Bidspirit auction | Tzavoa of the Semichas Chachamim,

Tzavoa of the Semichas Chachamim,   Furth, 1787. Early Edition. * Sefer Tzavo’as of the gaon and kabbalist Rabbi Naftali HaKohen of Ostroh, author of Semichas Chachamim, replete with words of mussar, Yiras Shamayim, and the ways of Chassidus, according to the teachings of the Arizal. At the conclusion of the will, Rabbi Naftali writes: “Keep this will before your eyes throughout your lives, and read it regularly.” The first known edition was printed in Berlin in 1729. A different version was printed in Constantinople in 1734 as part of the sefer Sha’ar HaHachanah. It was subsequently reprinted in numerous editions and became widely disseminated throughout the Jewish world. It was often printed together with popular works such as the customs of Rabbi Elimelech of Lizhensk or the will of Rabbi Sheftel Horowitz and the like. Printed on the reverse of the title page is the publisher’s introduction by Rabbi Binyamin Segal of Melitz. This introduction was omitted from later editions. The kabbalist Rabbi Naftali HaKohen Katz (1649–1719), author of Semichas Chachamim, was one of the greatest Ashkenazi kabbalists, described by the Chida in Shem HaGedolim as “an extraordinary Kabbalist, in practical Kabbalah and Divine Kabbalah.” He served as Av Beis Din and Rosh Yeshiva in Posen and Frankfurt am Main.  Following a fire in Frankfurt, he was accused by the non-Jews of having caused the blaze through his involvement with practical Kabbalah, forcing him to flee the city. He traveled to Prague and later set out for Eretz Yisrael, but passed away en route in Constantinople, where he was laid to rest. Furth, 1787 Page Count: [29] leaves. Size: Pocket format - approx. 16 cm. Condition: Good, with minor restorations. New binding. Provenance: Jerusalem Shel Zahav Auction (2017). A comprehensive essay on Rabbi Naftali HaKohen’s will was published in Asufot, vol. 9, pp. 201–234.