Tzu"ph Deva"sh: Tzava'ath u-phithgam David ben Shelomo Altaras ["Honeycomb": Ethical Will of David ben Shelomo Altaras]

ALTARAS, DAVID

n.p.

Venice

1714

Title in Rashi script, text in square Hebrew characters, poem (ff.20-21) provided with nikud (vowel points). Title within typographic border. Tailpieces

Vinograd, Venice 1618

Rabbi of Venice, Altaras edited a daily prayer book (1696), as well as a vocalized edition of the Mishnah with short notes (1737). In this, his Ethical Will, Altaras forbade any eulogies after his passing. Likewise, he stipulated that no panegyrics be inscribed on his tombstone. Of halachic interest is Altaras' discussion herein of several foodstuffs, which from a point of view of kashruth, warrant meticulous attention: black olives which may have been prepared with wine vinegar; leafy vegetables, particularly spinach, which may contain insects; meat which has not been rinsed within the first three days after slaughter (due to the Christian observance of Lent), etc. This tribute to R. David Altaras was produced by his disciples. See JE, Vol. I, p. 469