Manuscript, Anthology of Commentaries on the Zohar – Italy, 17th/18th Century

Manuscript, Anthology of Commentaries on the Zohar – Italy, 17th/18th Century

Manuscript, anthology of commentaries on the Zohar and Tikunei Zohar, from the schools of kabbalah of R. Moshe Cordovero (Ramak) and the Arizal. [Italy (Venice?), second half of 17th century or early 18th century].

Thick volume. Written in differing hands, Italian and Sephardic-Italian scripts.

Most of the volume (leaves 1-160) is composed of commentaries on the Idra Rabba, selected from the commentary of R. Moshe Cordovero on the Zohar (Or Yakar) and various recensions of kabbalistic studies in the Arizal's kabbalah. The Zohar text is written in the center of the page, with the various commentaries arranged in columns and windows, with titles: "From the Ramak", "From the Arizal", "R. Chaim Vital", "Etz HaChaim", "R. Tzemach", "Sefer Derushim", "From Sefer Likutim", "Toldot Adam", "Kehillot Yaakov", "Adam Yashar" and more. These pages alternate between a number of scribes; one is a Sephardic-Italian handwriting reminiscent of the scribes of R. Moshe Zacuto (the Ramaz).

From leaf 160 to the end of the volume begins the writing of another scribe in Italian cursive script. This hand appears to be that of the scribe of R. Natan Nata Hannover, who wrote "Sefer HaKavanot Part II" in Venice, 1656, which was auctioned by Kedem (Auction 100, the Klagsbald Collection, January 21, 2025, Lot 36).

The same hand copied: Zohar Parashat Vayikra, with commentaries of R. Chaim Vital (a few selections) and R. Moshe Cordovero – from Or Yakar (pp. 160a-228b); and commentary on Tikunei Zohar according to the Kavanot of the Arizal (with divisional title page; pp. 229a-249b; the end is lacking).

The scribes of the present manuscript have not been identified, but it may be posited that the present manuscript originates in the circle of the kabbalist R. Moshe Zacuto in Italy (first in Venice, later in Mantua). The present manuscript's contents require intensive research which we have not done.

The manuscript uses several types of paper, with different watermarks, resembling watermarks from 1620, 1630-1640, 1678 and 1685 (see enclosed material).

[249] leaves. Approx. 30 cm. Good condition. Stains. Wear. Tears to several leaves. Open tear to one leaf, affecting text. Light worming to some leaves. Original leather binding, with defects.