Rishon Letzion by the Ohr Hachaim Hakadosh
Constantinople, 1750. First Edition
Chiddushim on seven masechtos in Shas, Rambam, Shulchan Aruch and the Nevi’im and Kesuvim by Rabbeinu Chaim ben Attar, the Ohr Hachaim.
These chiddushim were the very first ones taught by the Ohr Hachaim after arriving in the holy city of Jerusalem.
His students write in their preface to the sefer: “We heard directly from the sacred mouth of the author zt”l that he decided to call it ‘Rishon Letzion’ as it was the first of his offerings upon the holy soil.”
The present sefer was the very last work authored by the Ohr Hachaim, and he compiled it while learning in his famed Yeshivas Knesses Yisrael which he founded shortly after he arrived in the Holy Land.
All of the Ohr Hachaim’s sefarim are universally acclaimed and studied in depth by all Jewish congregations. Rabbi Chaim Palagi referred to this sefer as “The awesome sefer Rishon Letzion” (Artzos Hachaim Shaar 10 #3).
The page following the title page features an impressive, half-page illustration of Har Habayis.
Constantinople, 1750. First Edition. Page Count: [2], 139 leaves. Condition: Good with attractive margins. Miniscule holes in the margins of several pages and stains. Last page is glued. New binding.
Bibliography: Stefansky, Sifrei Yesod, p. 74 in notes
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The Chida was privileged to study in the Ohr Hachaim’s venerated yeshivah. In his monumental work Shem HaGedolim, he vividly describes the awe-inspiring attributes of his spiritual master, the Ohr Hachaim.
“The greatness of his Torah uproots the highest mountains, and his sanctity is a wonder of wonders…In our generation, the Rav’s heart was awe-inspiring in learning, and he was as a gushing spring…and he compiled…Rishon Letzion, Pri Toar, Ohr Hachaim, and his wisdom is manifest from his works, but this is just a tenth of his genius and depth of his heart. Sanctity hovers upon him all day, and he is removed from the matters of this world…”
