Vital, Chaim. 1,Derush Nukva De-zeir (with unpublished comments by R. Nathan Shapiro) 2. Shaar Ha- tzelem

(KABBALAH).

Italy

Ca. 1680- 90

Contains two works by the foremost exponent of Lurianic kabbalah. 1. Derush Nukva De-zeir was first published in Mavo Shearim, Koretz,1782-83 (sixth shaar) .The standard edition was published in Jerusalem, 1988 with notes and corrections based upon all the previous editions by R. Yehudah Tzvi Brandwein. The text contans slight textual variations and some better readings than the published version. This ms. contains eight unpublished important, comprehensive notes and comments by the noted kabbalist R; Nathan B. Reuven Shapiro, (the author of Matzat Shimurim, Yayin Ha-meshumar etc.) who was one of the main editors and disseminators of R. Chaim Vital’s writings. These profound comments are not published in the standard edition and are extant only in manuscript. R. Nathan Shapiro (b. Cracow, d. Italy, 1666), served as Rabbi in Poland and later emigrated to Israel serving as the Rabbi of the Ashkenazic community of Jerusalem. He journeyed to Europe to collect funds for Jerusalem which were cut off due to the cossack pogroms of 1648-49 in Poland.During his stay in Europe he became close to R. Menashe ben Yisrael and R. Moshe Zacuto. 2