Maaseh Roke'ach - Amsterdam, 1740 - First Edition - Segulah for Happiness

Maaseh Roke'ach, Kabbalistic allusions relating to the number of chapters in Mishnayot, by R. Elazar Roke'ach. Amsterdam, [1740]. First edition. The author, R. Elazar Roke'ach, was a holy Torah scholar and Kabbalist, who served as rabbi of Brody and Amsterdam. He published his book Maaseh Roke'ach in 1740, while journeying towards Eretz Israel, near the end of his life. The book presents lofty Kabbalistic allusions and secrets, relating to the number of chapters comprising the Six Orders of Mishna, the number of chapters in each order, and the number of chapters in each tractate. As the author writes in his preface: "For not by coincidence nor happenstance did it be so, rather all was written with Heaven-guided understanding, and arranged deliberately for allegoric and esoteric allusions". The author likewise writes that "the first and last letters of the chapters were purposefully selected for their numeric values, following allegoric and esoteric allusions". The book was published in several editions, with enthusiastic approbations by leading Torah scholars, acclaiming the holiness of the book and its author. R. Moshe Berin Blum Rabbi of Vyshnivets writes in his approbation (to the second edition, printed in Mohyliv-Podilskyi, 1817): "…he was endowed with Heavenly inspiration, as is universally acknowledged that this Torah scholar availed himself of Divine Inspiration akin to the early Sages…". The current Rebbe of Belz wrote in his approbation to the 1993 edition: "It is well known that this holy book was particularly cherished by our holy rabbis (Rebbes of the Belz dynasty, descendants of the author), and in 1955, my uncle the Rebbe (Rebbe Aharon Rokeach) gave his blessings for publishing this book, quoting his father the Maharid, who asserted that studying this holy book is a Segulah for happiness". Stamp on title page: "Yaakov Tzalach Mansour, Jerusalem" (renowned Torah scholar, one of the disciples of the Ben Ish Chai who immigrated to Jerusalem from Baghdad in the late 19th century). [1], 121; 6 leaves. 24.5 cm. Exceptionally wide margins. Good-fair condition. Dampstains. Worming, mostly to margins (with some old paper repairs). Old quarter-leather binding, slightly damaged.