JAFFE, MORDECHAI

AUCTION 25 | Monday, October 25th, 2004 at 1:00

Important Hebrew Printed Books: The Property of a Gentleman

Back to Catalogue Download Catalogue

<Previous Lot

/57

Next Lot>

Lot 22

JAFFE, MORDECHAI

Levush Ohr Yekaroth [commentary to the Pentateuch]. * Levush Pinath Yikrath [commentary on Maimonides’ Guide for the Perplexed] * Levush Adar HaYakar [commentary on the Laws of Sanctification of the New Month]. * Biurei Yaffeh [commentary on the astronomical “Tzurath Eretz” by Abraham b”r Hiya] ff. (2), 189, 30, 5, 30. Margins of title strengthened. Light stains in places. Numerous previous owners signatures in various Aschkenazic hands (from the late 16th-20th centuries), including: R. Shlomo Zalman Ehrenreich of Shamloi, an inscription on the first leaf presenting the book to a Chassidic Rabbi from “his relative Pinchas David b. Sheina Elka may I have success and be permitted to serve the lord with tranquility of mind.” Modern gilt-tooled calf. Folio Vinograd, Lublin 53 (recording only the first part); Mehlman 829; Adams J-57&58 (recording only first three parts)

Lublin: Kalonymus ben Mordechai Jaffe 1594-5

Est: $15,000 - $20,000

PRICE REALIZED $19,000

The author was one of the greatest scholars of his time. He was especially renowned for his wide-ranging interests. His ten Levushim run the gamut from classical halacha, biblical exegisis, philosophy, astronomy and kabbalah. He studied under the great talmudic scholars of Poland, R. Moses Isserles (Ram"a), and R. Shlomo Luria (Maharsh"al). He studied Kabbalah under R. Mattathias ben Solomon Delacrut whom he cites in the introduction to the Levush Ohr Yekaroth. These works comprise the last three “garments” (Levushim) of the total of ten which comprise Jaffe’s monumental output. “R. Jaffe’s commentaries on the classics of philosophy, astronomy and Kabbalah included alongside his halakhic code...are perhaps the finest and most balanced expression of a general cultural pattern of Polish Jewry in the 16th century...In the work of Jaffe, the rabbinic culture of Poland-Lithuania...achieves a certain breadth and integrity that even at this distance cannot fail to impress." See L. Kaplan, Rabbi Mordekhai Jaffe and the Evolution of Jewish Culture in Poland in the Sixteenth Century in: B. Cooperman (ed.) Jewish Thought in the Sixteenth Century (1983) pp. 266-282