Auction 67 - Judaica - Books, Manuscripts, Rabbinical Letters, Ceremonial Art
Sefer HaKuzari - Venice, 1594 - Signature of R. Yitzchak Refael Finzi Rabbi of Padua
Opening: $800
Sold for: $1,125
Including buyer's premium
Sefer HaKuzari, based on the debate of R. Yitzchak HaSangri, composed in Arabic by R. Yehuda HaLevi, with the Kol Yehuda commentary, by R. Yehuda Moscato. Venice: Zuan (Giovanni) de Gara, 1594. First edition of the Kol Yehuda commentary.
Signature of R. Yitzchak Refael Finzi on the title page: "Came into my possession, Yitzchak Refael son of R. Elisha Michael Finzi, here Moncalvo, 1765". Another signature (trimmed) at the foot of the title page: "Yitzchak Ref—Finzi -". Another inscription (starts above the title and ends at the bottom of the title page): "Acquired with my money, Yitzchak Faradji, for the sum of 2 ducats, [1648 or 1643]".
A trimmed inscription at the top of the title page: "[Acquired with my money… I earned it through] lots from R. Eliya Lattes".
R. Yitzchak Refael Finzi (d. 1813), a leading Italian Torah scholar, rabbi of Padua. He was one of the rabbis invited to serve as members of Napoleon's Sanhedrin in Paris, 1806. A disciple of R. Yitzchak Lampronti, author of Pachad Yitzchak, he later served as rabbi and Torah disseminator in many Italian communities. He was appointed rabbi of Padua in 1786. His disciple, R. Mordechai Shmuel Ghirondi, portrays him at length in his book Toldot Gedolei Yisrael UGeonei Italia (pp. 126-132). He describes how he edified close to one hundred disciples in the years he served as rabbi of Padua, and his fame spread far and wide, to the extent that the leading Torah scholars of the generation considered him a Rishon. In regard to R. Yitzchak Refael's exceptional oratory skills, he attests that even non-Jewish scholars, priests and ministers would come to hear his lengthy and profound discourses. R. Ghirondi also records that he was invited to join Napoleon's Sanhedrin, where he was received with great honor and seated beside the president of the Sanhedrin, R. Yosef David Sinzheim. His works remained in manuscript form, yet teachings in his name were printed in Ikrei HaDat by his colleague, R. Daniel Tirani.
299 leaves. 19 cm. Good condition. Stains and dampstains. Dark stains to several leaves. Old binding.
Signature of R. Yitzchak Refael Finzi on the title page: "Came into my possession, Yitzchak Refael son of R. Elisha Michael Finzi, here Moncalvo, 1765". Another signature (trimmed) at the foot of the title page: "Yitzchak Ref—Finzi -". Another inscription (starts above the title and ends at the bottom of the title page): "Acquired with my money, Yitzchak Faradji, for the sum of 2 ducats, [1648 or 1643]".
A trimmed inscription at the top of the title page: "[Acquired with my money… I earned it through] lots from R. Eliya Lattes".
R. Yitzchak Refael Finzi (d. 1813), a leading Italian Torah scholar, rabbi of Padua. He was one of the rabbis invited to serve as members of Napoleon's Sanhedrin in Paris, 1806. A disciple of R. Yitzchak Lampronti, author of Pachad Yitzchak, he later served as rabbi and Torah disseminator in many Italian communities. He was appointed rabbi of Padua in 1786. His disciple, R. Mordechai Shmuel Ghirondi, portrays him at length in his book Toldot Gedolei Yisrael UGeonei Italia (pp. 126-132). He describes how he edified close to one hundred disciples in the years he served as rabbi of Padua, and his fame spread far and wide, to the extent that the leading Torah scholars of the generation considered him a Rishon. In regard to R. Yitzchak Refael's exceptional oratory skills, he attests that even non-Jewish scholars, priests and ministers would come to hear his lengthy and profound discourses. R. Ghirondi also records that he was invited to join Napoleon's Sanhedrin, where he was received with great honor and seated beside the president of the Sanhedrin, R. Yosef David Sinzheim. His works remained in manuscript form, yet teachings in his name were printed in Ikrei HaDat by his colleague, R. Daniel Tirani.
299 leaves. 19 cm. Good condition. Stains and dampstains. Dark stains to several leaves. Old binding.
Early Printed books
Early Printed books