Sefer Meddaber Kadmot. Yisah Me-Deberotav
Warsaw: Joseph Levensohn, 1890. First edition. Paperback. Octavo, 96pp. Gray plain wrappers. Decorative ruling on title page. Haim Yosef David Azulai ben Isaac Zerachia (1724 –1806) was a Jerusalem born rabbinical scholar, a noted bibliophile, and a pioneer in the publication of Jewish religious writings. Haim Yosef David Azulai was born in Jerusalem, where he received his education from some local prominent scholars. In 1755, he was — on the basis of his scholarship — elected to become an emissary (shaliach) for the small Jewish community in the Land of Israel, and he would travel around Europe extensively, making an impression in every Jewish community that he visited. According to some records, he left the Land of Israel three times (1755, 1770, and 1781), living in Hebron in the meantime. His travels took him to Western Europe, North Africa, and — according to legend — to Lithuania, where he met the Vilna Gaon. In 1755 he was in Germany, in 1764 he was in Egypt, and in 1773 he was in Tunis, Morocco, and Italy. He seems to have remained in latter country until 1777, most probably occupied with the printing of the first part of his biographical dictionary, Shem HaGedolim, (Livorno, 1774), and with his notes on the Shulhan Aruch, entitled Birke Yosef, (Livorno, 1774–76). In 1777 he was in France, and in 1778 in Holland. Wherever he went, he would examine collections of manuscripts of rabbinic literature, which he later documented in his Shem HaGedolim. He had been married twice; he had two sons by the names of Abraham and Raphael Isaiah Azulai. Azulai's scholarship made him so famous that in 1755 he was chosen as meshullach, (emissary), an honor bestowed on such men only as were, by their learning, well fitted to represent the Holy Land in Europe, where the people looked upon a rabbi from the land of Israel as a model of learning and piety. Azulai's literary activity is of an astonishing breadth. It encompasses every area of rabbinic literature: Exegesis, Homiletics, Casuistry, Kabbalah, Liturgics, and Literary History. A voracious reader, he noted all historical references; and on his travels he visited the famous libraries of Italy, Germany and France, where he examined the Hebrew manuscripts. Azulai was a most prolific author. His works range from a prayer book he edited and saw through to publication ('Tefillat Yesharim') to a vast spectrum of Halachic literature including his commentary on the Shulhan Aruch titled 'Birkei Yosef'. Despite his Sephardi heritage, he appears to have been particularly fond of the Chasidei Ashkenaz (a group Medieval German rabbis, notably Judah the Chasid). Text in Hebrew. Minor staining of title page and edges, age-toning and minor sporadic foxing of the block. Wrappers and interior in overall good condition. g. Item #39370
Price: $125.00