Sdei Chemed. Nine Parts. First Edition

Sdei Chemed. Nine Parts. First Edition

Before us is the first edition of the famous halachic book Sdei Chemed by the renowned rabbi of Hebron, the gaon Rabbi Chaim Chizkiyahu Medini, one of the leading Later Authorities, known by the name of this book, as "the author of Sdei Chemed."

The book Sdei Chemed is one of the most popular books of Torah literature, and despite its great size, it was printed in quite a few editions after this first edition. The book is something of an encyclopedia, anthologizing halachic responsa and integrating them with current issues. The book collects responsa from the sages of Ashkenaz and Sepharad in alphabetic order, something which did not yet exist.

Following are precise details of the parts with the numbers of pages [indication of the numbers of pages per HaMif'al HaBibliography]:

[Part I]: Kuntress HaKlalim Part I including letters  א, ב, ג, ד, ה. Warsaw, Shuldberg Press, 1891. [2], 7, 4-248 pp.

[Part II]: Kuntress HaKlalim Part II including letters  ו, ז, ח, ט, י. Warsaw, 1896. 166; 70 pp.

[Part III]: Kuntress HaKlalim Part III including letter כ and the Be'er B'Sadi compilation. Warsaw, 1896.

[4], 102; 72, 5-38 pp.

[Part VI] Aseifat Dinim me'archot ד-ז, and me'arechet Chatan V'Kallah V'Chuppah, and the 'Klalei HaPoskim' compilation. Warsaw, 1896. [4], 3, 5-108, 58; [2] 87 pp.

[Part VII] Aseifat Dinim me'archet Chametz U'Matzah Part I. Warsaw, 1896. [5], 5-242 pp.

[Part VIII] Aseifat Dinim me'archet Chametz U'Matzah Part II. And me'arechet Chol HaMoed V'Chanukah. Warsaw, 1896. [8], 3-198; 16 pp.

[Part X] Pe'at HaSdei Chemed MeChelkei HaKlalim, including me'archet א - addenda to the initial entries. Warsaw, 1901, 200 pp.

[Part XI] Pe'at HaSdei Chemed MeChelkei HaKlalim, including me'archot ב, ג, ד - addenda to the initial entries. Warsaw, 1901. [2], 110; 34; 77, [1] p.

[Part XII] Aseifat Dinim me'archet Rosh HaShanah and me'arechet Yom HaKippurim. Also ... two simanim from Kuntress Aseifat Dinim me'arechet milah. Warsaw, 1902. 4, 128, 68, 73-118.

The Chacha"m Chaim Chizkiyahu Medini [1833-1905] was one of the leading Later Authorities. He was Av Beit Din of Karasubazar (Belohirsk) on the Crimean Peninsula, and then Av Beit Din of Chevron. He is primarily known as the 'Sdei Chemed' after this series of books before us. He was granted rabbinic ordination at the age of 13. He married young, and all the rabbinic leaders of the generation participated at his wedding. His name became known far and wide, and questions were sent to him from all around the world. He writes: "I am overly occupied not primarily with matters of this city, as most are from elsewhere, from all corners of the earth, and they are not distant, one says this way and another says that way, across all kinds of topics."

Approximately 32 cm. Owner's signatures: The gaon Rabbi Yechiel Michel Tukachinsky, rosh yeshivah of Etz Chaim.

Overall condition: Fine.