Handsome copy: Book of Psalms with the commentary Chazeh Zion by the Mishnat Chassidim. First edition from the ...

Handsome copy: Book of Psalms with the commentary Chazeh Zion by the Mishnat Chassidim. First edition from the author’s lifetime; Livrno 1742

“A Pardes commentary on every letter and space in Psalms, done with great precision…” by the kabbalist Rabbi Emmanuel Hai Riki, the Mishnat Chassidim. The commentary appears around the chapters of the Psalms. First edition from the author’s lifetime. 138, [2] pages. The title page features an engraving with the author’s symbol: a lion with wheat in his mouth. At the end is an emotional kina with rhymes from after the author’s death (it seems that printing ended about a year after the date featured on the cover, after the author’s death, or this page was added to the copy later), as well as words from the author’s son, Rabbi Avraham Shmuel, who talks about his father’s death at the hands of non-Jews abroad, and a description of the mysterious dream that he dreamt and which was revealed in his writings, in which it was revealed to him that he was a gilgul of the soul of the Tana Rabbi Yehuda ben Baba, one of the 10 Martyrs. Professional restoration to the title page and some pages, most without any damage to text. Stains; new handsome binding with leather, gilded inscriptions. Overall good condition.

The dayan kabbalist Rabbi Refael Emmanuel Hai Riki (1687-1743) became famous for his work the Mishnat Chassidim, an important work of kabbalah printed twice during his lifetime and then in many more editions. He was praised around the world. He authored many other books including Aderet Eliyahu, Hon Ashir, and more. His home in Jerusalem was later used by Rabbeinu Haim ben Atar for his known yeshiva, Knesset Yisrael.