Sefer Yesod: Birkei Yosef by the Chida
First Edition. Livorno, 1774.
The sefer ‘Birkei Yosef’ is a two-part work on the four sections of the Shulchan Aruch, containing thousands of rulings, notes, and references that were written and compiled by Rabbi Yosef Chaim David Azulai, the Chida.
This sefer has become one of the most important halachic works and serves as a cornerstone in Jewish law, particularly for the customs of Sephardic communities.
The sefer ‘Birkei Yosef’ is the largest halachic work ever authored by the Chida. Among his many writings, he had previously only printed ‘Sha’ar Yosef ‘ (Livorno 1757). Together with ‘Birkei Yosef’, he also printed ‘Shem HaGedolim’ Part 1 (Livorno 1774), followed by many other works in various fields of Torah, all of which show the tremendous scope and remarkable depth of the Chida.
The sefer was printed in two parts:
- Part 1: On Orach Chaim – 1774
- Part 2: On Yoreh De’ah, Even HaEzer, and Choshen Mishpat – 1776
At the end of Part 1, the Chida printed a pamphlet titled ‘Shiurei Beracha’, which contains additions and corrections to ‘Birkei Yosef’ that were made close to the time of printing. Similarly, at the end of Part 2, a pamphlet with additions and corrections to Part 2 was also printed.
The Chida wrote this work during his travels throughout the world as a "shadar", a fundraising emissary for the Old Yishuv in Eretz Yisrael. Wherever he went, he searched for ancient and rare manuscripts that had never been printed before and brought forth rulings and teachings from them. In places where sefarim were not available to him, he wrote and quoted from his immense memory.
Some have noted that the name ‘Birkei Yosef’ is particularly fitting, as it was not written sitting at a table, but rather on the "knees of Yosef" during his travels.
Rabbi Chaim Yosef David Azulai, known as the Chida (1724-1806), was one of the most renowned Jewish scholars of recent generations. Born in Jerusalem, he learned Torah from the holy Ohr HaChaim and Rashash. He traveled multiple times as a shadar to various countries, seeking out writings from our great sages, both Rishonim and Achronim. With his extraordinary genius, he quoted extensively from these sources in his many sefarim. He eventually settled in Italy, where he wrote most of his works, and passed away there.
"… Just as they said about the Rambam, ‘from Moshe to Moshe there arose none like Moshe, ‘ so it will be said now, ‘from Yosef to Yosef there arose none like Yosef.’ Meaning, from Rabbi Yosef Karo to the gaon Rabbi Yosef Azulai, there arose none like Yosef, for he produced many sefarim and filled the land with knowledge like the waters cover the sea, and he was a light to all of Israel. May there be many more like him among Israel…" (Ner Mitzvah by Rabbi Yehuda Sid, Saloniki 1810, page 145).
Livorno, 1774-1776. First edition printed by the author himself.
Page Count: Part 1: 208 leaves. Part 2: 121, 123 leaves.
Condition: Good, with stains. Slight wear at the corners of the first pages in Part 1. New, attractive leather bindings, matching.
The title pages feature Italian signatures, one of which is: Rabbi Zechariah David Shabsai Sagari, a prominent student of Rabbi Yitzchak Barchiya Sanguinetti, the Rav of Virtzilli (a student of the Zera Shimshon). The other is a signature of an unidentified Rav.
Bibliography: Stefansky, Sifrei Yesod, no. 180.
