Bidspirit auction | Amudeha Shivah – One of

Amudeha Shivah – One of the Most Important Works of Drashos – Rabbi Shabsai Meshorer Bass Press – Dyhernfurth, 1693 * Amudeha Shivah, containing seven fine drashos, by the great darshan Rabbi Betzalel ben Shlomo of Slutsk and Kobrin, one of the greatest Torah scholars of Lithuania. An important work of drashos from the seventeenth century that enjoyed widespread acclaim. The present edition is the classic and most widely known edition of the sefer, printed by Rabbi Shabsai Meshorer Bass, author of Sifsei Chachamim and Sifsei Yesheinim. The sefer was first printed in Lublin in 1666 (an extremely rare edition), followed by Prague in 1674 (not especially common). This third printing reflects the unusual demand the work enjoyed, as repeated editions of drashah literature were rare during that period. It was later reprinted several more times and was even copied in manuscript. Two years earlier, Rabbi Shabsai had printed another work by Rabbi Betzalel, Korban Shabbos. At its beginning appears the approbation of the Semichas Chachamim, who praises Rabbi Shabsai as one “who has spared no effort, dedicating himself wholeheartedly to benefiting the public and bringing merit to the many.” Regarding the author, he writes: “The distinguished darshan… who illuminated the pathways of wisdom… He knew how to expound the Torah in forty-nine ways, as all who speak of him proclaim his praise.” Printed on the reverse of the title page are the approbations from the first edition, including those of the Taz, Rabbi Yitzchak HaGadol of Posen, and others. Rabbi Betzalel, the darshan of Kobrin , was one of the greatest darshanim of Lithuania. The Chida praises him and refers to him as “the outstanding darshan.” A master of the entire Torah, Gemara, halacha, and Kabbalah, he became best known for his sefer Amudeha Shivah, about which Rabbi Shabsai Meshorer Bass writes in Sifsei Yesheinim: “Wonderful drashos and exceptionally fine explanations.” Several of his works were never printed, including his major commentary on the Torah, Zayis Ra’anan. Selections from Amudeha Shivah were later published by Rabbi Avraham Yehoshua of Zhitomir, author of Geulas Yisrael, under the title ‘Nofes Tzofim’ (Lvov, c. 1830). Dyhernfurth, 1693. Third edition. Page Count: 72 leaves. Height: 17.6 cm. Condition: Good overall. Minor restoration to the first two leaves. Title-page border slightly trimmed. New binding. The title page bears the signature of Rabbi Zanvil Stern (and again on leaf 60a), while the final page bears the signature of Rabbi Ziskind Stern. These apparently belonged to Rabbi Shmuel Zanvil Stern and his son Rabbi Shneur Ziskind Stern, distinguished members of the Frankfurt am Main community in the early eighteenth century. Provenance: William Gross Collection, Tel Aviv. - - - - - - - - - This edition was printed by the well-known scholar Rabbi Shabsai Meshorer Bass, author of Sifsei Chachamim, who owned the printing press in Dyhernfurth. At the top of the title page appears Rabbi Shabsai’s distinctive printer’s emblem: the figure of a Jew dressed in characteristic seventeenth-century Ashkenazic attire, holding what resembles a large tablet bearing musical notes! This is, of course, an allusion to Rabbi Shabsai’s profession as a singer, which is why he was called “Meshorer Bass”. (See Milu'im LeDiglei HaMadpisim HaIvriyim, p. 502.) Rabbi Shabsai Meshorer Bass (1641–1718) , author of Sifsei Chachamim, was an eminent scholar whose contributions left a lasting imprint on Torah literature. His sefer Sifsei Chachamim became the leading and most fundamental anthology of commentaries on Rashi on the Torah. His sefer Sifsei Yesheinim was the first Hebrew bibliographical work of its kind, and the printing press he established in Dyhernfurth produced first editions of some of the most important sifrei yesod, including Magen Avraham, the Taz, and Beis Shmuel. In his youth, Rabbi Shabsai fled Poland after his parents were murdered and settled in Prague, where he devoted himself to Torah study. Blessed with a beautiful voice, he studied music under the famous chazzan Rabbi Leib Shir HaShirim and earned his livelihood as the bass singer in the choir of Prague’s renowned Altneuschul. This is where he earned the name by which he became famous — Rabbi Shabsai Meshorer Bass (Rabbi Shabsai, the bass singer). That very same year, he also printed in his printing press the complete edition of Sifsei Chachamim (see: Genazym 17, Lot 21 ).