Bidspirit auction | Shu”t Ohel Yaakov by Rabbi

Shu”t Ohel Yaakov by Rabbi Yaakov Sasportas, Fierce Opponent of Sabbateanism – Amsterdam, 1737 * A work containing one hundred and eight teshuvos, written with great depth and in a wide-ranging scope, arranged according to the order of the Four Turim, authored by Rabbi Yaakov Sasportas, Av Beis Din of Amsterdam. Throughout his lifetime, Rabbi Yaakov served in numerous cities across the world, and accordingly, his teshuvos were also sent to far-flung corners of the globe. Siman 68 is an especially sharp teshuva from the year 1667, directed against the Sabbatean custom of reciting Birchas Kohanim every Shabbos (rather than, as had previously been their practice, only on Yom Tov). Among his words, he writes: “Let us not, chalilah, consider the blessing of a kohen to be a curse, since it comes through the wicked Bilam (whose numerical value equals Shabtai), nor should the wicked Amalek prosecute against us (whose numerical value equals Shabbtai Tzvi), nor the tikkunim established by the false prophet יל”ד צדקי”ה ב”ן כנענ”ה (whose numerical value equals Nosson)…” At the beginning of the sefer, there is a fine introduction by the author's son, describing his father’s journeys through his rabbinic posts, and devoting a special passage to his father’s battle against Sabbateanism: “He paid no heed to his own honor, nor even to the danger to his life… and would publicly proclaim that it was all conspiracy and falsehood…” Originally, leaves 84–120 included the sefer Kitzur Tzitzas Novel Tzvi, printed with a separate title page, containing a large collection of letters from his struggle against Shabbtai Tzvi. However, the community's leaders issued a ban requiring all copies of this section to be handed over to them, and they suppressed nearly all extant copies. The few that survived are exceedingly rare. This rare section is not present in the current copy. Singular edition. (In recent decades, photographic reprints have appeared). Rabbi Yaakov Sasportas (1610–1698) was a great gaon and one of the leading opponents in the battle against the Sabbatean movement in its early days. He served as a Rav in Tlemcen in North Africa, but was persecuted and even imprisoned by the local rulers. He later moved to Europe, where he held rabbinic positions in Amsterdam, Livorno, Hamburg, London, and elsewhere. In his youth, at the request of Rabbi Menashe ben Israel, he wrote Toladas Yaakov, a work containing references from Tanach to the Talmud Bavli, serving as a complement to Toladas Aharon, which contains references from Tanach to the Talmud Bavli. He passed away in 1698, and shortly thereafter, the Yaabetz, Rabbi Yaakov Emden, was born, who would likewise battle the remnants of Sabbateanism. The Yaabetz discovered a rare copy of Kitzur Tzitzas Novel Tzvi, reprinted it, and wrote on its title page: “Here in Amsterdam, I found this sefer, like a brand saved from the fire, the handiwork of a great and noble leader in Yisrael, shepherd of his flock, and I was born in the days of mourning for him.” The sefer was edited and prepared by Rabbi David Meldola, who at that time also edited several important works: Ohel Yaakov before us, Mayim Rabim by his father Rabbi Raphael Meldola, and Shu”t Tashbetz. At the end of the sefer is a detailed index compiled by Rabbi David. At the beginning of the sefer there are approbations from the rabbanim of Amsterdam and others, including the approbation of Rabbi Elazar of Cracow, Av Beis Din of the Ashkenazic community in Amsterdam, author of Ma’aseh Rokeach on the Mishnah. Amsterdam, 1737. Singular edition. Page Count: [6], 83, [121]–125 leaves. Includes the dedication leaf in Spanish, lacking in some copies. Size : 29.5 cm. Condition : Good, white paper. Repairs and slight wear to the first and last leaves. Old binding with a fine leather spine.