Sepher Benyamin Ze’ev [responsa]

AUCTION 10 | Tuesday, June 27th, 2000 at 1:00

Fine Judaica: Printed Books, Manuscripts and Works of Art

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Lot 29

BENJAMIN BEN MATTITHIAH (OF ARTA).

Sepher Benyamin Ze’ev [responsa]

FIRST EDITION. This Copy with the Ownership Stamp of Meir Loeb ben Jechiel Michael (MaLBI”M), With a Marginal Notation in His Hand. ff. 367, (2), 376-399, 399-575. Lightly browned, opening few leaves stained, trace marginal foxing in places. Modern tan calf boards. Thick 4to Vinograd, Venice 167; Mehlman 702; Habermann, Bomberg 161; not in Adams

Venice: Daniel Bomberg 1539

Est: $4,000 - $5,000

PRICE REALIZED $4,750

Of a somewhat disputatious nature, R. Benjamin issued this mammoth collection of 450 legal decisions largely as self-justification following a tendentious Halachic feud with David Hakohen of Corfu concerning Agunoth. The work contains a distinctly independent tone in its rulings, but is often cited by R. Moses Isserles, the ReM”A, thus ensuring for itself a permanent place in the annals of Halacha. Its’ historic importance lies in the insight offered concerning the social conditions and religious life of the Jews in Asia Minor. See M. Carmilly-Weinberger, Censorship and Fredom of Expression in Jewish History (1977) pp. 155-56; M. Benayahu, Prolegomenon to the Responsa Benjamin Ze’ev (1989) JIM: Place text below image on it’s own page.