Megaleh Amukoth [252 kabbalistic explanations to Moses’ prayer in the Biblical portion of Va’ethchanan]

SHAPIRO, NATHAN NATA BEN SHLOMO OF CRACOW

(Menachem Nachum Meisels)

Cracow

1637

FIRST EDITION

Vinograd Cracow 401; St. Cat. Bodl. no. 6643-2

While yet a young man, the author's wide erudition and phenomenal memory caught the eye of the community leaders of Cracow who appointed him the city's Rosh Yeshivah and Dayan. An aura of mystery and holiness surrounded him. Indeed, the inscription on his tombstone states that he was reputed to have communed with the Prophet Elijah. When traditional scholars wished to celebrate the infinite breadth of the Torah, the present text would be cited as a perfect example. The Chid"a cites R. Yechiel (author of Seder Ha-Doroth) Heilperin who saw 1,000 interpretations of the Megaleh Amukoth on the diminutive letter Aleph of the word Vayikra. His son, R. Shlomo, writes in his introduction that his father had actually composed 1,000 interpretations of Moses’ prayer in Va'ethchanan