Adam Sichli...Hadrath Kodesh

The first of only seven Hebrew books printed from 1560-67 in this tiny German town in the province of Baden- all are very scarce, indeed all are unknown to Adams. It would seem the Hebrew press was the only one to be active here throughout the 16th-century. A multi-layered Kabbalistic treatise on the Decalogue, elaborating upon the Thirteen Principles postulated by Maimonides. The final section contains an extensive poetic penitential meditation “Or Kadmon”. This Techina exhorts God to “...[further] rescue us from harsh decrees [following] the four miracles [performed] for us this year (1400): i: Salvation from the decree of death in the Jubilee year. ii. Rescue from a mob of many thousands “all wearing white.” iii: Rescue from the murderous brigades of “Geissler” (identified by Y. Yovel as the leader of a band of “Flagellants” in Germany. Concerning the anti-Semitism of this Order, see N. Cohn, The Pursuit of the Millenium (1984) pp.142-147). iv: The abdication of the “shameful King [Wentzel] who persecuted us for many years.” The Germanisms employed by the author indicate his origin. Steinschneider was unsure whether he was French or German, Vinograd states that he was French, erroneously transforming Steinschneider’s doubt into a certainty. Davidson cites the author as the Paytan responsible for the celebrated Piyut “Shomea Tephila Adecha.” However he was apparently unaware of the poetic Techinah published herein. A manuscript of this work dated 1578 was copied by Abraham Porto (author of Minchah Bilulah) for Leib Saraval, Chief Rabbi of Cremona, indicating both its significance to these two leading Italian rabbinic authorities and the evident scarcity of the work so soon after publication. See Y.Y. Yovel, Chachamim Bedoram (1989) p. 295-6; I. Davidson, Otzar Hashira Vehapiyut (1930) Vol. III p.434 no.660); JE, XI p.357; and see Christie’s, Important Hebrew Manuscripts and Printed Books from The Library of the London Beth Din, New York, 23rd June 1999, Lot 112