Zohar, Part 2, Shemot [Mantua 1558]. First printing of the Zohar, after rabbis removed the ban on its printing, which lasted for the first 90 years of Hebrew printing. While it was in the process of printing, Cremona printers began printing the Zohar. The last volumes were printed in Cremona before they were printed in Mantua. The leaves offered here [removed from the "binding geniza"] contain hundreds of corrections and glosses in an ancient Oriental writing characteristic to the 16th and 17th centuries. The content of the glosses include: version corrections, commentaries and novellae, compilations from Sefer HaBahir and other books, as well as titles, summaries of content and sources. It is highly probable that the version corrections in this manuscript were done according to early manuscripts of the Zohar available in those years. According to the content of the glosses, the writer was an important Kabbalist. On Leaf 227/a is an ownership inscription from a later time, in scribal writing: “Eliyahu Evizrat”. [119] leaves and leaf fragments (originally 269 leaves). Varying size. Very poor condition, most leaves have damages to text and open tears. Major wear, dampness and glue stains. Old damaged binding.

Or Yisrael, on Kabbalistic matters and a commentary on the Zohar and novellae on Shulchan Aruch Orach Chaim, by Rabbi Yisrael son of Rabbi Aharon Av Beit Din of Shklow. Frankfurt an der Oder, [1702]. Illustrated title page. On the endpapers are signatures of Rabbi "Yechiel HaLevi Landau" [son-in-law of the first Radomsko Rebbe Shlomo Rabinowitz, author of Tiferet Shlomo], and of his son Rebbe "Paltiel Shimon HaLevi Landau". The author: Rabbi Yisrael Yaffe Av Beit Din of Shklow (1740-1808), was one of the first rabbis of Shklow (Belarus), an outstanding Torah scholar and holy man immersed in Kabbalistic wisdom. In several places in this book he recounts amazing details of his holy conduct and that he merited ru'ach hakodesh and Eliyahu's revelation. In his books, he warns against useless discussions of various preachers, against cantors who do not perform their duties with fear of Heaven and are satisfied with melodies, and rabbis who teach according to the Shulchan Aruch and abridged books of Jewish law and do not study the Talmud and the Rishonim themselves. He writes that the reason for the length of the exile and the many troubles is the neglect of study of Kabbalistic wisdom which is the spirit and soul of the Torah. After this book was published, opposition arose to alleged Sabbatean allusions found in the book. Rabbi Yisrael later wrote another work titled Tiferet Yisrael (see Item 43), which was only finally printed in 1774. In the introduction, the author writes an apology in which he explains to his progeny the reason readers erred and thought that he believed in Sabbatai Zevi, [due to Kabbalistic mention of the word Zvi in which he alluded to Eretz Yisrael, one of whose names is Eretz HaZvi and readers mistakenly thought that he was alluding to Sabbatai Zevi]. In the many approbations for Tiferet Yisrael and in the publisher’s introduction are words of justification attempting to clear the author from this error. [1], 7, 187 leaves. 32.5 cm. Good condition. Minor worming to margins of several leaves. New, elaborate binding, with leather spine.

Kabbalistic books printed in Germany at the beginning of the 18th century, 1700-1710s: 1-2. Or Ne'erav, by Rabbi Moshe Cordovero – the Ramak. [Furth, 1701]. · Bound with: The introduction to Eshel Avraham, Kabbalistic matters. Rabbi Mordechai Ashkenazi. Furth, [1701]. The introduction was printed as a separate book. 40, [1] leaves; 22 leaves. 16.5 cm. High-quality paper, good condition. 3-4. Bat Melech, Kabbalistic matters and segulot, by Rabbi Shimon Abayov of Hebron. Venice, [1712] with approbations by Rabbi Naftali HaCohen of Frankfurt and the Maharshashach. · Bound with the book Zera Kodesh Matzavta, dealing with topics connected to circumcision, by the Kabbalist Rabbi Moshe Graff. [Venice-Frankfurt am Main, 1711-1712. Excerpt at the end of the book: "Partially printed in Frankfurt" – the two books were first printed in Frankfurt am Main, but most of the printed sheets were consumed in the great fire which erupted in the Jewish ghetto in January 1711. Some of the leaves of Zera Kodesh were salvaged and integrated into the complete edition of both books reprinted in the Bragadini printing press in Venice]. 20 leaves; 44 leaves. 16 cm. Fair condition, major wear. Four books in 2 volumes.