Bidspirit auction | Kabbalistic Sefer Yesod in First

Kabbalistic Sefer Yesod in First Edition: Pri Etz Chaim by Rabbi Chaim Vital. Edition of Rabbi Shabsai of Rashkov, a Disciple of the Baal Shem Tov. Wide Margins.  Koritz, 1785 *   Pri Etz Chaim – kavanos for prayer, comprising twenty-nine sections containing the teachings that Rabbi Chaim Vital heard from the Ari HaKadosh, “according to the authentic Kabbalah that he received from Eliyahu HaNavi” (as stated on the title page). This volume is the first of four sections arranged by the kabbalist Rabbi Meir Poppers, a disciple of Rabbi Yaakov Tzemach. (It is different from the sefer Pri Etz Chaim compiled by Rabbi Nosson Shapira that was printed in 1782 – see below). One of the best-known works among the sefarim of the Arizal. This is the first edition of the sefer in this nusach. The work quickly became so popular among kabbalists that it was reprinted only one year later, in 1786! The edition was printed from a carefully corrected manuscript in the handwriting of the renowned holy kabbalist Rabbi Shabsai of Rashkov, author of Siddur Rabbi Shabsai and primary disciple of the Baal Shem Tov. As the publishers write on the reverse of the title page: “After great effort we discovered a copy of Pri Etz Chaim that had been meticulously corrected, transcribed from the handwritten manuscript of the late chassid and kabbalist Rabbi Shabsai of Rashkov, whose manuscripts are universally recognized as accurate and authoritative.” The volume opens with approbations from leading kabbalists and Chassidic greats (originally written for the 1782 edition), including Rabbi Chaim Sanzer of Brody, Rabbi Yaakov Yosef of Ostroh (“Rav Yivai”), and Rabbi Asher Tzvi of Ostroh, author of Ma’ayan HaChochmah. The first leaf also includes a prayer composed by the Ari, together with a Leshem Yichud to be recited before studying this Kabbalistic work. Exceptionally wide margins, extending to nearly 7 cm beyond the text! The holy Kabbalist Rabbi Shabsai of Rashkov was one of the members of the “Bnei Heichala Kaddisha” – the Baal Shem Tov’s innermost circle of disciples, and one of the very first talmidim of the Baal Shem Tov. He belonged to the select group of scribes who wrote Sifrei Torah, tefillin, and mezuzos for the Baal Shem Tov with sanctity and purity, and who also copied rare kabbalistic manuscripts for him. He is best known for his Siddur Rabbi Shabsai, in which he carefully collected, edited, and organized all the kavanos and variant texts of the Ari. All the Chassidic rebbes and tzaddikim who came after him prayed from his siddur. Born in Rashkov, Bessarabia, little is known about his early years. In his approbation to the siddur, Rabbi Zusha of Anipoli refers to him as “the renowned chassid, the G-dly kabbalist, ” and Rabbi Yaakov Yosef of Polonne quotes his teachings in Toldos Yaakov Yosef (Parshas Metzora). Koritz, 1785. First edition of this nusach. Page Count: [1], 132 leaves. Large-format, with wide margins. Height: 37.3 cm. Condition: Good. Minor wear and stains in the margins. A few small holes on the first and last leaves. Antique leather binding with wear (mainly at the spine and corners). Bibliography: Rabbi Yosef Avivi, Kabbalat HaAri, vol. II, p. 649, no. 789; Stefansky, Sifrei Yesod, no. 348 (in note). - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Three years before the present edition appeared, in 1782, another work bearing the title Pri Etz Chaim was printed in Koritz. Despite sharing the same title, it is an entirely different work, consisting of Rabbi Nosson Shapira’s special compilation of Me’oros Nosson. Rabbi Yosef Avivi writes: “Pri Etz Chaim [edited by Rabbi Meir Poppers] was printed section by section. The first section, dealing with the intentions for prayer, first appeared in Koritz in 1785 under the title Sefer Pri Etz Chaim. Although a sefer entitled Pri Etz Chaim had already been printed in Koritz in 1782, it is not the work edited by Rabbi Meir Poppers.” In 1786, a new edition of Pri Etz Chaim was printed in Koritz, and it was based on the present 1785 edition and not on the 1782 edition.