[Kabbalistic commentary on the hidden meanings of the letters of the Aleph-Beth]. Anonymous (Attributed to Rabbi Akiva)
AUCTION 36 |
Thursday, March 22nd,
2007 at 1:00
Fine Judaica: Printed Books & Manuscripts
Lot 162
Othioth De-rAbi Akiva
[Kabbalistic commentary on the hidden meanings of the letters of the Aleph-Beth]. Anonymous (Attributed to Rabbi Akiva)
Cracow: (Isaac Prostitz) 1579
Est: $1,500 - $2,000
PRICE REALIZED $1,550
Ascribed to the Mishnaic-era Rabbi Akiva, this work presents Aggadic homilies tinged with Kabbalistic renderings to each letter of the Hebrew Alphabet. The names of the letters, even the individual letters that spell each name of each letter - all are infused with individual mystical value and ethical importance. Much is made of the combinations of letters, especially those forming the names of God. Also discussed is the role of the Angel Metatron as meditor between God and man. According to Waxman, “this kind of teaching is really in direct opposition to the teachings of Akiva and other scholars of his age, who on the contrary, endavored to minimize the importance of the angels...and yet, stragely enough, such teachings [are] ascribed to him.” See M. Waxman, Vol. I, pp.382-3