Chazut Kasheah. Sabbioneta 1552. First edition. Authored by the 'Ba'al Ha-Akedah'. Philosophical work by R' ...

Chazut Kasheah. Sabbioneta 1552. First edition. Authored by the 'Ba'al Ha-Akedah'. Philosophical work by R' Yitzchak b. Moshe Arama.

R' Yitzchak b. Moshe Arama (1420-1494) was one of the great Sages of Expulsion-era Spain. He served as rabbi in several communities and printed his drashot in the famous book 'Akedat Yitzchak' on the Torah.

R' Arama saw a need to arrange and deliver his sermons according to the philosophical style. His collection of drashot 'Akedat Yitzchak' was printed in so many editions, and served as a model to so many preachers, that it was said "all the books of the darshanim in our generation drink from his waters."

R' Arama's 'Chatzut Kashah', offered here in its first edition, is devoted to topics of faith, Torah and philosophy, and criticizes the tenets of Christianity.

The book's printer Tobia ben Eliezer Foà came from a Jewish family from Sabbioneta, where he established a printing press specializing in Hebrew books. The Foà printers operated in Sabbioneta from 1551 to 1559, where they produced very important volumes (ca. 26 books). Due to censorship, the press was closed for Jewish printing, and in 1567 was taken over by the gentile printer Vicenzo Conti.

Sabbioneta 1552. Printed by Tobia Foà.

38 leaves. 20.5 cm.

Leaf 27 was largely excised and is missing its lower half.

Otherwise excellent condition, bound in an elegant leather binding.

Otzar Hasefer Database No. 52461.