Yalkut Reuveni [kabbalistic homilies] with additions “Shikchath Leket” by Nathan of Frankfurt

KATZ, REUBEN BEN HOESHKE

Emmanuel Attias

Amsterdam

1700

Third edition. Title within typographic border. Head- and tailpieces. On ff. 74v., 112r., 130v., 154v. elaborate headpiece of a bear hunt. Divisional title. Owner's signatures front and back

Vinograd, Amsterdam 691

The title, Yalkut Reuveni, is in imitation of the earlier collection on Bible, Yalkut Shim’oni by Simeon of Frankfurt (13th century). Whereas the earlier Yalkut was based on exoteric materials, for the most part, Yalkut Reuveni anthologizes kabbalistic interpretations. Besides the obvious connection of the title to the author (Reubeni—Reuben), in his introduction, the author turns “Reubeni” into initials for Razei Oraitha Ve-kabbalah Bi-kethivah Ne’imah Yehavith (Mysteries of Torah and Kabbalah in Pleasant Script). The present edition of Yalkut Reuveni is sometimes referred to as “Ha-Gadol” (the Large), to differentiate it from the shorter Yalkut Reuveni published in Prague in1660. The contents of our volume are arranged according to the Torah portion of the week, whereas the editio princeps is arranged topically