Bidspirit auction | Tzavo’as Rabbi Naftali HaKohen Katz

Tzavo’as Rabbi Naftali HaKohen Katz of Ostroh Rare Edition Sadilkov?, c. 1820 * Sefer Tzavo’as of the gaon and kabbalist Rabbi Naftali HaKohen Katz of Ostroh, author of Semichas Chachamim, replete with words of mussar, fear of Heaven, and the ways of Chassidus according to the teachings of the Arizal. At the conclusion of the will, Rabbi Naftali writes: “Let this testament be before your eyes all your days, and read it constantly.” The first known edition was printed in Berlin in 1729, after which it was reprinted many times and spread throughout the Jewish world. This edition is particularly rare and, to the best of Zaidy's knowledge, has never before appeared at public auction. Rabbi Naftali Katz, renowned kabbalist and author of Semichas Chachamim (1649–1719) , was one of the greatest Ashkenazi kabbalists, described by the Chida in Shem HaGedolim as “a remarkable kabbalist, a master of practical and divine Kabbalah.” He served as Av Beis Din and Rosh Yeshivah in Posen and in Frankfurt am Main. Following a great fire in Frankfurt, for which the non-Jews accused him of being responsible due to his involvement in practical Kabbalah, he was forced to flee the city and arrived in Prague. From there he set out to Eretz Yisrael but passed away on the way, in Constantinople, where he was laid to rest. Printed in the final two leaves is the awe-inspiring account of Rabbi Naftali’s passing. As he lay upon his deathbed, he revealed to those surrounding him the reincarnation of each soul present and the time of their passing. Sadilkov?, c. 1820. See below. Page Count: [14] leaves. Size: 17.3 cm. Condition: Good. Tear on leaf [10] affecting a few words.