Nishmas Chaim, Menasseh Ben Israel, Amsterdam 1651, Fine Copy with Original Parchment Binding.

Nishmas Chaim, Menasseh Ben Israel, Amsterdam 1651, Fine Copy with Original Parchment Binding.

Sefer Nishmas Chaim. About the soul, the Jewish soul, life after death, reincarnation, and resurrection, by Rabbi Menashe ben Yisrael.

Amsterdam, at the author's press. 1651. First edition.

The noted work of Menashe ben Yisrael, divided into four sections that include 100 chapters. With its conceptions regarding the reincarnation of the Soul, Menasseh's Nishmath Chaim is of fundamental importance to Jewish theology; it is indeed his magnum opus.

On the last page is an article from Rabbi Yaakov Sasportas from the Amsterdam scholars (1610-1698), a great fighter of the Shabbetai Tzvi movement in his generation, who humbly refers to himself as "צעיר הזבובים קצוץ הכנפים...".

Like in most copies, this copy is missing leaf [9] at the beginning of the work and does not include a portrait of the author. It does contain the leaves of errata at the end of the work, and the Latin leaves.

 [8], 174, [10] leaves. 18.8 Cm.

Overall Great condition, some stains, small marginal tears to first page and page 37, original vellum binding shows signs of age, spine partially detached.

Menashe ben Yisrael (1604-1657) was a rabbi, speaker, philosopher, and politician. He is primarily remembered for his work on behalf of the Jews of the Diaspora.