Manuscript – Handwritten by the Author Rabbi Yehuda Aryeh of Modena – Index to Ein Yaakov

Manuscript – Handwritten by the Author Rabbi Yehuda Aryeh of Modena – Index to Ein Yaakov
Manuscript, index of sayings and maxims found in the book Ein Yaakov – handwritten by the author R. Yehuda Aryeh of Modena. [Venice, ca. early 17th century].
A ninety-leaf manuscript handwritten by R. Yehuda Aryeh of Modena – an index he composed of the sayings and maxims in the book Ein Yaakov.
R. Yehuda Aryeh of Modena (1571-1648), a prominent Italian Torah scholar in the 16th and 17th centuries, and author of many books in different fields. He served as dayan and preacher, scribe, poet and proofreader, in his native Venice. He was a disciple of R. Shmuel Yehuda Katzenellenbogen and R. Shmuel Archivolti, and teacher of R. Shaul HaLevi Morteira. He is renowned for his piyyut Yom Zeh Yehi Mishkal Kol Chatotai, recited on Yom Kippur Katan.
The present work is an index of the sayings and maxims comprised in the book Ein Yisrael (the second part of which is named Beit Yisrael) – anthology of Aggadot from the Babylonian and Jerusalem Talmuds (compiled by R. Yaakov ibn Habib and his son the Ralbach), better known by its original name – Ein Yaakov. Ein Yaakov was banned by the Italian Inquisition along with the Babylonian and Jerusalem Talmuds, which were publicly burned in the 1550s. A decade later, in 1566, the book was allowed to be reprinted, though with censorship expurgations and under a new title – Ein Yisrael. The book was reprinted in several editions under this title over the following years. The prohibition to own volumes of the Babylonian and Jerusalem Talmuds, coupled with the authorization of the censored Ein Yisrael, caused it to become widely distributed in Italy and studied by a growing number of people, including Torah scholars, serving, along with the books of the Rif, as a replacement for the banned books of the Talmud. The popularity of the book Ein Yisrael in those days gave rise to several index works specific to this book, such as Zichron Torat Moshe by R. Moshe Figo (Constantinople, 1554), Luach Maamarei Ein Yisrael, by R. Eliezer Rieti (Venice, 1612), and Beit Lechem Yehuda by R. Yehuda Aryeh of Modena (Venice, 1625).
Unlike his book Beit Lechem Yehuda, which is arranged according to topics (following the Zichron Torat Moshe method), the sayings in the present index are arranged in alphabetical order, similar to Luach Maamarei Ein Yisrael by R. Eliezer Rieti. Within each letter of the alphabet, however, the sayings are listed in order of the Talmudic tractates.
In the list of R. Yehuda Aryeh of Modena's works in his autobiography Chayei Yehuda, no mention is made of the present work; R. Yehuda Aryeh of Modena may have reconsidered his plans to print it after he published his book Beit Lechem Yehuda (Venice, 1625) which is arranged in a different order.
The manuscript was identified as an autograph of R. Yehuda Aryeh of Modena through careful comparison with the handwriting in several of his known manuscripts found in various public libraries (including: Kovetz Igrot, British Library – London, Ms. Or. 5396; Kol Sachal VeShaagat Aryeh, Biblioteca Palatina – Parma, Ms. 2238; Ari Nohem, Russian State Library – Moscow, Günzburg Ms. 1681).
On the final page, after the concluding line, R. Yehuda Aryeh of Modena added another five sayings from the Talmud, perhaps alluding to a specific matter. These are followed by two sayings from the Zohar.
[90] leaves. 20 cm. Fair-poor condition. Stains and damp damage. Extensive worming, affecting text. Tears and open tears, affecting text. Old binding, partially damaged and lacking, with extensive worming.
Written based on the enclosed report of R. Moshe Hillel.