Sefer Tehila L’David on the principles of the Torah and Emunah, by Rabbi David Misir Leon. Constantinople 1576

Sefer Tehila L’David on the principles of the Torah and Emunah, by Rabbi David Misir Leon. Constantinople 1576

“Sefer Tehila L’David, written by the great chacham … Moharar Misir David ben HaRav … Misir Leon on emunah and principles of Torah and droshim, published by his grandson … Rav Aharon Leon … this book divided into three sections.” First edition, printed by Yosef ben Yitzhak Yabetz, Constantinople 1576. 108 leaves (originally there were 4 additional leaves at the end which included “after completion of the printing of Tehila L’David 2 additional droshim came into my possession from the author and I agreed to print them…”—but they are not in this copy). Defects professionally repaired (with damage to text), various stains. New, handsome binding.Moth damage with professional filling, Average general condition.

Rabbi David ben Rabbi Yehuda Misir Leon (1460-1535 approx) was a rabbi, posek, and philosopher. He was a leader of Italian Jewry at the beginning of the 16th century. He wrote “Ein HaKoreh” on the Rambam’s Moreh Nevuchim, and this, Tehila L’David, is his primary work—it follows the Rambam on three subjects and these form the book’s three sections: 1. The maalot of the Torah and its shlemut of its recipients and shlemut of the rabbanim. 2. Principles of Emunah (belief), which are beyond interrogation. 3. Principles of Divinity with interrogation of God’s descriptions and holy names. His 13 Middot and hashgacha, reward & punishment, the idea of mazal and bechira and the Divine revelations. The book was written as part of a polemic carried out by the author against those criticizing the Rambam (the Ralbag, Rabbi Yosef Albo; and Rabbi Don Isaac Abravanel).