Abudarham – Venice, 1546-1547

Abudarham – Venice, 1546-1547

Abudarham, commentary on blessings and prayers, and explanations and laws of prayer, by R. David Abudarham (Avudraham). Venice: Marco Antonio Giustiniani, 1546.

Colophon on last leaf: "Completed… Monday, Rosh Chodesh Cheshvan, 1546…".

Abudarham is a foundational work of commentary on the prayers and their meanings. The original name of the book is "Commentary on the Blessings and Prayers", but the book is best known as Abudarham (Avudraham), after its author R. David Abudarham, a famous Spanish rabbi in the 14th century and one of the great rishonim.

Abudarham has become one of the most important texts on the rite and custom of prayers, and it is cited constantly by halachic authorities. The Noda BiYehudah writes in his approbation to the 1788 Prague edition of Abudarham: "The great virtue of the book of Abudarham is well-known; most of the customs in prayers, blessings, Kedushot and Havdalot are based on his book, and the Beit Yosef and acharonim in Orach Chaim cite him very often; it is a valuable and necessary book, since the acharonim cite his statements in brief…".

Ownership inscription in Italian script on title page and front of binding. Short gloss on p. 43a.

Censorship expurgations to one leaf.

On last leaf, signature of censors "Domenico Gerosolimitano" (undated) and "Giovanni Domenico Carretto" (dated 1629).

86 leaves. 26.5 cm. Overall good condition. Stains, including dampstains. Wear. Small marginal open tear to title page and another leaf, and small tears and creases to margins of other leaves. Stamps. Original parchment binding, damaged and worn (open tear to back side).