Foundations of Kabbalah: Sefer Avodas Hakodesh
Cracow, 1576
Rare Edition
Sefer Avodas Hakodesh containing deep kabbalistic teachings concerning the foundations of Torah, by
the holy mekubal Rabbi Meir ibn Gabai (approx. 1480-1540) who was one of the Sephardic kabbalists in the generation of the expulsion, and among the earliest Achronim.
This sefer was widely accepted as one of the important kabbalistic works. The Shl”a quotes from it dozens of times and the Maharal of Prague writes about one of its explanations that "this interpretation is extremely profound."
"Indeed, in praise of this precious sefer – time would end but its praises would not end." (From the title page.)
This is the second edition, and the first to be called ‘Avodas Hakodesh’, as subsequent editions were also titled. The first edition was called by a different name: ‘Maros Elokim’ (Venice 1567), and its title page has entirely different text.
The Shl”a apparently learned from the Cracow edition, as in the dozens of times he quotes from the sefer, he refers to it as ‘Avodas Hakodesh’.
The sefer is divided into four sections that bring a person to the perfection of serving the Creator, which is "avodas hakodesh": Section of Unity, Section of Service, Section of Purpose, Section of Torah Secrets.
Cracow, 1576-1577.
Page Count: 139 leaves.
Condition: Good. Restored tear in title page, small tears in last leaf. Minor staining. Elegant new leather binding.
Provenance: Lonzer – Valmadona Collection.
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On the title page is a beautiful illustration of a deer, alluding to the name of the publisher Rabbi Tzvi ben Hakadosh Rabbi Yitzchak. Printed beside the illustration is the verse, "And he is mighty as a lion and runs like a deer, to do his Creator’s will in the land of the deer, " alluding to the publisher’s desire to immigrate to Eretz Yisrael after completing the printing, as he writes in his important introduction.
