Bidspirit auction | Ibur Shanim Fundamental Work on

Ibur Shanim Fundamental Work on the Jewish calendar and Customs of Eretz Yisrael Venice, 1579 * Comprehensive composition on setting the Hebrew calendar, along with the calculations of the years, molados and seasons, and laws and customs of Krias HaTorah and haftaros for the whole year, by Rabbi Yissachar ben Sussan, leader of the congregation of Chachmei HaMa'aravim — the community of North African (Maghrebi) sages — in Tzfas during the era of Rabbi Yosef Karo. The work features sphere-shaped illustrations for calculating the various dates and periods, as well as calendrical tables. Rabbi Yissachar’s compilation of laws and customs regarding Krias HaTorah and prayers is based on his personal observations of his native community in Fez, testimonies of Jewish sages who fled Spain in the wake of the Expulsion, and the prevalent customs in Eretz Yisrael at the time, most notably those practiced in Tzfas. Ibur Shanim was the first reliable source on the customs of Krias HaTorah and tefillos practiced by the Jewish residents of Tzfas in the 16th century. Some of the greatest poskim of all time, including the Knesses HaGedolah and the Magen Avraham, cite his writings as sources in their halachic rulings. This sefer presents the first testimony regarding the custom of Jerusalem and Tzfas calling every man and boy, including young children, to the Torah on Simchas Torah. Rabbi Yissachar attests that this was practiced by his rebbi, the Ralbach, in Jerusalem (leaf 56a). The sefer is also one of the earliest sources to mention the custom of eating fruit on Tu Bishvat (leaf 22b). In this work, the author describes his personal observations of halachos and minhagim practiced by Rabbi Yosef Karo and attests that the latter was a mohel (see leaves 57a, 61a, 64a). This work was originally printed in Constantinople in 1564 under the title Tikkun Yissachar, with many changes, without the author’s knowledge or consent. Therefore, Rabbi Yissachar printed the sefer with the title Ibur Shanim in a revised format, with additions and amendments. He recounts in his preface how the work was printed against his wishes. The author, Rabbi Yissachar ben Sussan, was born in Fez, circa 1510. In his youth, he journeyed to Jerusalem, where he studied under the Ralbach, and later relocated to Tzfas, where he served as leader of Kehal Adas HaMa'aravim. Rabbi Yissachar was acquainted with Rabbi Yosef Karo, and on leaf 57a, notes that Rabbi Yosef Karo agrees with his ruling. Due to the abject poverty in the Holy Land, he was compelled to return to the Diaspora. The year of his passing is unknown. Venice, 1579. Page count: 136 leaves. Page size: 20 cm. Condition : Good. Some stains and holes. Antique leather binding, with an early handwritten inscription of the title: ”Ibur Shanim”