‘Mishnat Chassidim’ Prayer Book. One of the Most Prominent HaAri Prayer Books. Amsterdam 1764. Complete and ...

‘Mishnat Chassidim’ Prayer Book. One of the Most Prominent HaAri Prayer Books. Amsterdam 1764. Complete and Beautiful Copy.

“Prayers for the entire year, according to the holy Ari’s prayer book, for those who sanctify and purify themselves for serving G-d the Creator of spirit and mountains.”

This most rare Prayer Book is considered one of the foremost and most significant Prayer Books according to the Ari’s tradition, by one of the greatest and saintly early Kabbalists, Rabbi Emanuel Chai Rikki.

This Prayer Book received widespread recognition and acceptance across the spectrum of Chassidic communities, and was lauded by great Chassidic masters. The famed Ari Prayer Book printed in Zhovka in 1781 was based on the Mishnat Chassidim’s author’s interpretations.

In his introduction to his book ‘Chazeh Zion’, Rabbi Emanuel writes: “G-d granted me the merit to author the book ‘Mishnat Chassidim’ in which I condensed in clear, concise form all that appears in the Ari zt”l’s writings; in a similar vein to that which the Rambam z”l authored in his ‘Mishna Torah’, until ultimately the small encapsulated the large.”

Rabbi Refael Emanuel Chai Rikki was a Rabbi, Kabbalist, commentator on the Mishna, and Italian poet. He primarily gained renown on account of his significant composition ‘Mishnat Chassidim’. For many, this work was a most influential primary introductory source to the Ari’s Kabbalistic teachings.

Rabbi Emanuel immigrated to the Holy Land at age thirty, and settled in Tzfat, where he studied Kabbalistic wisdom and delved into the Ari’s writings. It was here that he re-edited his short composition ‘Dikdukei Aniyot’, renaming it ‘Hon Ashir’. Two years later, due to the outbreak of an epidemic, Rabbi Emanuel left Tzfat for the diaspora. On this boat journey, he and his family were attacked and captured by bandits. Following 40 days of captivity, they were ransomed and continued on to Livorno, Italy. During this period Rabbi Emanuel authored ‘Mishnat Chassidim’. He was subsequently asked to serve as Rabbi in Florence.

Amsterdam 1764. Leib Zusmansh Printers.

4, 230 pages. Very good condition.

Otzar Hasefer Computerized Database, No. 33063.

A most significant Prayer Book.