Chesed LeAvraham. Sulzbach, 1685. First Edition. Kabbalah.

Chesed LeAvraham. Sulzbach, 1685. First Edition. Kabbalah.

The book, Chesed LeAvraham authored by the saintly Kabbalist, Rabbi Avraham Azulai, the grandfather of the Chida. 

This is a most prominent Kabbalah book, dealing with the topic of reward and punishment, among others.

Some leaves feature Kabbalistic sketches.

The Significance of the Sulzbach Edition:

The Kehillat Moshe book relates that this book was printed through the efforts of Christian Knorr von Rosenroth. He was a Christian, German scholar, poet and researcher of Judaism and Kabbalah. This proposition is supported by the fact that the book was printed without any endorsements, and in square lettering, which was unusual for that era.

The author’s grandson, The Chida, wrote in his book, Shem HaGedolim, that the Amsterdam edition printed concurrently in the same year (See Item No. 184) is full of errors. Rabbi Yehuda Leib Maimon zt”l writes that the Sulzbach edition is the most complete and accurate edition, and was published from a complete and proofread manuscript (currently in the National Library). Unfortunately, later editions published their books based on the Amsterdam edition, with all its mistakes and erasures of some chapters.

Rabbi Avraham Azulai (1570-1643) was a disciple of Rabbi Chaim Vital, and grandfather of the Chida. He was born in Fez, Morocco and immigrated to the Holy Land where he lived in Jerusalem and in Chevron where he was buried. Rabbi Azulai published his book while he resided in Gaza.

Chesed LeAvraham is one of the most significant Kabbalah books. Rabbi Azulai also authored Ahavah BeTa’anugim, Zaharei Chamah, Kanaf Ra’ananim, Kiryat Arba and others.

Sulzbach, 1685. In the same year, the book was also printed in Amsterdam, see next item no. 184. First edition.

76 leaves. 20 cm. Very good condition. Exceptionally beautiful, new, half-leather binding.

A most prominent edition of a most significant Kabbalah book. The most accurate and complete edition.