KATZ, REUVEN. Yalkut Reuveni.

(KABBALAH).

Joseph and Judah Bak

Prague

1660

Vinograd, Prague 428

The title, Yalkut Reuveni, is in imitation of the earlier collection on Bible, Yalkut Shim’oni by Shimon of Frankfurt (13th century), but whereas the earlier Yalkut was based on exoteric materials, for the most part Yalkut Reuveni focuses on Kabbalistic interpretations. Besides the obvious connection of the title to the author (Reubeni - Reuben), in his introduction, the author turns “Reuveni” into initials for Razei Oraitha VeKabbalah BeKethivah Ne’imah Yehavith (“Mysteries of Torah and Kabbalah in Pleasant Script.”). The author, Abraham Reuben HaKohen Sofer of Prague (d. 1673), was the grandson of the illustrious preacher and author of Kli Yakar, R. Shlomo Ephraim of Luntshits. (Reuben’s father Hoeshke [Joshua] married Luntshits’ daughter.) In addition to Yalkut Reuveni, Katz authored two other works of Kabbalah, Oneg Shabbath and Davar ShebeKedusha (both Sulzbach, 1684). Our volume is sometimes referred to as “HaKatzar” (the Short) to differentiate it from the longer Yalkut Reuveni (“HaGadol”) published in Wilmersdorf in 1681 after the author’s death. The contents of our volume are arranged topically in alphabetical order, whereas the Wilhermsdorf edition is arranged according to the Torah portions of the week.