Pelach ha-Rimon [Commentary to Agadah]

BEZALEL BEN SOLOMON OF KOBRIN.

Shlomo Zalman ben Jacob Kalmankes Jaffe

Lublin

(1665)

Second Edition. Title within typographic border. Double margins. Rash”i letters. Scattered marginalia

Vinograd, Lublin 221 (not found in JNUL); St. 4594-5

RARE LUBLIN EDITION OF A MASTERPIECE OF KABBALISTIC HOMILETICS In this work, the famed darshan or preacher of Slutzk, Lithuania, Bezalel ben Solomon, attempts to explain a myth cited in Megaleh Amukoth by Nathan Shapiro of Cracow, that the guardian angel of Egypt, named “Ammon of No,” makes accusation against the Jewish People for having sacrificed a ram instead of Isaac, and for having sold Joseph into slavery. The original manuscript of Pelach ha-Rimon contained forty-nine “ophanim” or methods of exposition. Of these, only twenty were published. Later authors purloined portions of Pelach ha-Rimon, failing to credit its author. See B. Naor, Haggadah Aviv ha-Olam (2004), Appendix, pp. 15-16. See JE, Vol. III, p. 136