Sepher ha-Ibronoth [astronomy and calculations of intercalation and the Jewish calendar].

BEILIN, ELIEZER

Jacob Marcaria

Riva di Trento

1561

Second Edition. Calendrical folding chart at conclusion of book

[Vinograd, Riva di Trento 33; Mehlman 1335].* Bound with: Single leaf from unidentified Hebrew scientific work (see below)

Maimonides devotes an entire section of his Mishneh Torah to what he regards as a positive commandment “to know how to determine which is the first day of each month of the year.” Sepher Ibronoth was prepared by Beilin as a manual “to help an individual fulfil these commandments.” Our work actually incorporates several small works: "Iggul de-Rabbi Nachshon" (f.8v.); Tekuphoth de-Rabbi Yitzchak be-Rabbi Shmuel (f.20v.); and Sepher Ra'amim (ff.26v.-27r.). See A. J. Karp, From the Ends of the Earth-Judaic Treasures of the Library of Congress, (1991), pp.197-8. Tipped in the beginning of the volume is a single leaf titled "Hekesh ha-Chilluf," which commences with a riddle of sorts concerning the immaterial nature of the soul. On the rear of the leaf we have a series of circles arranged in tree-like fashion (somewhat reminiscent of the Kabbalistic Ilan). This chart, entitled "Sug ha-Sugim" ["The Types of Species") deals with the different levels of being: tzome'ach (vegetable), chai (animal), medaber (homo sapiens), etc. Possibly extracted from the Shevilei Emunah, Riva di Trento 1558 (?)