Yeshuah B'Yisrael. Frankfurt am Main, 1720. Dozens of Glosses

Yeshuah B'Yisrael. Frankfurt am Main, 1720. Dozens of Glosses

Yeshuah B'Yisrael - comprehensive commentary on the Ramba"m's Hilchot Kiddush HaChodesh by Rabbi Yehonatan, son of Rabbi Yosef Raseiniai. Only edition. Corrections and glosses apparently in the author's hand.

This book includes the Ramba"m's words with the commentaries of the Ralba"ch and the Levush, and on them, the extensive commentary Yeshuah B'Yisrael. Along the length of the book, there are dozens of astronomic sketches, and in addition, tables of the paths of the stars according to the Ramba"m's opinion. Pictures on the title page: Moshe, Aharon, David and Yehonatan, for the names of the sages whose words the author discussed, and for the name of the author himself, Yehonatan.

Special copy: Along all the book's leaves, there are dozens of revisions and glosses, including some that are lengthy. The form of the revisions and their style are characteristic of author's glosses on their books in preparation for another edition. This is apparently the author's copy, that he himself revised and supplemented!

The author, Rabbi Yehonatan of Raseiniai [Otzar HaRabbanim 7495], one of the leading rabbis of Lithuania, wrote a lengthy preface in which he wrote about his life as well as the progression of this work. In 1710, the plague broke out in his city, and for an entire year, he lived in a field outside the city, in a shack with his family. He took an oath that if he survived the plague, he would write a book in the field of astronomy. After he did indeed survive, he composed this book, hence its name, Yeshuah B'Yisrael.

[4], 58, [1] leaf, with a leaf of omissions and corrections bound at the end of the book. 30 cm.

Moderate-fine condition: Aging stains. Tears in the margins of the leaves without significant damage to text. Detached title page with blemish in the margins and the lower left corner. Simple binding.