PENTATEUCH, HAPHTAROTH AND FIVE SCROLLS). Chamishah Chumshei Torah

(BIBLE,

Daniel Bomberg

Venice

1548

With Targum Onkelos and commentaries by Rash”i, Ramba”n (Nachmanides) and supercommentary on Ramba”n by R. Isaac Aboab. Haphtaroth according to the Sephardic and Aschkenazic rite. Title within woodcut architectural arch. Divisional title (Haphtaroth). Regal stamps of “Kloiz Kadisha de-Admo”r Shelit”a mi-Boyan” [Holy Conventicle of Rebbe of Boyan], showing two lions and a crown

Vinograd, Venice 336; Habermann, Bomberg 211; Darlow & Moule (noted not listed) following no.5093; Adams B-1268

The popularity of Nachmanides’' commentary is evident from its many publications both separately and as part of the Mikra'oth Gedoloth. As early as the 15th-century, scholars saw the need for a supercommentary. R. Isaac Aboab (1433-93), referred to as the “last gaon of Castille,” composed one of the most important of these supercommentaries. It was first published independently, in Constantinople in 1525. There seems to have been a demand for it to be published together with the text of the Pentateuch and the Ramba"n so that both commentaries would be more intelligible and immediately accessible. The present volume constitutes the first publication of the text of both commentaries together, side by side, on the same page. The Rebbe of Boyan, R. Isaac Friedman (1850-1917), was a grandson of R. Israel Friedman, progenitor of the regal Ruzhin dynasty of Chassidism