"Shu"t HaBach," Frankfurt A.M., 1697. First edition. Inscribed

"Shu"t HaBach," Frankfurt A.M., 1697. First edition. Inscribed

She'elot U'Teshuvot HaBa"Ch by Rabbi Yosel Sirkis, Av Beit Din of Krakow and author of the important commentary Bayit Chadash on Arba Turim. Johann Wovesht Press. Frankfurt am Main, [1697]. First edition.

The page following the title page bears a handwritten dedication in a clear Ashkenazic hand. The book was dedicated in memory of the youth Aryeh Yehudah who passed away when he was only 24 years old, on the 13th of Kislev 1845. His father dedicated this book to the holy community of Fila "and these books should be used to learn and to teach, to preserve and to fulfill everything written within them ..." 

Rabbi Yoel Sirkis [1561-1640] was among the greatest and most prominent halachic adjudicators of all generations. He authored the Bayit Chadash (Ba"ch) commentary on the Arba Turim, and is known as 'the Ba"ch' after the title of his book. He was a disciple of Rabbi Leibush of Lublin, who was the author of the Shla"h's teacher. He served as rabbi in Pozna (presently Poznań, Poland) and other cities, including Lubmala, Mezhibuzh, Belz, Brisk and then Krakow and environs, where he served until his passing. Aside from his greatness in Torah, he was also admired by Chassidic leaders. It is told among them that before the Ba"ch's passing, Gehinnom was cooled for 40 days in his honor so that he could remove the souls of the evildoers from there. Among the Belz Chassidim, he is referred to with reverence due to his service as Av Beit Din in the city of Belz: the first Admor of Belz is referred to as simply, "The first Admor," without the addition of "of Belz" so as not to impinge on the Ba"ch's honor, as he was rabbi of Belz even earlier.

106 [2] leaves. 30 cm. Fine-very fine condition. Very few stains. New binding.