Sepher Derech Eitz Chaim.

VITAL, CHAIM.

(Poland)

18th century

Manuscript in Hebrew, written in a neat Aschkenazic hand, on paper. With additional recorded comments by Ya’akov Tzemach, entitled “Tzemach.” Marginalia. Inscription of previous owner Yehudah Tzvi Katz of Rohatyn on title.

This fundamental text is the authoritative summary of Lurianic Kabbalah as transmitted by R. Isaac Luria to his senior disciple, R. Chaim Vital, whose most comprehensive recension was edited by R. Meir Poppers, a disciple of R. Ya’akov Tzemach - colleague of R. Shmuel Vital. The text of the present manuscript commences with Sha’ar HaKelalim and concludes with Sha’ar Reish Peh Chet Nitzutzim. This comprises most of of the first volume as recorded in the Brandwein edition of Eitz Chaim (Jerusalem, 1988). However, this manuscript contains many textual variants, diagrams and entire passages both in the text and in the notes of R. Ya’akov Tzemach that are not found in Brandwein’s edition. For example, chapter six of Sha’ar Ha’akudim contains a lengthy Mahadura Bathra (ff. 69a-70b), eight entire lines (ff. 81b-82a) and both introductions by R. Meir Poppers and R. Chaim Vital contain many textual variants from the published edition. See Y. Avivi, Kabbalath Ha’Ari, Vol. II, pp. 640-47; G. Scholem, Kabbalah p. 425.