(The Physician). Kether Torah.
AUCTION 46 |
Thursday, September 10th,
2009 at 1:00
Fine Judaica: Hebrew Printed Books, Manuscripts, & Graphic Art
Lot 276
VITAL, DAVID BEN SOLOMON.
(The Physician). Kether Torah.
Constantinople: Eliezer ben Gershom Soncino 1536
Est: $3,000 - $5,000
David Vital, a Spanish exile, settled in Greece, first in Patras, and after the Turko-Venetian war of 1532, in Arta, where he was welcomed as a pre-eminent halachic authority.
Kether Torah is a rhymed summary of the 613 commandments in accordance with Maimonides’ enumeration, together with the seven rabbinical commandments. Hence, the numerical value of the title, “Kether” (620). The work is a commentary to Maimonides’ Sefer HaMitzvoth - whereby each precept is discussed commencing with Maimonides’ formulation and often concludes with a response to Maimonides’ critics. Despite its' unusual poetic form, the Kether Torah remains an important halachic source frequently quoted in the rabbinic literature.