Gagin, Chaim Abraham. Sepher HaTakanoth VeHaskamoth.

(ISRAEL, LAND OF).

Israel Bak

Jerusalem

1842

FIRST EDITION. Title within decorative architectural frame. Additional letterpress title after introduction. This copy with the scarce additional page of approbations at end. Marginal notations.

Vinograd, Jerusalem 14; Halevy 3.

Compendium of rites and customs as practiced in the City of Jerusalem. R.Gagin (1787-1848) was Chief Rabbi of Jerusalem, and the first to carry the official title of Haham Bashi. He was the son-in-law of the Kabbalist Shalom Sharabi. He was instrumental in the publication of manuscripts by other major Rabbinical scholars and kabbalists; for example, Kedushath Yom Tov by the Mahrit Algazi. See also the introduction by Gagin to his father in-law’s work, Divrei Shalom where he defends his use of the title Haham Bashi. Shoshana Halevy saw only two copies of this work, of which only one had the final leaf of approbations. The approbations contain valuable information concerning the founding of Bak’s printing press and the economic boon it would bring to Jerusalem.