Bidspirit auction | Kikar LaAden by the Chidah

Kikar LaAden by the Chidah on Masechtos Ketanos, First Edition – Livorno, 1801 * Sefer Kikar LaAden, containing ten sections, was authored by Rabbeinu Chaim Yosef Dovid Azulai, known as the Chidah. The sefer  primarily contains explanations and glosses on the masechtos ketanos:  Maseches Kallah, Derech Eretz Rabbah and Zuta, Sofrim, Smachos and Gerim, Avos D’Rabbi Nosson (which comprises approximately one-third of the sefer), and more. In addition, the sefer contains new additions to the monumental work Shem HaGedolim, many explanations and glosses on Talmud Bavli, glosses on Talmud Yerushalmi which the Chidah copied from the manuscript of Maharam di Lonzano, teshuvos, and more, as detailed below. It was printed by the author himself, the Chidah, and it is one of the last sefarim he printed. Rabbi Ephraim Zalman Margolios of Brody wrote about the Chida, still in his lifetime: “A holy man of G-d… the sage Chaim Yosef Dovid Azulai… illuminated the world with his wisdom, with his awesome and wondrous compositions” (from his approbation to Avodas HaKodesh, Zolkiew 1804). Livorno, 1801. First edition. Page Count: [1], 108-302 leaves. Condition : Generally good, some stains. New binding. Bibliography : Benayahu, Sifrei Chidah, no. 35. - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - The Chidah and Chassidic “Vortlach” The Chidah was one of the earliest tzaddikim outside the circles of Chassidus to quote teachings from the early Chassidic Rebbes. In the present sefer, the Chidah cites a Chassidic teaching in the name of Rabbi Mendel of Vitebsk (leaf 289b). In his sefer Vaad LaChachamim (Livorno 1796), the Chidah devoted a special entry to the Toldos and his sefarim, mentioning there “the famous and holy Rav, Rabbi Yisrael Baal Shem Tov.” In his sefer Maris HaAyin (Livorno 1805), the Chidah cites explanations from the Maggid of Mezritch and from the Toldos; similarly, in his sefarim Kisei Dovid and Yosef Tehillos. The Chidah was held in extraordinary esteem by the exalted tzaddikim of the Baal Shem Tov’s circle of disciples, and Rabbi Elimelech of Lizhensk was said to have remarked about the Chida: “There is a great tzaddik in Italy whose pure works nullify all works of heresy. Were Jewish people to study and cleave to the sefarim of the Chidah, nothing could move them from their faith” (Ohel Elimelech, leaf 57b, sec. 281). Likewise, in the present sefer, the Chidah twice extends his blessings for long life to the Baal Hafla’ah, referring to what he wrote in his sefer HaMakneh, which was “just recently printed” (leaves 270b, 295b; HaMakneh was printed in 1801). See: Stefansky, Chassidus, no. 192, note. - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Details of the Contents of the Sefer: Section I: Glosses on Maseches Kallah (leaves [108]-111) Section II: Glosses on Maseches Derech Eretz Rabbah and Zuta and Perek HaShalom (111-120) Section III: Glosses on Maseches Sofrim, Smachos and Gerim (120-130) Section IV: Glosses on Midrash Rabbah (130-149) Section V: Allusions on Perek Shirah, teshuvos, and collected writings (149-161) Section VI: Glosses on Talmud Yerushalmi from Maharam di Lonzano, copied from manuscript; glosses on the Yerushalmi by Maharash Sirilio from manuscript (161-176) Section VII: Collected writings on Talmud Bavli (177-202) Continuation of Section VII: Collected writings titled “Za’ir Shem” on Shem HaGedolim and Vaad LaChachamim (202-208) Section VIII: Glosses on Avos D’Rabbi Nosson (209-270) Section IX: Commentary on Maseches Kallah, second recension (270-278) Section X: Maseches Derech Eretz Zuta and Perek HaShalom, Tinyana edition (278-294) Leaves 294-302: אר”ש הכיכר, containing additions, corrections, and indexes to the sefer itself. On leaves 152-153, there appears an interesting teshuva discussing whether one must recite the brachah of “Shehecheyanu” upon completing the printing of a sefer.