(ESTHER, BOOK OF

This is the true first edition of Yoseph Lekach. Although the book was published twice in the same year, Benayahu indicates that in the first edition, the Hebrew publisher's name is spelled "Boino" with an "aleph" after the "vav" while the second edition lacks the "aleph". In this copy it is spelled with an "aleph". This copy also contains three rare shorter leaves bound in from another copy (ff. 2-4) with a different typographical outlay on the verso of f. 4b not noted by Benayahu. For an analysis of other typographical variances between the two printings, see M. Benayahu, HaDephus Ha’Ivri B’Cremona, p. 233. Recently, R. Shlomo Brevda, an expert in the writings of Elijah, Gaon of Vilna, encouraged a reprint of Yoseph Lekach, observing that many of the Vilna Gaon’s comments on the Scroll of Esther are reminiscent of Aschkenazi’s. The author of the second work, was a 16th-century member of an ancient Italian family of French origin. A contemporary Family member posessed the famed Golden Hagadah on which the Gallico Family crest was painted in 1603. Elisha was a disciple of Joseph Karo. Elisha’ s principle pupil was Samuel di Uceda, author of Midrash Samuel. The third work by the ReM”A demonstrates the author’s mastery of exposition of biblical works and his understanding of Kabbalah and Maimonidean philosophy. The ReM”A wrote this work in Shidlov (Szydlowiec) in 1556 where he resided to escape the plague that was ravaging Cracow. He states that his living conditions were deplorable (providing numerous examples) and in order to "chase away my state of depression I decided to write this commentary, for the words of Torah makes the heart rejoice.”