Manuscript, Sefer HaBeriah by Nathan of Gaza. [Italy, 17th/18th century].

Italian semi-cursive script.

The present manuscript was handwritten by the scribe and disciple of the kabbalist R. Binyamin HaKohen (Rabach) of Reggio. It contains extracts from the three parts of Sefer HaBeriah attributed to Nathan of Gaza. Leaves 2-52, comprising most of the first part of the work, also called Raza DeUvda DiBereshit; leaves 53-62 and 75-81 contain extracts from the second part of the work; and leaves 63-72 contain part of a work which is sometimes recorded as a third part of Sefer HaBeriah (see Benayahu, below). All three parts are incomplete in the present manuscript. Marginal glosses, also in the scribe's handwriting.

A parallel manuscript of Sefer HaBeriah, with the first leaves written by R. Binyamin HaKohen and the remainder by the scribe of the present manuscript (with R. Binyamin HaKohen's marginal glosses), is Berlin State Library Ms. Or. Oct. 3077. Another parallel manuscript, written by the scribe of the present manuscript, is Budapest Ms. A 184.

An important part of the kabbalistic works of Nathan of Gaza, the prophet of the false messiah Shabtai Tzvi, have reached us through copies produced by the circle of R. Binyamin HaKohen in Italy. On this phenomenon, on the different parts of the work, on the scribe of the present manuscript and other manuscripts he copied, see: M. Benayahu, Sefunot, XIV, Jerusalem 1971-1978, pp. 339ff.

[81] leaves (leaves 1 and 73-74 are blank). 25 cm. Fair-good condition. Stains, including large dampstains. Wear and tears to margins. Tears to several leaves, slightly affecting text, repaired with paper filling. New binding.