First Edition of the Shach on Choshen Mishpat. Amsterdam, 1663. Pedigree Copy

First Edition of the Shach on Choshen Mishpat. Amsterdam, 1663. Pedigree Copy

Sefer Siftei Kohen - legal novellae on Shulchan Aruch Choshen Mishpat by the gaon Rabbi Shabtai HaKohen Katz. Amsterdam, 1663. First edition.

First edition of the foundational book on the laws of Choshen Mishpat that is currently printed in all editions of the Shulchan Aruch. The author, Rabbi Shabtai HaKohen - the 'Sha"ch' - was one of the leading adjudicators of all generations. The book was brought to print by the author's son-in-law, Rabbi Menachem Manish. His son-in-law, Rabbi Menachem Manish, author of Noten Imrei Shefer, writes in his foreword that his father-in-law, the author of Sha"ch, requested before he passed away that he (Rabbi Menachem Manish) print this book, and he agreed. When he delayed the printing due to lack of funds, the Sha"ch appeared to him in a dream and demanded that he fulfill his promise.

With approbations from Polish rabbis who gathered at the Gramnitz fair of 1654, given to this part during the Sha"ch's lifetime, and with additional approbations from rabbinic leaders given just before the printing.

With the Shulchan Aruch text. A poem by the author is printed on leaf 2, in the shape of a star.

Signature on the title page: "Given by G-d to his servant, [the] youth Yitzchak Raphael ibn Yakar." This is apparently the rare signature of Rabbi Yitzchak Raphael ben Yakar, a Constantinople sage and one of its prominent dayanim in the mid-18th century. With the seal of Constantinople rabbis with an approbation for books printed there in 1711. Very little detail is known about him.

Additional notation: "To Avraham Katarivash as a gift from ... Yitzchak Raphael ibn Yakar via Chacham Baruch."

Stefansky,  Sifrei Yessod 162.

2, 337 leaf, 31 cm.

Fine condition. Aging stains. Minimal worming perforations in the white margins. Magnificent new leather binding.