Emek HaMelech. Kabbalistic Polemic. With Prominent Signatures of Moroccan Sages. This is the First Published Book ...

Emek HaMelech. Kabbalistic Polemic. With Prominent Signatures of Moroccan Sages. This is the First Published Book of the Arizal’s Kabbalah Teachings. Amsterdam, 1648. First Edition. Sefer Yesod. Rare!
Emek HaMelech is a fundamental Kabbalah Book, authored by Rabbi Naphtali Hertz Bachrach of Frankfurt.

This is the first work of the Arizal’s esoteric Torah teachings to be published. Books on Prayer and Tikkunim were published prior to this. Although originally from Frankfurt, the author travelled to Tzfat to study the Arizal’s Kabbalah teachings. He then returned to Germany where he was one of the first to disseminate Kabbalah teachings.

On Page 10, 1 (in the initial counting): Title page of ‘Ma’aseh Nissim of the Ari, this is a praiseworthy book of the Ari, printed later, on its own in many editions. With 12 ‘Mishnayot’ with details about the vessels of the Holy Temple and their hidden storage.

Important Signatures of Moroccan Sages:

On the final page of the book appears ownership listing and a signature in beautiful, looped Sephardi handwriting of Rabbi “Emanuel Mansano”. Rabbi Emanuel was a Torah sage, and scribe of the Fez Beit Din. He was a brother of Rabbi Avraham Mansano, one of Fez’s sages. They jointly headed their grandfather, also Rabbi Emanuel’s synagogue. A well-known dispute broke out regarding the synagogue and other properties, mentioned in a number of responsa of sages of that era.

On the title page appears the signature of Rabbi “Abba Siriro s”t” one of Fez’s sages. He was the grandson of Rabbi Chaim David Siriro, Head of Fez’s Beit Din. Rabbi Abba was responsible for Fez’s ritual slaughter and was expert in the laws of forbidden meat. He passed away from cholera in 1835.

Emek HaMelech and its accompanying debate:

Emek HaMelech is a summary of the Ari’s Kabbalah teachings. Its printing aroused a great furor. The Ari’s disciple, Rabbi Chaim Vital was a vocal opponent of publishing these teachings. In contrast, Rabbi Yom Tov Lipman Heller lent his endorsement to this book, as did the Shela’s son and others.

The researcher, Rabbi Yosef Avivi, opines that Rabbi Naphtali Bachrach compiled a number of booklets into one complete, comprehensive and organized composition. However, this was not limited to the Ari’s teachings, but also included pamphlets of Rabbi Yisrael Saruk and Rabbi Yosef Ibn Tibol.

No reason is given for the book’s title name, although its numerical value is that of the family name ‘Hertz’.

Amsterdam, 1648. Emanuel Benveniste Press. First edition. Sefer Yesod.

21, 178 [z”l: 180].

Good condition. Tears on the margins and base of the title page. Slight adhesions and tears on the margins of the first few pages, very slightly affecting text. Slight moth damage on first few pages, on the bottom corner close to book’s spine. Quality, thick paper. Renewed binding.

Otzar Hasefer Computerized Database, No. 31365.

Stefansky Sifrei Yesod 362.

Found among collections of rare items in the National Library.

Complete and rare copy of a fundamental book for the study of the Ari’s Kabbalah teachings.