Benjamin ben Eliezer HaKohen Vitale. Kavanoth [mystical meditations]

(LITURGY)

Italy

18th century

Manuscript in Hebrew, written in a semi-cursive Italian hand on paper. Two volumes.

The Kabbalistic intentions to the Siddur, arranged in two parts by R. Binyamin Cohen who collected them from the disciples of the Ariza”l. R. Binyamin Vitale (1651-1730), was among the leading disciples of R. Moshe Zacuto in Mantua. He served as rabbi in his native Piedmontese town of Alessandria until 1682 and afterward in Reggio. He became well-known as a preacher and poet, but in particular as a kabbalist, considered one of the major exponents of Lurianic Kabbalah in Italy. He also wrote numerous notes and glosses to the Ari’s works, some of which were published together with his master’s writings.