Shulchan Aruch al Derech Ha’Emeth [i.e. Nagid U’Metzaveh]. With: Tikunei Teshuva.

TZEMACH, YA’AKOV BEN CHAIM.

26th Iyar

Meron

1646

Manuscript in Hebrew written in a semi-cursive Sephardic hand on paper. Marginalia in another hand. * Accompanied by a detailed description by Prof. Yosef Avivi.

This manuscript, with the title “Shulchan Aruch al Derech HaEmeth” is a different recension of the popular “Nagid U’Metzaveh” customs and laws extracted from the writings of the Ar’i za’l. Nagid U’Metzaveh served as the basis for the “Shulchan Aruch shel Ha’Ari” published in Prague, 1660, which in turn served as the source for the Kabbalistic customs cited by the Magen Avraham in his commentary to Shulchan Aruch Orach Chaim (see Y. Avivi, Kabbalath Ha’ari, Vol. II, pp. 752-53). This text thus served as the vehicle for the introduction of Lurianic customs into classical halachic works. R. Ya’akov Tzemach (c.1580-1667) was born in Lisbon and moved to Salonika where he returned to live a fully Jewish life. His studies took him to Damascus and to Safed where he became the foremost student of R. Shmuel Vital. Gershom Scholem stated another factor noting the importance of Ya’akov Tzemach’s work: "As regards Luria's personality, it is fortunate that Vital…jotted down hundreds of personal traits…(many collected in) Nagid U'Mezaveh." (See Scholem, Major Trends, p. 255, note 2a) See also Scholem's article "Letoldot hamekubal R. Yaakov Zemah U'Peulato Hasifrutit", Kiryat Sepher 1950, Vol 26, pp. 185-194 and I. Sonne's comments "Leklaster Panav shel Rabbi Yaakov Zemach", KS 1951, Vol 27, 97-106 and Scholem's rejoinder, ibid p. 107-109. In this manuscript ff. 65-71 are written in a different hand and contain Tikunei Teshuvah - atonements for various sins, based on the principles of Lurianic Kabbalah. According to Avivi, the material presented here differs significantly from other Tikunim presented in the writings of other disciples of the Ar”i such as R. Chaim Vital, R.Moshe Yonah and others. Included are atonements for specific sins such as seminal emissions, sexual immorality and more general sins such as Lashon Hara and Ga’ava (haughtiness). The colophon (f. 64a) notes that the manuscript was composed in Meron, alongside the grave of R. Shimon bar Yochai. MANUSCRIPTS WRITTEN IN MERON ARE MOST UNCOMMON, ESPECIALLY OF SUCH AN EARLY AGE.