Sepher HaTemunah. (Traditionally attributed to Ishmael the High Priest and Nechunyah ben Hakaneh). With anonymous commentary. Plus Sod Shem HaMephorash. ff. (1), 76. * Bound with : [Moshe ben Yaakov of Kiev]. Shoshan Sodoth. ff. 92, (2).

(KABBALAH).

Johann Anton Kreiger

Koretz

1784

Two works bound in one volume. BOTH FIRST EDITIONS. Wide margins. Numerous Kabbalistic charts.

Vinograd, Koretz 36, 38; Tauber Koretz 18, 23; Mehlman 1091; H. Liberman, Ohel Rachel Vol. I, pp. 93-104.

Two interesting Kabbalistic works published the same year. The first text is one of the most esoteric works of Kabbalistic literature. It’s importance lies in the theory of Shemitoth (cosmic cycles) and takes the form of a commentary on the shapes of the Hebrew alphabet. According to Scholem it originated in a circle associated with the kabbalists of Gerona (see Kabbalah p. 347). For more details see Ephraim Gottlieb’s excellent article in EJ, Vol. XV, col. 999. There is much debate as to the identity of the author of the second text, Shoshan Sodoth, a most important kabbalistic work. Although the title identifies the author as a disciple of Nachmanides, the present consensus based upon manuscripts of this work (Oxford, Paris and YIVO) is that the author is R. Moshe ben Yaakov of Kiev, also known as R. Moshe HaGoleh (1449-1520.) R. Moshe and the other Jews of Kiev were expelled from the city in 1495 and thus R. Moshe’s surname: “HaGoleh” (The Exiled). In 1506 he was captured by Tartar invaders and ransomed by the Jews of Crimea. He began this work during the year of his expulsion 1495 and completed it in Crimea in 1511. For a full discussion, see H. Liberman, Ohel Rachel Vol. I, pp. 93-104 especially n. 5.