(The SHeLa”H Hakodosh). Shnei Luchoth Habrith. Issued with Vavei Amudim by Horowitz’s son Shabtai Sheftel

AUCTION 43 | Thursday, April 02nd, 2009 at 1:00
Fine Judaica: Hebrew Printed Books, Manuscripts, Graphic & Ceremonial Art

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Lot 138
HOROWITZ, ISAIAH BEN ABRAHAM HALEVI

(The SHeLa”H Hakodosh). Shnei Luchoth Habrith. Issued with Vavei Amudim by Horowitz’s son Shabtai Sheftel

Third edition. With finely engraved frontispiece by Abraham ben Jacob (See M.H.Gans, Memorbook: History of Dutch Jewry” (1971) p.141) ff.(4), 422, 44, (12). Previous owners’ signature and stamps on titles, edges and flyleaves, stained in places, engraved title (loose) supplied from another copy with marginal repairs, tear in lower corner of second title. Later boards, rubbed, spine starting. Folio Vinograd, Amsterdam 668; Fuks, Amstersdam 405

Amsterdam: Immanuel ben Joseph Athias 1698

Est: $2,000 - $3,000
This edition of the SHeLa”H’s extensive work on Halachah, Kabbalah and ethical philosophy is considered one of the most beautifully produced of Hebrew printed books. Chassidim consider the publication year of this edition as especially noteworthy, as it was the year the venerable Baal Shem Tov was born. Many of the teachings of Chassiduth have their source in the SHela"H HaKadosh Part Code and part Kabbalistic treatise, the Shnei Luchoth Habrith exerted great influence on the life of the Jews of Eastern Europe and helped, more than any other book, to introduce the Kabbalah into daily religious life. “Horowitz introduced many customs in the ritual and in the observance of other laws which have no basis otherwise, except in the Kabbalah, and because of his authority were accepted by a great part of Jewry.” M. Waxman, History of Jewish Literature, Vol. II pp. 420-1