Bidspirit auction | Mevoh Shearim/R. Chaim Vital

Mevoh Shearim/R. Chaim Vital - Mevoh Shearim/R. Chaim Vital. Unidentified handwritten manuscript containing the first part of the Kabbalah sefer Mevoh Shearim authored by R. Chaim Vital. R. Chaim Vital (1542-1620) was born in Tzefas and was a disciple of R. Moshe Alshich and was known as a child prodigy. The Bais Yosef, as Rav of Tzefas requested that the Alshich take special care in his education as he was destined to be a great Torah leader. Indeed he was one of the few individuals to whom the Bais Yosef granted Semicha. As a young man he began to study Kabbalah, originally as a disciple of R. Moshe Kordevero (RaMaK). Following the arrival of R. Yitzchok Luria (The Arizal) to Tzefas he became his most prominent disciple. Upon the passing of The Arizal in 1572 he succeeded him as the leader of the Tzefas Mekubolim. Since the Arizal had left almost none of his teachings in writing, R. Chaim Vital began to write down everything he had learned from his master. According to Kabbalistic tradition R. Chaim Vital was the only disciple whom The Arizal relied upon to write down his teachings. 28 pages. 23 by 19 cm. Excellent condition. Small repairs to first four pages very slightly affecting text. Modern binding. Leather spine. Opening bid $2000