The Shl”a Hakadosh

Holy rare handwriting from the Shl”a,

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The Shl”a Hakadosh

Holy rare handwriting from the Shl”a,

 Six Verses from Tehillim Forming his Name with his Signature, on Maseches Avos with Lechem Yehuda Commentary Sabbioneta, 1554.

Six verses from Tehillim ch.119 written in the hands of the Holy Shl”a forming an acrostic of his name preceding an impressive and complete signature of the Shl”a. “Words from he who acquires sefarim from his fortune in honor of my Creator, HaKoton Yeshaya ben Moreinu Harav Avraham Segal Nr”v Horowitz.”

The Shl”a inscribed six verses of Tehillim from chapter 119 (קיט) that spelled the letters of his name Yeshaya. Each verse ends with the letters יך which the Shl”a wrote in large letters and marked with a line.

There is no doubt that the Shl”ah had esoteric reasons for spelling his name with these specific verses, as well as choosing verses which ended in יך.

The acrostic and autograph are inscribed on the last page of Sefer Lechem Yehuda by Rabbi Yehuda Lerma, printed in Sabbioneta, 1554. It is in this sefer the holy Shl”a wrote this magnificent and holy autograph.

Harav Yeshaya Halevi Horowitz (circa 1565-1626) known as the Shl”a haKadosh, which is the acronym of his magnum opus: Shnei Luchos Habris. One of the greatest leaders and luminaries of the Jewish nation, served as the Rav of the great communities of Posen, Ostroh, Frankfurt and Prague.

His son Harav Sheftel in his preface to the Shl”a, writes that “his disciples spread out throughout nearly the entire Diaspora.”

In 1622, he journeyed to Eretz Yisrael where he served as the Ashkenazic Rabbi of Jerusalem and Nassi (Rabbinical president) of Eretz Yisrael. He was laid to rest in the city of Tiberius which until this very day, masses travel to his burial site in Teveria to recite the famous Tefillas HaShl”a on Erev Rosh Chodesh Sivan. 

Tha Shl”a Hakadosh 

There were just four saintly sages in Eretz Yisrael who received the title ‘Hakadosh.’ These were: the Ari Hakadosh, the Alshich Hakadosh, the Shl”a Hakadosh and the Ohr Hachaim Hakadosh.

Additional autographs of the Shl”a’s family members appear in this sefer.

The autograph of the Shl”a’s older brother “Yaakov ben Moreinu Harav Rav Avraham Halevi Horowitz”, appears on the last page. Harav Yaakov was known for his annotations on his father’s sefer Yesh Nochalin. The Shl”a quotes his brother in Maseches Tamid, Amud Hatefillah ch. 69.

The autograph of the Shl”a’s nephew also appears on the same page as his brother’s autograph. “This sefer is mine: Moshe Ben Harav Yaakov z”l.” Harav Moshe Halevi Horowitz was an esteemed Torah scholar and luminary, who following his uncle’s example, traveled and settled in Eretz Yisrael. He succeeded his uncle as Nassi of Eretz Yisrael.

The Horowitz Family

The Horowitz family is renowned as an illustrious Jewish family with one of the most impressive known lineages. The Baal Shem Tov is quoted saying that it is a clean and pure family, entirely belonging to the tribe of Levi, generation after generation. 

Description of the sefer: Lechem Yehuda commentary on Maseches Avos by Harav Yehuda Lerma.

Sabbioneta, 1554. 163, [1] leaves. Page size: 21 cm. The first printing of this book took place in Venice, 1553. Sadly all copies of the first edition (aside from one surviving copy in the British library ) were burned during the decree of 1553 (see author’s introduction).

Water stains. Tears and defects in margins of first and last pages. some defects in text of last pages, professionally restored. New leather binding. 

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