Unknown Handwritten Kabbalistic Work on the Sheets of the Zohar. Chumash Shemot. Mantua, 1559. First Edition.

Unknown Handwritten Kabbalistic Work on the Sheets of the Zohar. Chumash Shemot. Mantua, 1559. First Edition.

Zohar on Shemot. Mantua, [1559]. First edition. Unknown work in the margins of the book's sheets, Ashkenazic handwriting, beginning of the 17th century.

Specifications: 269 pages, 25 cm.

Backgound: First edition of the Zohar ever printed. Almost one hundred years had passed since the advent of Hebrew book printing, and the Zohar had not yet been printed. The book of the Zohar was brought to the printing press only after the halachic rulings permitting printing the Zohar, which contains the Torah's sodot (deep spiritual matters).

Unique Features: Approximately five hundred and fifty handwritten pieces of commentary and explanation of the Zohar's words appear on the margins of the sheets. The commentary is actually a short, concise explanation of the Zohar's words in a clear and fluent language. Most of the pieces start with the words, 'Here, he reveals the sod to you ...' or, 'You will find a sod here' or, 'See a sod here.' To the best of our knowledge, this work has not been published.

From the style of the author's writing, it it clearly the work of a great kabbalist to whom the paths of the secrets of kabbalah are clear and revealed to him. Many times, he writes, "and the educated will understand," or comments such as, "Look and see they are all great sodot, unless your eyes are (no more than) flesh" (26b). Apparently, the sole work mentioned in his words is the previous book on kabbalah, Shaarei Orah (for example, see leaf 96a: "refer to Shaarei Orah gate 5, and this sod will be revealed to you").

On the flyleaf at the end of the book, a copy of '[Reply from a] sage who wrote his knowledge of sefirot and atzilot to his student.'

Most of the manuscript was written by one writer, but there are glosses and references in an Italian writing, possibly one of the Nortzi family's, who are mentioned further on. In the margins of leaf 114a, 'תמה אני המעתיק איך רב ייבא סבא וכו' is written.

Owner's signature: "Yitzchak Mehallalel Nortzi" on the book's title page, on the upper right corner. The Nortzi family was a family of philanthropists and great rabbis in Mantua, apparently he is the father of Rabbi Moshe Netanel Nortzi, who was an adjudicator in the RaMaZ's beit din. It's possible that some of the glosses are his. Two of the glosses end with the name signed "Hirsch" or "Hertz" (26b, 67a). 

Condition: Fine. A few worming holes in the margins of the leaves. Aging stains. Magnificent leather binding.