Mitpachath Sepharim [“Wrapping of Books”]

EMDEN, JACOB

By The Author

Altona

1768

FIRST EDITION. Scattered marginalia in various hands. Previous owners' stamps and signature, including R. Chaim Nathan Nata Friedman, Rabbi of Tchervin and Eliezer Sirkis of Zgierz, the reknowned philanthropist, collector and Gerrer Chasid

Vinograd, Altona 88; Mehlman 1050; Raphael no. 14

Jacob Emden’s Vituperative Attack upon the Zohar Seminal polemic against the Zohar and the undue influence this primary Kabbalistic text held among the Sabbatians. In this copy many of the controversial passages have been delineated in pencil. See for example f.10v. where Emden writes: “My heart is bitter and broken to see what is written and what is regarded by some as a holy book (i.e the Zohar), for it is in fact absurd and illogical. To corrupt our mother’s Torah and attribute such nonsense to R. Shimon Bar Yochai is shameful. Whomsoever believes such will be stricken with leprosy.“ In many places Emden bemoans the fact that the “wicked, accursed group” of followers of Shabbetai Tzvi utilized certain passages for their nefarious purposes. “They will even accost a donkey in the marketplace.” (ff. 17v and 32r). The marginalia on ff. 5b 8b state the R. Zalman of Volozhin in his Toldoth Adam responds to Emden's queries "Betuv Ta’am" - in an excellent manner