Nagid U’Metzaveh [Kabbalah]. With: Nachman Ketufa (attributed). Nevua’th HaYeled [eschatological prophecies].

TZEMACH, YA’AKOV BEN CHAIM

Jonah ben Jacob

Constantinople

1726

Marginalia.

Vinograd, Const. 423.

R. Ya’akov Tzemach (c.1580-1667) was the foremost student of R. Shmuel Vital. His Nagid U’Metzaveh served as the basis for the Shulchan Aruch shel Ha’Ari, 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. Nachman Ketufa is said to have been born in Eretz Israel in the late 5th century. On the first day of his life, he began speaking words of Torah. Shocked, his father silenced him, and the boy did not utter another word until his 12th birthday when he spontaneously began reciting a lengthy prophecy concerning the Messianic Age. Immediately upon completion, Nachman passed away, resulting in his monicker Ketufa, ‘The One who was Cut Short.’