(The SHeLa”H Hakodosh). Shnei Luchoth Habrith. Issued with Vavei Amudim by Horowitz’s son Shabtai Sheftel

HOROWITZ, ISAIAH BEN ABRAHAM HALEVI

Immanuel ben Joseph Athias

Amsterdam

1698

Third edition. With finely engraved frontispiece by Abraham ben Jacob (See M.H.Gans, Memorbook: History of Dutch Jewry” (1971) p.141)

Vinograd, Amsterdam 668; Fuks, Amstersdam 405

This edition of the SHeLa”H’s extensive work on Halachah, Kabbalah and ethical philosophy is considered one of the most beautifully produced of Hebrew printed books. Chassidim consider the publication year of this edition as especially noteworthy, as it was the year the venerable Baal Shem Tov was born. Many of the teachings of Chassiduth have their source in the SHela"H HaKadosh Part Code and part Kabbalistic treatise, the Shnei Luchoth Habrith exerted great influence on the life of the Jews of Eastern Europe and helped, more than any other book, to introduce the Kabbalah into daily religious life. “Horowitz introduced many customs in the ritual and in the observance of other laws which have no basis otherwise, except in the Kabbalah, and because of his authority were accepted by a great part of Jewry.” M. Waxman, History of Jewish Literature, Vol. II pp. 420-1