Arba’ah Turim [Rabbinic Code of Law]

<<Jacob ben Asher’s Tur. A Rare and Important German Edition.>> This copy with extensive learned marginal notes by R. Chaim b. Abraham Wahl (1556-1631). See Otzar HaRabanim no. 5969 where he is described as “Gaon HaTorah, Ashir Adir…Dayan VeNassi BePrague” and see K. Lieben, Gal-Ed (Prague, 1856) p. 71 no. 139. It is evident the writer was profoundly proficient in the world of Halacha. For example, see f. 63a of Orach Chaim where he writes a responsa concerning the separation of Challah after Passover. In addition to his lengthier marginalia, even his shorter notes contain interesting comments, e.g. in Orach Chaim f. 37b he states unequivocally that women should eat “shalosh se’udoth” on the Sabbath; in Orach Chaim f. 46 he writes that it is permissible to make a mark with a fingernail on the page of a book as the mark does not last; on f. 16 in Yoreh Deah he states that it is the common custom (minhag pashut) to wait one hour between meat and cheese; on f. 48a in Yoreh Deah he states that the Sandek is more important than the Mohel and should be called up to the Torah first … however a woman should not be a Sandek because of peritzuth (licentiousness).