Bidspirit auction | Ta’amei Mitzvos – Chassidic Edition

Ta’amei Mitzvos – Chassidic Edition Published at the Request of the Maggid of Kozhnitz – Zolkova, 1804 * A work on the reasons for the mitzvos according to Kabbalah, by Rabbi Menachem ben Moshe HaBavli, one of the sages of Italy and Eretz Yisrael in the generation of the Beis Yosef. This Kabbalistic-halachic work was printed several times, its first edition appearing in Lublin in 1571. The Shelah HaKadosh cites it. This edition was published at the request of one of the great Chassidic tzaddikim, Rabbi Yisrael, the Maggid of Kozhnitz. The Maggid’s approbation appears on the second leaf, in which he writes of the sefer’s great importance and explains that he wished to see it printed again. He therefore entrusted it to two printing partners to publish it. This is likewise stated on the title page: “A copy of this work was found in the library of the illustrious chassidic master, Rabbi Yisrael, Maggid of the holy community of Kozhnitz. He entrusted the manuscript to the publisher, and requested that it be published for the benefit of the public. I faithfully carried out his wish, and produced it in a handsome edition, on fine paper, with newly cast type.” Zolkova, 1804. Page Count: [2], 77, [1] leaves.   Height: 18 cm. Condition: Good to fair. Minor losses. Paper repairs and restorations to the first two leaves and the final leaf. Holes to several leaves. Stains. Soft paper. Fine new leather binding. Provenance: Refaeli Auction (2021). This work should not be confused with Ta’amei HaMitzvos by Rabbi Menachem ben Binyamin Recanati (Basel, 1581), which is a different work by a different author. - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Previously Unrecorded Variant The Institute for Hebrew Bibliography and the National Library of Israel record only a single edition of this printing. In fact, however, two distinct variants exist, which are largely identical but differ in several important details. The first variant was published by the two brothers Avraham Yitzchak Mocher Sefarim and Reuven Leib Mocher Sefarim, as mentioned on the title page. On the second leaf, the heading to the approbation of the Chacham Tzvi was copied from the Hamburg 1707 edition (“in Amsterdam type”), including a blessing for the Chacham Tzvi used for a living person: “...Tzvi, יצ””  (may Hashem protect him and grant him life), Av Beis Din and Rosh Mesivta of the holy community of Hamburg.” The present copy is the second variant, which was published by Yitzchak Rabin Stein together with Avraham Yitzchak Mocher Sefarim, as mentioned on the title page (in other words, the brother Reuven was replaced by a new partner, Yitzchak) On the second leaf, the heading to the Chacham Tzvi’s approbation was revised to reflect his passing: “...Tzvi zt”l, author of Shu”t Chacham Tzvi.”