Toldoth Adam Vechava. Sepher Meisharim [Rabbinic code]. Parts I and II bound in one volume

YERUCHAM BEN MESHULAM OF PROVENCE.

[ibn Nachmias]

Constantinople

1516

FIRST EDITION. Title within floriated woodcut. Text illustrations provided in manuscript

Vinograd, Const. 83; Yaari, Const. 50; not in Adams

A FINE, WIDE-MARGINED COPY The famed Latin adage goes, “Libelli habent sua fatum” (“Books have their fate”). The Zohar says, “Even a Torah scroll in the ark requires mazal (luck).” The masterful halachic code by Rabbenu Yerucham (c. 1290-1350) did not have much luck. Initially, it was supeceded by Jacob ben Asher's Arba'ah Turim. Add to this the fact that it was graced with very few commentaries. (Legend has it of the few that were composed, either the commentator died prematurely or his commentary was lost.) Despite these misfortunes the legal decisions of Rabbenu Yerucham continue to play a major part in the devlopment of Halacha due primarily to the fact that they are preserved in Rabbi Joseph Caro's works Beith Joseph and the Shulchan Aruch. A native of Provence, Rabbenu Yerucham eventually settled in Toledo, where he studied under R. Asher ben Yechiel (Rosh). In his code, Rabbenu Yerucham quotes the opinions of French, Provencal and Spanish authorities, as well as recording for posterity the customs of those communities. The first part of the work, Meisharim, deals with civil law; the second part, Adam ve-Chavah (“Adam and Eve”) focuses on life-cycles and ritual law. See EJ, Vol. V, col. 644; Vol. IX, cols. 1375-6