Otiot Shel Rabbi Akiva. Cracow, 1579. Second Edition. Ownership Listing of HaGaon Rabbi David Lida and (likely) his ...

Otiot Shel Rabbi Akiva. Cracow, 1579. Second Edition. Ownership Listing of HaGaon Rabbi David Lida and (likely) his Son. Rare!

The book, Otiot Shel Rabi Akiva zt”l. Midrash on the Hebrew alphabet letters, with Kabbalistic esoteric interpretations and novellae. Attributed to the Tana Rabi Akiva.

Previously printed in Constantinople and Venice. However, in this edition additional sections were added, culled from a manuscript that the printers had [on leaf 7 (z”l: 8). It states: “Up to here we found what was not printed in Venice. Here begins ‘Otiot Shel Rabi Akiva’ that was printed in Venice.]

Otiot D’Rabi Akiva (also called: Alphabet of Rabi Akiva)

This book is a Midrash on the names of the Hebrew alphabet letters (the square script). These Midrashim are few and far between.

There are two known versions of the book ‘Otiot D’Rabi Akiva’, or two parts of the book. Both versions commence with attributing the Midrash to Rabi Akiva.

Ownership listing and quill practices appear on the front and back endpapers, likely of the Gaon Rabbi David Lida and his son Petachia (one or both of them). At the front of the book is written: “This book belongs to the great Rabbi HaGaon… Rabbi David”. At the back of the book: “David son of the Gaon Moreinu Rabbi Leib”.

Signature on title page: “The holy Meir Heuzen” [Of Altona / Copenhagen, he was a friend of the Maskil Naphtali Hertz Vizel and is mentioned in his book ‘ShireTiferet’].

Rabbi David Lida (likely 1632-1696):

Rabbi David was born in Zwalin in Volhynia, Poland (Ukraine today). His father, Rabbi Aryeh Leib served as Av Beit Din in this town. Rabbi David was a nephew of Rabbi Moshe Rivkash – the author of Be’er HaGolah, and the disciple of Rabbi Yehoshua Heschel of Cracow. He was referred to by the name Lida as this was the name of the first town where he served as Rabbi in 5431. Rabbi David also served as Rabbi in Shavel, Ostrowa, Mainz, and from 1679 as Rabbi of the Ashkenai community in Amsterdam. It was there that he was accused of Sabbateanism. Rabbi Lida was later also accused of plagiarism. His book ‘Migdal David’ on Megillat Rut was suspected of being based on a composition by Rabbi Chaim Cohen of Aleppo.

In 1682, Rabbi Lida was demoted from his position and returned to Poland. He presented his counter claims before the Council of the Four Lands, and published them in a booklet titled ‘Be’er Esek’. The book’s title is after the name of the well that our forefather Yitzchak dug; a well that was contested by the Philistines. The Torah sages of Poland accepted his counter-arguments. Rabbi Lida then travelled to Amsterdam, where the Sephardic Torah sages similarly exonerated him. In wake of his vindication, Rabbi Lida re-assumed the mantle of leadership of the Amsterdam Ashkenazi community. He did not, however, remain in this position for long, and soon returned to Poland. He passed away in Poland and was buried in Lvov.

Rabbi Petachia, son of Rabbi David Lida was the leader of the Lvov community. He held the position of Rabbi in a number of towns including Iași. He eventually settled in Frankfurt an der Oder

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Cracow, 1579. Issac Prostitz Press. Second edition.

24 leaves. Very good condition. Censorship deletions. New, beautiful brown binding, with gilt writing and decorations.

Rabbi Otzar Hasefer Computerized Database, No. 59437.

Found in collection of rare items in the National Library.

Complete and beautiful copy with signatures and prominent ownership listing.