Bidspirit auction | Rare Kaballah: Yosher Levav by

Rare Kaballah: Yosher Levav by Rabbi Immanuel Chai Ricchi — Amsterdam 1742. First Edition. Interesting Inscription. - A foundational work in Kabbalah by the great Kabbalist Rabbi Immanuel Chai Ricchi, author of Mishnat Chassidim. First edition, Amsterdam, 1742. Although the title page lists the Hebrew year 1737, the colophon correctly states the year 1742. Printed during the author's lifetime, one year before his passing in 1743. Yosher Levav presents a deep and structured explanation of the concept of Tzimtzum (Divine Contraction) in Kabbalah, explaining it according to its literal understanding, and is considered a fundamental text in Lurianic Kabbalah. This edition was originally printed together with Mishnat Chassidim. Later, in Kraków, 1890 , Yosher Levav was reprinted on its own. The present copy is the true first edition, as printed in Amsterdam with the author’s distinctive text on the title page, likely added by the author himself. Includes an early inscription stating that this copy was a gift to the Kloiz (Beit Midrash) in Altona from the late physician R. Mordechai Gumpel Schnaber, son of Rabbi Yehuda Leib Schnaber ztz”l. R. Mordechai Gumpel Schnaber was a most remarkable and unusual figure. Also known as Professor George Levison, a famed Jewish physician in England. Invited to Sweden to establish a hospital. He later served as a Professor of Medicine at the University of Upsala, Sweden, where, King Gustavus III encouraged him to translate all of his medical and polemical works into Swedish, and for his efforts received the title of Professor from the king. He later moved to Hamburg, where he passed away in 1797. Author of Maamar HaTorah veHaChochmah (London, 1771) For more about this fascinating personality, see: “Mivchar Ketavim MeHaRav Mordechai Gumpel Schnaber HaLevi (Levison) z”l” – Brooklyn, 1996. Also referenced in Chachmei Ah”u (Scholars of Altona-Hamburg-Wandsbek), p. 93. See also: Piccioto, Sketches of Anglo-Jewish History, p. 138; and Friedenwald, Jewish Luminaries in Medical History p. 95. Rabbi Raphael Emmanuel Chai Ricci (1687-1743), Rav and Kabbalist, commentator and Payten. Was born in Italy and immigrated to Safed, where he studied Kabbalah. On his way abroad due to a plague in the Galilee, he was captured by pirates and after being rescued, returned to Italy. After four years as the Rav of Florence, he travelled to Livorno to publish his Seforim. After travelling to central cities to sell his Seforim, he returned to Jerusalem. He again travelled abroad to raise funds for a yeshiva in Jerusalem and to print his Seforim and on his way back to the Land of Israel, was murdered by highwaymen. Authored Seforim on the Bible and the Shas, commentary on the Mishnayos and Tehillim, poems and riddles, Kabbalistic Seforim and more. [2],   42 Leaves. 19.8 cm.