebrew Press of Cremona, Jerusalem, 1971, pp. 233–234. Cremona, 1576. First edition. Page Count: 83 leaves. Medium format. Condition: Good; title page slightly trimmed at the margins, some holes on margins of a few leaves. Antique binding, rubbed. Bibliography: Stefansky, Sifrei Yesod, no. 16.