Chemdat Yamim, Musar and customs based on Kabbalah and Ari z”l teachings, volumes 1-4, [unknown author]. Venice, 1763. Third edition. The book was divided into four parts in four separate volumes in that edition.
Some of the volumes contain numerous corrections and several [Kabbalah related] glosses in Eastern handwriting.
The “Chemdat Yamim” and the identity of its author remain at the center of a heated polemic. The Gaon Rabbi Ya’akov Emden was the first to vehemently oppose that book, claiming that it was authored by Nathan Ha-Azati – Shabtay Zvi’s “prophet”, and that it was filled with Shabtay affiliated concepts. Following Rabbi Ya’akov Emden, many congregations banned the book. Others opposed and tried to save the book’s honor. They were led by Rabbi Menachem Menchin Halperin – a Jerusalem Mekubal – in his book “Kevod Chachamim”, which, among other things, pointed out the fact that the book was approved and recommended by great rabbis.
The identity of this book’s author remains unknown. (Refer to A Ya’ari, “Ta’alumat Sefer”; D.S Kosovski, “Otzar Chemdat Yamim”).
26 cm. Volumes vary in conditions (Good-fair condition). Parts of the title pages are printed in red ink as well as the chapter headers.
From Dr. Israel Mehlman’s private collection – “Ginzei Israel”.