Torah Ohr. Bologna, 1538. First Edition.

Torah Ohr. Bologna, 1538. First Edition.

“In which will be explained the eternal bliss of the soul and the concepts of Gan Eden and Gehinnom, and the World to Come, and many matters of great significance.” By Chacham Don Yosef Ibn-Yichye.

On the verso of the title page is printed a song in the shape of a Menorah [under the title: “Pure Gold Menorah, in Praise of the Book Torah Ohr”].

Though the title page lists 78 chapters, there are actually 79, as two are marked “35”.

On the last page: “Poem in Praise of the Work and its Greatness”, written by Rabbi Azariah min-Ha’adumim.

According to the author’s preface, this composition is the first part of three “pillars” called: “Torah Ohr, “Derech Chaim” and “Ner Mitzvah”. The fate of the other parts is recounted by the author’s son, Rabbi Gedaliah Ibn Yichye, in his book “Shalshelet Hakabbalah”: “The book Derech Chaim… and the book Ner Mitzvah… were burned… in Padua, in the year 1554… and nothing but a small part of these two compositions remains with us.”

Rabbi Don Yosef Ibn Yichye [1496-1539]: The author’s life story is fascinating, as he himself relates in the preface to his book Torah Ohr. It is in essence the life story of the Jews in that period. In the first month of pregnancy with him, his mother escaped from Lisbon, Portugal to avoid forced conversion. When she arrived in Pisa, Italy, she again found herself facing a difficult test, and in order not to compromise her modesty, she threw herself off a high roof. Miraculously, both she and her baby survived. From there, she escaped to Florence, where the author was born in 1496. They later moved to Bologna, where Rabbi Don Yosef passed away in 1539. His son is Rabbi Gedaliah Ibn Yichye, author of the famous book “Shalshelet HaKabbalah”.

Bologna, 1538. Silk Weavers’ Guild Press. First edition.

36 leaves. 22.5 cm.

Vinograd, Bologna 13.

Beautiful copy in very good condition. Light, quality paper. Wide margins. Beautiful, renewed half-leather binding.