Jacob ben Asher. Tur Yoreh Deah. With commentary Beith Yosef by Joseph Karo. First Edition. With Extensive Autograph Marginal Glosses By David Darshan, Many Signed (see: ff. 187a,310b, 314b, 388b)

DARSHAN, DAVID

Meir Parenzo for Alvise Bragadin

Venice

1551

Hebrew manuscript in an extremely neat, precise cursive Aschkenazi script. Brown ink on paper. With manuscript diagram of trachea on f.11b. A total of apporximately 70 notations.

Vinograd, Venice 420; Mehlman 731

An Important Example of Early Polish Scholarship. David Darshan of Cracow, (born c.1527), author of Shir Ha’Ma’aloth Le’David (Cracow, 1571) and Kethav Hithatzluth Le’Darshanim (Lublin, 1574), was one of the most prominent disciples of Moses Isserles (the ReM”A), Solomon Luria (the MaHaRSHa”L), Isaac b. Bezalel, the brother of the MaHaRa”L of Prague, and others. He was not only a Talmudic scholar and preacher, but also an artist, scribe, poet, bibliophile and editor. His teacher, the ReM”A, responds to his questions in his Shailoth Uteshuvoth, responsum no. 81. In addition, Asher Ziv, in his scholarly edition of the responsa of the ReM”A, identifies David Darshan as the author of responsum no. 62. Prof. Saul Lieberman has identified David Darshan as the author of the Perush Katzar to the Cracow, 1609 edition of the Jerusalem Talmud, citing his name in the commentary to Tractate Nazir, see S. Lieberman, Ha’yerushalmi Ki’peshuto (1935), introduction. R. David spent a period of time in in Ferrara, Italy serving as tutor for the family of Moses Bordolano. He later returned to Cracow becoming the official town preacher, earning him the appelation “Darshan.” At this time, he also wrote responsa. His expertise on Yoreh De’ah is evidenced by his appointment as editor and proofreader of the Sha’arei Dura (Lublin, 1574), as stated on the title-page. “David Darshan was multi-faceted personality, a Talmid Chacham who was connected to the principle scholarly circles of his time, a man of enterprise, great talents and dreams.” C.H. Ben-Sasson, Ha’goth Ve’hanhagah (1956) pp.254-256. Other manuscripts by David Darshan are found in the British Museum, see: G. Margoliouth, Catalogue…Vol. III, no. 829. For a full biography and translation of his works, see H. R. Perelmuter, Shir Ha’Ma’aloth Le’David (1984)