Bidspirit auction | DVAR SHMUEL. WITH THE SUPPLEMENT

DVAR SHMUEL. WITH THE SUPPLEMENT ZICHRON L’BNEI YISROEL AGAINST SHABTAI TZVI. FIRST EDITION. VENICE 1702. UNIDENTIFIED SIGNATURES! - Halachic responsa of the renowned R. Shmuel Abuav. The scandal concerning the false Messiah Shabtai Tzvi was amongst the most tragic events to befall the Jewish people in exile. Even following Shabtai Tzvi’s outrageous conversion to Islam in 1666 the issue refused to die down. In 1668 Nathan of Gaza, a charlatan who posed as Shabtai Tzvi’s prophet, traveled to Venice. Intercepted by the local Beth Din, he was subjected to trial by R. Shmuel Abuav, R. Yaakov Ha’Levy and R. Shlomo Saravel, which ended in Nathan of Gaza signing a retraction. This important document was then signed by many of the local rabbinical figures and widely distributed. An additional letter was sent to R. Yaakov Sassportes of Amsterdam, one of earliest and most vocal opponents of Shabtai Tzvi. Both these important documents were printed in R. Shmuel Abuav responsa, however they are missing in many copies. Vinograd Venice 1533. Vendramin press. [6], 104 pages. 28 cm. Fine condition. Staining and very slight worming. Antique binding, lacking spine. With the signature of R. Chaim Meshulam Ha’Cohen Kaufman, author of various works on Seder Taharos. Other unidentified rabbinical signatures. Opening bid $300