Ben Yochai [commentary to the Zohar]
AUCTION 39 |
Thursday, April 03rd,
2008 at 1:00
Fine Judaica: Printed Books, Manuscripts, Autograph Letters & Graphic Art
Lot 207
KUNITZ, MOSES
Ben Yochai [commentary to the Zohar]
Vienna: Georg Holzinger 1815
Est: $500 - $700
Written as a defense of the integrity of the Zohar: A response to the attacks of Jacob Emden in his Mitpachat Sepharim who purported the Zohar to be a far later composition than the era of Shimon b”r Yochai. In his introduction, Kunitz states he toiled over this work all night for eight consecutive years.
The enigmatic Kunitz, although purportedly an Orthodox Rabbi, had leanings to Reform and participated in their convocation at Braunschweig. Nevertheless, his Halachic works contain responsa to and from such diverse figures as R. Nathan Adler, R. Elazar Flekeles of Prague, R.Baruch Jeiteles, Y. Reggio, and others of the like