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Midrash Osiyos DeRabbi Akiva – Venice, 1546. Attributed to the holy Tanna Rabbi Akiva * An early Midrash attributed to the holy Tanna Rabbi Akiva ben Yosef, containing drashos, hidden secrets, and chiddushim on the letters of the alef-beis. Already in the Gemara in maseches Minchos (pg. 29b), it is related that Rabbi Akiva would expound upon every detail and crown of the letters, deriving many halachos from each one. Indeed, Rabbeinu Tam cites Osiyos DeRabbi Akiva as a halachic source regarding the proper form for writing the letter yud. The first edition of this sefer was printed in Constantinople around 1516, and it is exceedingly rare. Before us is its second edition, in which “Simanei Osiyos HaSefer” were added on the reverse of the title page. The Constantinople edition and the present edition are the primary and commonly accepted texts of Osiyos DeRabbi Akiva. There are additional passages which were first printed in a later edition in Cracow, 1579. Venice, 1546. Second edition. Page Count: 12 leaves. Size: 19.8 cm. Condition : Good. New binding. Bibliography : Stefansky, Sifrei Yesod, no. 335 (in the notes). ----------------------------- It is stated in the Gemara in Minchos: “Rav Yehudah said in the name of Rav: At the time when Moshe ascended on high, he found the Holy One, blessed be He, sitting and tying crowns onto the letters. He said before Him: Master of the Universe, who is holding You back? (meaning: Who is holding you back from delivering the Torah as it is? Why are these additional details necessary? Why is the Torah not complete as it is?) He said to him: There is a man who will arise… and Akiva ben Yosef is his name. He will one day expound upon every detail and every crown, deriving heaps upon heaps of halachos from them. He said before Him: Master of the Universe, show him to me. He said to him: Turn around. He went and sat at the end of eight rows, and he did not understand what they were saying, and his strength waned. When they came to one matter, his disciples said to him: Rebbi, from where do you know this? He said to them: It is a halacha given to Moshe at Sinai. His mind was put at ease. He returned and came before the Holy One, blessed be He, and said before Him: Master of the Universe, You have such a man, and yet You give the Torah through me? He said to him: Be silent; thus it arose in My thought.”