The Ramak’s Kabbalah:
Asis Rimonim, the Edition of the Rema of Pano
Mantua, 1623
An abridged version of the sefer ‘Pardes Rimonim’ by Rabbeinu Moshe Cordovero, the Ramak, by his talmid Rabbi Shmuel Gallico.
This is the first printing of the sefer, as edited and corrected by the greatest of Italian mekubalim, Rabbeinu Menachem Azarya (the Rema) of Pano.
Sefer ‘Pardes Rimonim’ is the most fundamental sefer "for anyone who enters the pardes (orchard) of wisdom", which is the classic reference to the study of kabbalah. Since the Ramak’s writings were written in a deep and lengthy style, numerous kabbalistic scholars created abridged versions of his work. This sefer, Asis Rimonim, is the first and earliest such abridged work.
This version is very different from the first printed version (Venice, 1601), to the extent that some considered the sefer almost like a new work.
The Rema writes about the sefer in his introduction: "I loved it deeply", and he was pained that only the faulty version was printed, and therefore he took upon himself the task of improving the text, based on manuscripts, with many additions of corrections and changes.
Mantua, 1623. First edition of the Rema of Pano’s version.
Page Count: 67 leaves.
Size: 19.5 cm.
Condition: Good; isolated holes and some stains. Elegant leather binding. Signature on title page. In six chapter headings, the chapter name is written in early Italian handwriting.
Provenance: Lonzer – Valmadona Collection.
Bibliography: Stefansky Sifrei Yesod, #344 in notes; M. Wilensky, from Manuscripts, HUCA, 14, 1939, pp. 467-478.
