Shemonah She’arim [kabbalistic interpretations of Aggadic passages, and passages of the Zohar]. Contains Sha’ar Maamarei Razal and most of Sha’ar Maamarei Rashbi

(VITAL, CHAIM).

(Germany ?)

18th century

Hebrew Manuscript on paper. Precise, clear, 18th century Ashkenazic cursive hand. Previous owner’s inscription on first leaf stating the manuscript was purchased from “R. Moshe Azulai.”

The dissemination of the Kabbalistic teachings of R. Isaac Luria (The AR”I Za”L), follows a convoluted route. The recension recorded by his disciple, R. Chaim Vital has the reputation for being the most authoritative. However, different versions exist among Vital’s writings. The most important version, is that edited by his son Samuel Vital entitled “Shemonah She’arim” in which he categrized and divided his father’s writings into “Eight Gates” and included many of his own notes. This manuscript follows R. Samuel’s recension, includes his introduction and many of his own notes, which begin “Amar Shmuel,” (Samuel said). The manuscript spells out many kabbalistic abbreviations and is sometimes more precise than the standard published version; e.g. whereas the standard version often only provides the page number of the Zohar, the present manuscript states the name of the sidra as well. The original owner, R. Moshe Azulai, was the grandson of the Chid”a. He published many of his grandfather’s works, and was the author of Zichron Moshe and Lechem Min Ha-Shamayim (see Friedman, Otzar Ha-Rabanim 14402)