Divrei Nechemiah [kabbalistic sermons on the Pentateuch]

AUCTION 53 | Thursday, December 08th, 2011 at 1:00

Fine Judaica: Printed Books, Manuscripts Autograph Letters & Graphic Art

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Lot 134

HAYUN, NECHEMIAH CHIYA.

Divrei Nechemiah [kabbalistic sermons on the Pentateuch]

FIRST EDITION. ff. (2), 89 (i.e. 87). Small hole on title-page, stained in places, inner margin of opening and closing leaf affected by binder's tape, previous owner's marks. Bizarrely bound (recent). Sm. 4to Vinograd, Berlin 66

Berlin: Baruch Buchbinder 1713

Est: $600 - $900

PRICE REALIZED $550

Nechemiah Hayun (entitled "Nachash" [snake] in the polemics against him, was a crypto-Sabbatian preacher who was involved in one of the "causes-celebres" of 18th century Jewish life. The appearance of the present heretical text, resulted in assaults upon Hayun from the Chacham Tzvi, Moshe Chagiz, and Joseph Ergas. The publication of Hayun’s next work, Oz Le’Elo-him, created even more controversy. In order to prevent a possible revival of the Sabbatian heresy, most copies of his works were destroyed. See E. Carlebach, The Pursuit of Heresy, pp. 75-159; M. Carmilly-Weinberger, pp. 63-4 and B. Naor, Post-Sabbatian Sabbatianism, pp. 145-49.