Аукцион Bidspirit | A Discovery in the World

A Discovery in the World of Kabbalah! Manuscript of the Book ‘Etz Chaim’ by our Master Rabbi Chaim Vital, with Early and Unknown Glosses and Additions – Dating from the (1640-1740) A manuscript of the book Etz Chaim, by our Master רבי חיים ויטאל — an Ashkenazic manuscript containing parts of the gates of the book 'עץ חיים', in Ashkenazic script, apparently from the mid-1700 century (around the תקמ”ב), before עץ חיים was actually printed [the book was printed only in 1782].  The writer testifies of himself that: “...all of this I found in a manuscript from the hand of the Rabbi, R. Chaim Vital of blessed memory, himself...”. Thus, we have before us an immense discovery: the text of the 'עץ חיים' manuscript was not copied down passively from one vessel to another, but was written based directly on the autograph manuscript of our Master the מהרח”ו. Interspersed throughout the manuscript are several important additions from various scribes: first, numerous textual additions to the body of 'עץ חיים' completing it to a different standard version — though there may be new discoveries here, as the additions have not yet been examined one by one. Likewise, there are numerous glosses headed ‘צמח’ (רבי יעקב צמח); such glosses appear in the printed 'עץ חיים' today (compared to the magnificent Jerusalem 2013 edition), yet here we have many new, unpublished glosses by מהר”י צמח. Additionally, there are glosses headed ‘מזל”נ.’ – ‘אמ”.’ – ‘קול הרמ”ז’ (Rabbi משה זכות, the ‘הרמ”ז’). On the front and back of the title/gate (beginning of the second drash), it is written: “...הגה הק'[שה] הרב”ך לרמ”ז...”. The source of this is apparently in a letter from the הרב”ך לרמ”ז (אגרות הרמ”ז, No. 24); these letters were only printed in 1780, from which it can be deduced that the annotator is from that period. Another gloss headed ‘נ”ש’, as well as glosses marked ‘נלענ”ד.’ [meaning: Nireh Le’aniyei Da’ati Natan – נתן שפירא]. General Description of the Manuscript's Content The manuscript contains the following She'arim (gates) within the composition עץ חיים by the Maharash (רבי חיים ויטאל). The sequence of this manuscript differs significantly from the printed edition of Etz Chaim. Before us are: Sha'ar HaKlipot (starting from the end of Chapter 1); Sha'ar HaChashmal (Mahadura Batra - latter edition); Sha'ar HaNesira; Sha'ar Achor VePanim; Sha'ar Pnimiyut VeChitzoniyut (Mahadura Batra); Derushei HaKlipot (Mahadura Batra); Sha'ar Pnimiyot VeChitzoniyot (Mahadura Batra); Sha'ar Pratei Ibbur VeMochin (Mahadura Batra); Sha'ar HaYareiach (Mahadura Batra); Sha'ar Yaakov VeLeah (Mahadura Tinyana - second edition); Sha'ar Harot ZON (Mahadura Tinyana); Sha'ar Aron VeChaporeth; Sha'ar HaOna'ah (M”D); Sha'ar ABY”A (Mahadura Batra and Kama - first edition); Sha'ar Tziur HaOlamot (Mahadura Batra); M”D Sha'ar HaShemot (Mahadura Tinyana); Sha'ar HaMekifim (Mahadura Tinyana); and Sha'ar Kiseh HaKavod VeHaHeichalot—at the end of this section, it is noted that it was copied from the manuscript of the Maharash, marking the conclusion of the composition. Following this, one leaf is missing according to the page numbering, and a new Sha'ar begins in the middle of the first Derush of Sha'ar Mayin Dchurin, ending in the middle of the final Sha'ar (15). The sequence of the gates differs from the printed version. Chapter 3 and part of Chapter 4 of Derushei ABY”A are written in a different handwriting. There are several additional leaves by the first scribe, apparently omissions, which include Chapter 4 of Sha'ar Partzufei ZON (Mahadu'ka - first edition), part of Sha'ar Tikkun Nukva, and more. The manuscript contains the following She'arim (gates) within the composition עץ חיים by the Maharash (רבי חיים ויטאל). The sequence of this manuscript differs significantly from the printed edition of Etz Chaim. Before us are: Sha'ar HaKlipot (starting from the end of Chapter 1); Sha'ar HaChashmal (Mahadura Batra - latter edition); Sha'ar HaNesira; Sha'ar Achor VePanim; Sha'ar Pnimiyut VeChitzoniyut (Mahadura Batra); Derushei HaKlipot (Mahadura Batra); Sha'ar Pnimiyot VeChitzoniyot (Mahadura Batra); Sha'ar Pratei Ibbur VeMochin (Mahadura Batra); Sha'ar HaYareiach (Mahadura Batra); Sha'ar Yaakov VeLeah (Mahadura Tinyana - second edition); Sha'ar Harot ZON (Mahadura Tinyana); Sha'ar Aron VeChaporeth; Sha'ar HaOna'ah (M”D); Sha'ar ABY”A (Mahadura Batra and Kama - first edition); Sha'ar Tziur HaOlamot (Mahadura Batra); M”D Sha'ar HaShemot (Mahadura Tinyana); Sha'ar HaMekifim (Mahadura Tinyana); and Sha'ar Kiseh HaKavod VeHaHeichalot—at the end of this section, it is noted that it was copied from the manuscript of the Maharash, marking the conclusion of the composition. Following this, one leaf is missing according to the page numbering, and a new Sha'ar begins in the middle of the first Derush of Sha'ar Mayin Dchurin, ending in the middle of the final Sha'ar (15). The sequence of the gates differs from the printed version.