Sefer HaRokeach. Zolkiew, 1806. Printed by Order of Rabbi Levi Yitzchak of Berdichev. Incomplete Copy

Sefer HaRokeach. Zolkiew, 1806. Printed by Order of Rabbi Levi Yitzchak of Berdichev. Incomplete Copy

"Brought to print by order of the honorable gaon, famous G-dly Chassid ... Rabbi Levi Yitzchak, Av Beit Din of Berdichev ..."

Sefer HaRokeach was printed for the first time in Fano, in 1505, by Rabbeinu Elazar B'Rabbeinu Yehudah of Garmeiza, of the Ba'alei HaTosafot. The book is a brief list of the laws practiced and necessary for a person throughout the year, including halachahs for the festivals and days of repentance, prayers, blessings, marriage, issur v'heter and more, per the tradition of Ba'alei HaTosafot. This book established and influenced many customs, as the publisher writes in his introduction: "I owe much good to him, and with all my heart I love him, the honorable rabbi, the gaon, the famous Chassid, Rabbi Levi Yitzchak, Av Beit Din of Berdichev, who, when he saw that this honorable book had not been printed for many years, and that due to its scarcity, many do not know of it ... he arose to awaken men's hearts, to bring it to print.

Rabbeinu Elazar of Garmeiza [c. 1260-1340] is known as the author of Sefer HaRokeach (the numerical value of rokeach [רקח] is Elazar [אלעזר]). He was a kabbalist and an adjudicator, one of the Ba'alei HaTosafot and author of many kabbalistic works, most of which have remained in manuscript. He was one of the leading "chassidim" of Ashkenaz and a disciple of Rabbi Yehudah HeChassid.

[2], 110, [1] leaf. 21 cm. Lacking title page and the first 5 leaves [in this copy, 3-110, [1] leaf]; poor-moderate condition. Dedication notation on the flyleaf. Worming damage. Aging stains. Restoration to the top margins of the last leaves, with damage.