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LOT 21:
Chessed L'Avraham - Kabbalah. Sulzbach, 1685. First Edition.
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Chessed L'Avraham - Kabbalah. Sulzbach, 1685. First Edition.
Chessed L'Avraham - a foundational book in kabbalistic wisdom by Rabbi Avraham Azoulay, who is known by the name of the book before us, as the author of Chessed L'Avraham.
The same year this edition was printed, an additional edition was printed in Amsterdam. However, the Amsterdam edition is full of thorns and is incomplete, as his grandson, the Chid"a wrote, in Shem HaGedolim [book entry, Sefer Chessed L'Avraham].
Rabbi Avraham Azoulay [1570-1644] was the Chid"a's great-great-grandfather, and is known as the "Chessed L'Avraham." He was an important kabbalist, who studied kabbalistic doctrine with Rabbi Chaim Vital. The boat with his writings sank on its way to the Land of Israel, but he survived. As a sign of gratitude to G-d, from then on he signed his signature in the shape of a boat. Due to a plague that broke out in the city, he wandered, and arrived in Gaza in 1619, where he composed the book before us, Chessed L'Avraham, "to recall G-d's lovingkindness, in rescuing me from the sword." There is a popular story about his passing: In 1644, the Pasha's sword fell into the Cave of the Patrirachs. The Pasha ordered the Jews to go in and take his sword out of the cave. The Jews drew lots, and Rabbi Azoulay was selected to carry out the assignment. He immersed in a mikveh and studied and dealt in kabbalah a whole night. Towards morning, a rope was tied to him and he descended into the cave. He saw the Patriarchs there and did not want to go back out. The Patriarchs told him that this was not possible, "Go out now, and tomorrow you will be with us." Rabbi Azoulay was raised out of the cave with ropes, and all night his friends spoke to him in kabbalistic matters. At the break of dawn, he immersed in the mikveh, dressed himself in shrouds, read Shema Yisrael and passed away. We will note that the story of his passing does not appear in the Chid"a's books.
76 leaves, 19 cm. Kabbalistic diagrams. Signature; fine condition. Restored title page with light blemish to text. Professional restoration to several leaves. New binding.
