Sepher Pesach Me’ovin

(HAGADAH).

Bragadin

Venice

1692

With commentary by Chaim Benveniste. FIRST EDITION. Typical Bragadin title: At top, two angels holding the two Tablets of the Law; on either side of the title, Biblical characters (in this case, Moses and David); and at bottom, three lion heads (see Yudlov, Hebrew Printers' Marks (2001), p. 53-4). Tailpieces. Text surrounded by linear border

Yudlov 88; Yaari 57

The present commentary by Chaim Benveniste (1603-73), Chief Rabbi of Izmir, is a brief halachic study to the Passover Hagadah, The laws and customs gathered by Benveniste were wdely utilized in many later Hagadah editions. On f.14r. the author offers a novel explanation for the custom observed in most Aschkenazic homes of placing an empty cup on the table, referred to as the “Cup of Elijah.” This custom found so much favor in the Sephardic rabbi's eyes that he adopted it in his own home, and would indeed drink from the cup's contents during the Seder-meal