Auction 62
Lot 81:
How delightful it was to hold a manuscript by Rabbeinu Yeshaya Halevi Horowitz, the greatest Kabbalist of Ashkenaz, author of the famed book Shnei Luchot Habrit, after which he was known as HaShelah HaKadosh.
A leaf written on both sides, fine, ancient Ashkenazic calligraphic scrip. Containing Torah novellae from his book Bigdei Yesha on the words of the Mordechai, one of the Rishonim, the commentators of the Shas. This is a passage from tractate Shabbar, the chapter of Kol Kitvei. The layout is meticulous with clear borders and the lines are straight, sketched by an artist – the work of a tzaddik.
Placed in a leather binding and protected with nylon, alongside the Shelah’s prayer for pious sons. 20X17 cm. Good condition. See pictures.
Sources and certificates of authenticity:
This manuscript was studied by two experts: Yosef Avivi (bibliographer, kabbalist and kabbalah scholar of Yad Yitzchak Ben Zvi in Jerusalem) and Rabbi David Kaminetzky. Both confirmed with their signatures the authenticity of the manuscript and its attribution to Rabbeinu.
In their opinion, they describe, each one individually, the reasons and evidence that led them to this conclusion. We shall note here but one: the Shelah’s grandson Rabbi Avraham Horowitz, the son of Rabbi Yeshaya Shftil, the Shelah’s son, indicates in the book Emek Beracha: "ובאשר שמצאתי באמתחתנו חיבור גדול ונורא על הרב המרדכי כתיבת יד הקודש של אדוני אבי אבי זקני הגדול… בעל ספר שני לוחות הברית…" (I have found a large composition on the Rav Mordechai handwritten by my great grandfather … author of Sefer Shnei Luchot Habrit).
The composition itself is deep and rare and was printed in the editions of the Shas Vilna alongside the Mordechai.
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