(Be’er Sheva). Parts 5-7 only. Divisonal titles. Part V: Getzelt [“tent”] Sarah. Part VI: Getzelt Rachel. Part VII: Tor [gate] Yuta.

A unpublished work of Biblical history, focusing upon the characteristics of exile, repentance and redemption. Contains a tract discussing the World to Come and the resurrection of the dead based upon Talmudic and Midrashic sources. Also includes moral exhortations relating to specific sins. As is known from other copies, the seven part work is dedicated to the author’s seven deceased children. The manuscript is the second half of a text originally containing seven parts. N. Riemer of the University of Potsdam has compared the nine extant manuscripts of this work (many of which are also incomplete) today scattered in various libraries. See his article: The Genesis and Manuscripts of Beer Sheva by Bella and Beer Perlhefter in: European Journal of Jewish Studies 4,1 (2010) pp. 43-89. According to Riemer’s research, copies of this manuscript exist from 1784-87 and 1825-30. The present manuscript copy is from a middle stage (1820) and should be compared with the other manuscripts for textual purposes. The author, Samuel Issachar Ber Perlhefter was born in Prague (ca. 1650-1710,) stemming from a scholarly family in Eybeschuetz. As a young adult he moved to Altdorf where he taught Hebrew to the Christian Hebraist Johann Wagenseil, while Perlhefter’s wife Bella taught dance and music to Wagenseil’s daughter. Some time later, Perlhefter was appointed Rabbi of Mantua, Italy, where his stay was eventually aborted due to disputes with Mordechai of Eisenstadt over accusations concerning Sabbathianism. Returning to Prague he served as Dayan and authored works on Shechitah and Targum Jonathan. G. Scholem calls Perlhefter a “learned Rabbi.” See EJ vol. XIV col. 1246.