Manuscript, Omer Man on Idra Zuta, by Rabbi Menachem de Lonzano – Unpublished Sections – 17th/18th Century

Manuscript, Omer Man on Idra Zuta, by Rabbi Menachem de Lonzano – Unpublished Sections – 17th/18th Century
Manuscript, Omer Man, commentary on the Idra Zuta, by R. Menachem de Lonzano. [Europe, 17th/18th century].
Neat Ashkenazic script. Text of the Idra Zuta occupies the center of the page in large characters, flanked on each side by the commentary (in smaller script), in two columns.
The present manuscript contains an Ashkenazic copying of Omer Man by R. Menachem de Lonzano, a leading Torah scholar and kabbalist in the times of the Arizal. R. Menachem was the only kabbalist who challenged the teachings of the Arizal. He received the doctrine of the Arizal and composed works following his approach, yet in some of his booklets (Imrei Emet on the writings of the Arizal and Imrei Emet on the writings of R. Yosef ibn Teboul and more), he challenged many details which the Arizal wrote, and in particular teachings that his disciples wrote in his name. His sharp, antagonistic words against the Arizal's kabbalah resulted in his booklets being copied in only a few manuscripts. Apart from these booklets, he composed the present commentary to Idra Zuta – Omer Man (of same numerical value as his name: Menachem son of Yehuda Lonzano), where he also challenges the Arizal and his disciples a few times. He apologizes profusely for doing so, explaining in one instance that he is doing it only out of love for truth and to prevent his brethren from being misled.
Contrary to the abovementioned booklets, which were poorly distributed, Omer Man was copied in numerous manuscript (for instance: Schocken Library Ms. 70053; Benayahu Collection Ms. 146; Montefiore Library Ms. 336). This work was even published in later times (Vilna 1913), by the disciples of the Gaon of Vilna. In the printed editions, all the expressions against the Arizal and his disciples were omitted, even though they sometimes comprised numerous, lengthy paragraphs.
These omissions can be found by comparing the present manuscript with the printed version – see Hebrew description for examples.
R. Naftali son of R. David in his book Ben David (Amsterdam 1729) responded to the objections of R. Menachem de Lonzano in this work. R. Naftali occasionally quotes R. Menachem's criticism in order to refute it, though in other cases he refrains from doing so.
Inscription on endpaper: "Belongs to the rabbi, famous philanthropist R. Eliezer Yoel Marg--- of Brody". At the end of the book, inscription in German from Lviv, dated 1813.
The author, R. Menachem de Lonzano (1550?-before 1626), foremost Torah scholar and kabbalist in the time of the Arizal. He was born in Italy and migrated extensively throughout his life. In 1575, he published his work Derech Chaim in Constantinople, and close to that time he immigrated to Eretz Israel, where he met and became close to the disciples of the Arizal. He first settled in Jerusalem, and then moved to Safed. In 1587, he published there Midrash Agur (Midrash Shloshim UShtayim Midot) which he edited. He later settled in Egypt, and then returned to Jerusalem, from where he reached Damascus, and subsequently returned to Italy. At the end of his life, he returned to Jerusalem, and passed away there. In 1618, he published in Venice his book Shtei Yadot, comprising ten of his works. These include: Or Torah, Maarich, Avodat HaMikdash, Derech Chaim, Tova Tochachat and others. For lack of funding, he did not complete the printing of all ten compositions at that time. Over the years, his many works were reprinted in new editions, yet some remained in manuscript form (see a detailed list of his works in the foreword to Derech Chaim, Ahavat Shalom, Jerusalem 2012).
[112] leaves (with additional [11] blank leaves at beginning and [10] blank leaves at end). 20 cm. Fair-good condition. Stains, including dampstains. Worming, affecting text. Inscriptions. Most of binding lacking (only back board remains).