Otzar Chaim. Pedigree Copy Belonging to Rabbi Moshe Rephael son of Rabbi Shmuel Ottolenghi. Venice, 1683.

Otzar Chaim. Pedigree Copy Belonging to Rabbi Moshe Rephael son of Rabbi Shmuel Ottolenghi. Venice, 1683.

Single edition of The First Medical Treatise Composed in the Hebrew Language. Rare.

Fundamental, comprehensive medical composition pertaining to an array of maladies and their cures and medical health and hygiene. Authored by physician Chacham Rav Yaakov Tzahalon.

HaKanon (Naples, 1492) was in fact the first ever medical book to be printed. It was authored by a non-Jewish scholar and was translated from Arabic to Hebrew. Otzar Chaim was, however, the first medical book authored in Hebrew, by a leading Italian sage who was an outstanding Rabbi as well as expert physician.

Rabbi Yaakov Tzahalon’s magnus opus encompasses all illness and cures known at that time and also includes an elucidation on Hilchot De’ot of the Rambam Chapter 3.

This book gained widespread recognition and is oft quoted by Halachic authorities (e.g, in reference to eating fish and dairy, with regard to warnings to physicians etc) The Gaon Rabbi Yonah Lansdsofer, author of Me’il Tzedakah quotes Rabbi Tzahalon in his composition ‘Kanfei Yonah’ Ch. 51 and extolls his wisdom.

On leaves 20 (1) 21(2) the author describes the plague that broke out in Rome, 1656), while he was serving a s physician there. (The writings list ways of treatment for the plague, relevant till today.)

The endpaper features a stamp of Rabbi Eliezer Lipa Gartenahus, Av Bet Din of Mikoliov-Procnik, and later of Brooklyn. In addition, a handwritten medical prescription for “hair growth” is penned!

The title page features prominent, handwritten ownership listings: “Given to me…by the prominent sage…HaChaver Shlomo son of Rabbi Yitzchak Lustro. Moshe Raphael son of the great Rabbi HaKollel Rabbi Yechiel Ottolenghi”.

Rabbi Shlomo Lustro (Deceased Padua, 1750) was a physician and sage in Padua. Rabbi Shabtai Chaim Marini composed a poem in his honor in 1697 on the occasion of Rabbi Lustro attaining a degree in Philosophy and Medicine. Rabbi Marini composed four exceptional poems see ‘Tzeror Zehuvim p. 524.

Rabbi Shmuel David Ottolenghi (Deceased 1718) was a great Paduan sage proficient in Talmud, Kabbalah and Hebrew Grammar. He was a disciple of the Rabach and founded the ‘Malbish Arumim’ society. He later became a Rabbi in Venice and authored a number of books including an abridged version of ‘Ma’avar Yabok’ by Rabbi Ahron Berachia of Modena.

Rabbi Yaakov Tzahalon (1630-1693) was an outstanding Torah scholar and served as Rabbi in Ferrara. His halachic responses are quoted in the book ‘Pachad Yitzchak’. An expert physician, Rabbi Tzahalon was most proficient in medical knowledge.

Venice, 1683. Single edition.

[2], 95 leaves. Very good condition. Magnificent, new, leather binding.

Complete, beautiful and rare pedigree copy of the first Hebrew medical treatise composed in the Hebrew language!