Derech Emunah [“The Way of Faith”- kabbalah]

IBN GABBAI, MEIR.

Lorenzo Pasquato

Padua

1563

Second edition. Title within architectural arch incorporating vignette. Previous owner's inscription on final leaf v

Vinograd, Padua 1; JNUL copy incomplete; not in Adams

THE FIRST HEBREW BOOK PRINTED IN PADUA. Despite the ancient presence of the University - one of the great institutions of learning in Europe - only two Hebrew books were printed in Padua throughout the 16th century. See Amram, pp. 338-41 and 387-88. A Kabbalist of the generation of Spanish exiles, the details of Meir ibn Gabbai’s life are not known. He was one of the leading proponents of the view that the Sefiroth are the essence of Divinity. In Derech Emunah, which is writen as a Socratic dialogue, ibn Gabbai offers an explanation for the doctrine of the Sefiroth. For a brief biographical overview of the author see A. Yaari, Kiryat Sepher (1933) pp.388-93