JUDAH THE CHASSID.

A FINE AND HANDSOME COPY OF SEPHER HACHASSIDIM AND PISKEI RECANATI. The Sepher HaChassidim has attracted the attention of many rabbinic scholars, including the commentary of R. Chaim Joseph David Azulai (Chid”a) “Berith Olam,” as well as glosses of several luminaries over the ages that were incorporated into R. Reuben Margulies' felicitous commentary “Mekor Chesed.” Both commentaries, along with the relatively recent comments of R. Zevi Judah Hakohen Kook, were included in the Mossad Harav Kook edition of Sepher HaChassidim (1957). For those interested in Polish “pilpul,” the late doyen of the Toronto rabbinate, Rabbi Abraham Price, a disciple of the famed Sochatchov school, produced several folio volumes of “Mishnath Abraham,” utilizing the Sepher HaChassidim as a springboard for wide halachic discussion. In academic circles, Prof. Haym Soloveitchik has lavished much attention on the Sepher HaChassidim. See H. Soloveitchik, “Three Themes in Sefer Hasidim,” AJS Review I (1976), pp. 311-357; idem, “Piety, Pietism and German Pietism: Sepher Hasidim and the Influence of Hasidei Ashkenaz,” JQR, XCII (2002) Nos. 3-4, pp. 455-493. Regarding the second work, Piskei Halachoth, scant facts survive regarding the illustrious Italian kabbalist and halachist R. Menachem Recanati (late 13th-early 14th centuries). Recently, Prof Moshe Idel has attempted to rectify this situation by penning a full-length monograph on Recanati (funding provided by the Recanati family, founders of Israel Discount Bank). Only nine books were printed by the Jewish Silk Weaver’s Guild between the years 1537-1541. Several of the printers at this press are known by name. Sepher HaChassidim was printed by Abraham b. Moses Cohen. See D. Amram, The Makers of Hebrew Books in Italy, pp. 232-235; Ephraim Deinard, Atikoth Yehudah, p. 2