Livyath Chen [Hebrew grammar]

IMMANUEL BEN JEKUTHIEL OF BENEVENTO

Jacob ben Naphtali Hakohen

Mantua

1557

FIRST EDITION. Title within woodcut architectural arch. With signature of Gur Aryeh Halevi (Gal”i) on title and his marginal notes throughout. Final leaf contains signature Moshe Ish Tov Halevi.

Vinograd, Mantua 39; Mehlman 1239.

The author, a highly regarded Italian Kabbalist, helped facilitate the first printing of the Zohar in Mantua in 1558. A mystical element clearly influences the Livyath Chen, indeed passages from the Zohar are found therein. See I. Tishbi, Kovetz Perakim, Vol. I, pp. 148-153. The signatory Gur Aryeh Halevi (Finzi) was Rabbi in Mantua during the 17th century. His commentary Gur Aryeh on Shulchan Aruch was published in Mantua, 1722-23. The signatory Moshe Ish Tov Halevi, a communal leader in Verona in the 17th century is cited in Pinkas Kahal Verona p. 132. (Further information concerning the signatories accompanies the lot).