Bidspirit auction | Shu”t Rema of Pano, First

Shu”t Rema of Pano, First Edition –  Venice, c. 1600 * One hundred and thirty halachic teshuvos by one of the great poskim and kabbalists of Italy in the 16th century, Rabbi Menachem Azariah of Pano, Italy, author of Asarah Ma’amaros. The halachic rulings of the Rema of Pano are frequently cited by the poskim under the name “Teshuvas Menachem Azariah, ” and are quoted as authoritative halachic precedents in the Magen Avraham, Pri Chadash, Semichas Chachamim, Eliyah Zuta, Mishnah Brurah, and others. The Shach cites him several times, and in one place writes: “I subsequently found in Teshuvas Menachem Azarya, siman 126, that he states explicitly as I had written, and I was very pleased.” Many teshuvos in the sefer deal with the laws of tefillin and related matters, and some of them are a foundation and cornerstone in these halachos. Rabbi Menachem Azariah of Pano (1548–1620) was one of the greatest kabbalists of Italy and indeed, one of the greatest kabbalists of all time, leaving a lasting imprint on all generations on the teachings of Kabbalah. His many works became sifrei yesod of Kabbalah, the most famous of them being the classic sefer Asarah Ma’amaros. Gedolei Yisrael throughout the generations praised him greatly. In a letter sent from Eretz Yisrael, the Shelah HaKadosh writes: “I advise you, and may Hashem be with you, cleave to the sefer Yonas Eilem composed by the saintly Moreinu Harav Menachem Azariah z”l. This sefer is upright in the eyes of Hashem and man…and his Torah is true.” Venice, circa 1600. First edition. Page Count: [100] 43 leaves. Condition : Good, a few stains. Erased antique signatures. New binding. On the final leaf is a censor’s signature from 1600. The year of printing was not recorded on the title page of the sefer; until today, it was unclear when it was printed, and it was suggested that perhaps it was printed in 1600, since the introduction mentions the anticipated publication of the sefer Pelach HaRimon, which was printed in Venice in 1600. Based on the dated signature before us, it is now clarified with certainty that the sefer was printed no later than 1600.