Yosef Lekah (Increasing Learning); perush...'al Megilat Ester
Zholkva, Ukraine: Mordekhai Rabin, 1797. softcover. Octavo. 76pp. Rebound in blue marble paper wrappers. Title page in Hebrew block lettering with decorative horizontal line and border. Ashkenazi was a Talmudist, rabbi, physician and scholar. He served in Egypt, Cremona, Prague and Cracow. In 1576 he published "Yosef Lekah (Increases Learning), dedicated to Joseph Nasi, duke of Naxos. This work is a commentary on the biblical book of Esther. Esther's life as a secret Jew, who helped her people is a useful model for that of Joseph Nasi, who was born as a converso, but later greatly aided Jews in Italy and in the East through his close relationship with the Ottoman sultan. Corners bumped and creased. Title page and interior toned with occasional light foxing and smudges. Notes in ink on the title page from a previous owner, and faded ink stamp with inscription in Cyrillic characters on the final leaf. Closed tear on one leaf with no loss of text. Binding in very good condition, interior in good condition overall. Text in Hebrew. g to vg. Item #34441
References: OCLC 1493138359; Vinograd (Zolkiew) 504.
Price: $350.00