Manuscript – “Na’im Zemirot” and “Chug Ha’Aretz” by Author of Merkavat HaMishna – Illustrated Maps

Fine and impressive manuscript containing two compositions by the Ga’on Rabbi Shlomo of Chelm author of Merkavat HaMishna. Includes illustrated maps.
First section of manuscript: “Sections of Na’im Zemirot which were not printed in Shulchan Atzei Shittim”. Na’im Zemirot is a lengthy composition in the form of a poem-riddle on 39 prototypes of creation forbidden on Shabbat, written by Rabbi Shlomo of Chelm, with the addition of a detailed explanation of allusions to poem. Words of poem in square letters; beneath, explanation in fluent Ashkenazi writing.
Printing of composition began in Berlin in 1762 at beginning of book of Rabbi Shlomo ‘Shulchan Atzei Shittim’, however, for reasons which are unclear the printing was interrupted in middle [written there: “Time was of essence and I managed to print only until this point”]. This manuscript contains continuation of composition [printed in 1980].
Second section of manuscript: Sefer Chug Ha’Aretz, lexicon composition on geography of Eretz Israel, allocation of land to each of the Tribes and borders of the country. Fluent Ashkenazi writing. Eight impressive maps, illustrated by artist; detailed description of cities of country, allocated areas of land and borders integrated throughout leaves of composition. [Printed in 1988].
Ownership stamps of Rabbi Binyamin Fuchs Av Beit Din of Grosswardein.
This manuscript was miraculously saved from the Holocaust. According to legend, an anonymous Jew who was taken to an extermination camp together with additional Jews of his town, guarded the manuscript and just prior to his murder transferred it to a Jew by the name of Ungar who was also a prisoner in that camp. Ungar survived the camp and succeeded in maintaining the manuscript until his release [see attached material].
The Ga’on Rabbi Shlomo of Chelm (1716-1781), among famous Torah giants of Poland, passed through Turkey in 1779 on his way to Eretz Israel. He was delayed in Constantinople and in Izmir for an extended period and formed a close relationship with local Torah giants. Several months after arriving in Eretz Israel was forced to leave. He arrived with his family in Thessaloniki and began preparing the second section of his book Merkavat HaMishna on the Mishnah and his remaining compositions for print, however he perished in a plague which erupted in the city.
25 leaves; 44 + [7] leaves. Good condition, stains and wear. New binding.