Sefer Yesod: She’eilos U’Tshuvos Chacham Tzvi
First Edition. Amsterdam, 1712. Wide Margins
With handwritten signature of the
Merkeves HaMishnah!
169 questions and responses, chiddushim and explanations by Rabbi Tzvi Ashkenazi, Av Bais Din of the Ashkenazi community in Amsterdam.
One of the most important sefarim
of She’eilos U’tshuvos!
In the sefer’s introduction, the Chacham Tzvi relates some of his turbulent experiences and praises the Amsterdam printing press as "unmatched in the land".
Rabbi Tzvi Ashkenazi (1658-1718) was among the greatest Torah scholars of his generation. He wandered throughout Europe serving as Rabbi in many communities, and in his later years served as Ashkenazi Av Bais Din in Amsterdam, until he was forced to leave due to his battle against Sabbatean influences in the city. (See response regarding Sabbateans: Chapter 13).
Many illustrious families and great Torah and Chassidic leaders in subsequent generations descended from him.
Rabbeinu Ya’avetz said about his father, author of ‘Chacham Tzvi’: "From him came forth rulings as from the Rashba in his generation".
She’eilas HaGolem: In Chapter 93, Rabbi Ashkenazy deals with a fascinating halachic question regarding counting as part of a minyan a golem created through Holy Names! He mentions his grandfather Rabbi Eliyahu Baal Shem of Chelm, who was reported to have created such a golem. He ultimately rules that it cannot be counted in a minyan.
Amsterdam 1712. First edition, published during the author’s lifetime. Text correction on leaf 20b. Signature of Rabbi Berel Chamadish.
Page Count: [1] 127 leaves.
Size: 32 cm.
Condition: Overall good condition; damage to margins of title page without affecting text; professional restoration on several pages. Stains; wear in corners; some holes.
New leather binding.
Bibliography: Stefansky Sifrei Yesod, No. 304.
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This was the copy of the holy Gaon Rabbi Shlomo of Chelm, author of Merkeves HaMishnah, who passed away in 1781. His beautiful signature appears on the title page from his tenure in the Zamość community. Around 1771, he began serving as Rabbi of Lvov, where the Chacham Tzvi had served decades earlier in his final years. According to tradition, he passed away in Thessaloniki while en route to Eretz Yisrael.
Rabbi Shlomo was the brother-in-law of Rabbi Meir of Old Constantinople, grandson of the Chacham Tzvi.
