Bidspirit auction | Sefer Toras Moshe – Alshich

Sefer Toras Moshe – Alshich HaKadosh on The Torah, Venice 1600-1601. First Complete Edition. A Variant Copy - Sefer Toras Moshe, the Alshich’s commentary on the Torah. Venice 1600-1601. Brought to print by the Alshich’s son R. Chaim, who was then living in Tzefas.  First Complete edition. Sefer Bereishis (only) was first printed in Belvedere, near Constantinople in 1593. The rest of the Sefer (Shemos-Devarim) was first printed in Venice in 1601, together with Bereishis which was printed again for the third time.  Our copy is a variant copy, made up of the second edition of Sefer Bereishis (Venice, 1600), which was reprinted with large, clear letters and with indices. The remainder of the work (Shemos–Devarim) is made up of the first edition, which was printed one year later in 1601. Both works are bound together in one volume.  Interestingly, the National Library of Israel holds 2 identical variant copies as the present copy, which were acquired from the Valmadonna Trust Library. As such, it is possible that the 1601 edition was originally offered for sale in this way, with the Venice 1600 edition of Bereishis together with the remainder of the work, as a replacement for the 1601 edition of Bereishis. The reason for this might be because this Venice edition boasts large clear letters, as well as a comprehensive index, thus making it a favorite over the 1601 edition.  Upon further research we find perhaps a solid proof for this theory. The indexes featured at the end of the Venice 1601 edition begin from Sefer Shemos – not Sefer Bereishis – unlike one would expect. If we assume that it was originally offered together with the 1600 edition of Bereishis, as mentioned above, then it is clear why there are no indexes for Bereishis, as they were already printed one year earlier in their own volume.  R. Moshe Alshich (1508-1593), known as the Alshich Hakadosh, was a prominent rabbi, preacher, and biblical commentator in the latter part of the sixteenth century. Towards the end of his life, he moved to Safed where he became a student of R. Yosef Karo. His students included R. Chaim Vital and R. Yom Tov Tzahalon. He died in Safed in 1593 where he is buried. Only a few rabbis were granted the title ”Hakadosh” throughout Jewish history. Alongside the Alshich were the Shelah HaKadosh, the Ari HaKadosh and the Ohr HaChaim HaKadosh, all of them distinctive personalities in their times. Virtually all his works are well-known, cherished and studied until today.  In good condition, with occasional light stains.  Bereishis, Venice 1600. Daniel Zanietti Press. 123 pp. With original blank. Small tear to architectural border at lower area, otherwise in very good condition.  Shemos–Devarim, Venice 1601. De Gara Press. 85-324 pp. With original blanks separating each section. In very good condition. Tiny wormholes seen on final two leaves.  A marginal gloss from the period of the printing is seen on pp. 214.  Page size: 28cm.