Midrash be-Chidush

(HAGADAH)

Giovanni Calleoni for Bragadin

Venice

1641

FIRST EDITION. With commentary by Eliezer Nachman Foa. Extensive marginalia; also manuscript interleaved between ff.14-15 (1 leaf), between ff.25-26 (2 leaves), and between ff.32-34 (5 leaves)

Vinograd, Venice 1244; Yaari 44; Yudlov 58

Eliezer Nachman Foa was a link in a kabbalistic chain of tradition; his teacher was R. Menachem Azariah (Ram”a) of Fano and his disciple was R. Moses Zacuto (Rama”z) - both doyens of the Italian school of Kabbalah. An expanded edition of this Hagadah commentary appeared in Livorno in 1809. In recent years Foa’s commentary has become popular among followers of the Grand Rabbi of Belz A member of an ancient illustrious Italian family, Eliezer Nachman Foa served as Chief Rabbi of the Duchy of Modena. A branch of the family, under the leadership of Tobias Foa, devoted itself to Hebrew printing. For an extensive treatment of many distinguished members of the Foa family, see A. Yaari, Mechkarei Sepher (1958) pp. 325-44.