Talmud. Birkas Hashem - Semichas Chachamim by Rav Naftali Katz. First edition. Frankfurt A.M. ...

Talmud. Birkas Hashem - Semichas Chachamim by Rav Naftali Katz. First edition. Frankfurt A.M. 1704-1706.

Sefer Birkas Hashem, two sections. By Mekubal Rav Naftali Katz, av"d Frankfurt A.M.

Section 1 - Introduction with the title Semichas Chachamim. Introduction and elucidation of the juxtaposition of masechtos, according to "Pardes."

Section 2 - Kedushah U'Brachah. Chiddushim and drushim on Maseches Berachos.

The work later became known as Semichas Chachamim and the author was even known by this title.

The author wrote an additional section, Meshech HaZera, chiddushim and drushim on Seder Zeraim, that wasn't published.

• Separate title page for the chiddushim on Maseches Berachos.

• The title page bear dozens of images, illustrations, decorations and flourishes, one of the prettiest, most artistic title pages of the Hebrew press.

• Leaf 2a, giant, star-shaped poem. This leaf is slightly larger than the rest of the work and is folded.

Mekubal Rav Naftali Katz, author of Semichas Chachamim (1648-1718) was an "amazing mekubal in Divine and practical kaballah" (the Chida in Shem HaGedolim). He was a prominent Ashkenaz mekubal, who served as av"d and Rosh Yeshivah in Posen and Frankfurt A.M. After a fire broke out in the city, the gentiles accused him of using kabbalah to prevent them from extinguishing it and he was forced to move to Prague. From Prague, he continued on to Eretz Yisrael. He died during the journey, in Constantinople, where he was buried.

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Year and print: Frankfurt A.M. [1704-1705]. First edition.

Leaves and size: 79; [1], 140 leaves. A few copies have an additional leaf of comments, this copy does not have it. 33 cm.

Condition: Tear with small loss in fold on leaf 2 (refer to picture), light marginal tears in the first title page. Aging and damp stains. Minimal worming holes. Fine condition.