Shabbata de-Rigla [Sermons for Festivals]

Chotsh distinguished himself as a kabbalist; indeed his sermons are a tour de force of kabbalistic thought. If in his later work, Chemdath Tzvi, Chotsh’s commentary to Tikkunei Zohar, scholars find traces of adherence to the crypto-Sabbatian sect (followers of Shabbetai Zevi), this earlier work is certainly free of such influence. (See Summary to Chemdath Tzvi). On f.57v. the author offers an interesting explanation for the different terminology of the Babylonian Talmud and the Zohar. In the Talmud the usual expression is “Come and hear” (ta shema), whereas the Zohar opens a discussion with “Come and see” (ta chazi). Seeing is superior to hearing