Sefer Biurim on Rashi.
With a Map of Eretz Yisrael and Illustration of Menorah
First Edition Venice, 1593
‘Sefer Biurim’ is a deep and fundamental commentary on Rashi on Chamisha Chumshei Torah, attributed to Rav Nosson Shapira of Horodna.
The sefer contains a map of Eretz Yisrael, one of the earliest printed maps of Eretz Yisrael. There is a depiction of the menorah on a full page, and there are illustrations showing the spies carrying a cluster of grapes and Yaakov’s ladder according to kabbalah.
The title page states that this work was written by Rav Nosson Shapira (grandfather of the Megaleh Amukos), one of the leading Rabbanim in Poland in the 17th century. However, Rav Nosson’s son, Rav Yitzchak, writes in his introduction to sefer ‘Imrei Shefer’ that this is a forgery and that it was not written by his father. As a result, the heads of the Va’ad Arba Aratzos issued a severe ban against selling the sefer.
However, some claim that the main part of the sefer is indeed by Rav Nosson Shapira, and that this is the early version of the sefer ‘Imrei Shefer’ and was probably written by one of his students.
Venice, 1593. First edition.
Page Count: 180 leaves.
Size: 19.2 cm.
Condition: Restored holes in first and last pages. Map slightly trimmed at margins. Some stains. Antique leather binding (slightly damaged). There are several glosses and corrections in antique handwriting from two different writers.
