HaNephesh HaChachamah [“The Wise Soul”: Kabbalistic discourses on the fate awaiting the soul after death and the mystical significance of the commandments]. Includes commentaries of R. Moses de Leon and R. Joseph Gikatilia to the Passover Hagadah]

Estimate

$500–$700

Hammer price

$800

Historical auction record. Hammer prices exclude buyer’s premium and taxes.

author

Moses de Leon

printer

Konrad Waldkirch

Place

Basle

Publication

1608

Description

FIRST EDITION. Titile within typographical border

references

Vinograd, Basle 231; Prijs, Basle 194

summary

Moses de Leon of Guadalajara (c.1240-1305) was one of the greatest Spanish kabbalists of his day, indeed scholars have attributed to him - rather than to Rabbi Shimon bar Yochai, the putative author - the composition of the Zohar. Painstaking comparisons have been made of de Leon's other works, such as our HaNephesh HaChachamah, to ascertain whether there is any overlap with the Zohar in terms of style, language and terminology, as well as to determine whether the two kabbalistic systems are divergent or not. See G. Scholem, Major Trends in Jewish Mysticism (1967) pp. 159-204; see also EJ, Vol. XII, cols. 425-6

ff. (64). Trimmed, few stains, edges touch frayed. Modern boards. Sm. 4to

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