Shulchan Aruch Ateret Zvi and Nachalat Zvi (commentary on Shulchan Aruch Orach Chaim). Krakow 1646-1650. First edition

Shulchan Aruch Ateret Zvi and Nachalat Zvi (commentary on Shulchan Aruch Orach Chaim). Krakow 1646-1650. First edition

Rare book that was published during the Pera'ot Tach Vetat (The Khmelnytsky Uprising).

Shulchan Aruch Orach Chaim, with two commentaries, Ateret Zvi and Nachalat Zvi, by Rabbi Zvi Katz.

The text of the Shulchan Aruch with the two commentaries surrounding it. Ateret Zvi elucidates the language of the Shulchan Aruch while Nachalat Zvi deals with difficulties in the words of the Geonim and the Rishonim.

On the second leaf, an ownership notation in ancient Ashkenazic script.

The book was popular in the period in which it was published; however, eventually, it did not manage to compete with the Magen Avraham and the Taz.

The book was disputed, the major claim being that its Chidushim were not the author's but his father's. Fifteen years later (1661), the author published an additional work titled Nachalat Zvi on Shulchan Aruch Even HaEzer and in it, he dispelled the rumors. He added to the book many approbations confirming his ownership of his previous book, including an approbation by Rabbi Sheftil, the son of Rabbi Yeshaya Halevi Horowitz, Baal Shelah, who wrote: "I clearly know that he himself authored this work". At the end of his book on Even HaEzer he enclosed the statement of the Baal Tosfot Yom Tov: "I clearly know that it is his enterprise and he himself is the author".

Books that were published in Poland in the years 1630-1648 (the years preceding the Khmelnytsky Uprising) are rare and uncommon, many of the copies that remained in Poland were looted and disappeared.

The printing year of the book – on the title page: בשנת ו’י’ש’ע’ך’ תתן לנו [1646]. On the colophon: ד תשרי ב’ס’פ’ר’ ח’י’י’ם’ [1650].

In the afterwords of the book, Rabbi Zvi Katz writes: "I also wish to say… that I published the book in a time of troubles for the Jews… during which many Jews were killed, thousands and ten thousands, and I too was touched by Yad Hashem in these times [Gzeirot Tach Vetat] and I remained lonely without my wife and sons… and the wealth has been lost… I was forced to omit some of Hilchot Yom Tov… Hilchot Ta'anit and Chol Hamo'ed and I said… that I shall soon publish them in Kuntres Acharon".

The author printed his book in Krakow in 1646. During the process, the Khmelnytsky Uprising broke out and the printing was delayed until 1650. Consequently, he did not print his work on several Simanim of the Shulchan Aruch.

Rabbi Zvi Katz Tuchfirer (Zasław, Vohlin; 1590-?) was the son of Rabbi Yosef ben Eliyahu Katz, the Rav of Zasław and its Rosh Yeshiva, author of Rechev Eliyahu and Yesod Yosef. In his youth, he apparently studied at his father's yeshiva. Later, was a disciple of Rabbi Yoel Sirkish, author of Bayit Chadash on the Tur, at his yeshiva of Krakow. Studied Torah also with Rabbi Yechiel Michl of Namirov and was a friend of Rabbi Yom Tov Lipman Heller, who then served as a Rosh Yeshiva in Lusmir. Married the daughter of Rabbi Mordechai Yosef Lois of Ostroh. Following the outbreak of the Khmelnytsky Uprising in 1648 and the invasion of his allies the Tartars, Rabbi Zvi Katz escaped to Italy, settling in Venice.

Krakow, [1646-1650]. Menachem Nachum Meislis Press. First edition.

60, [204] leaves – the title page with Siman 211 are completed in this copy with beautiful scribal script very similar to the printed fonts, including the illustration of the artistic ornate title page. 29.5 cm. Very good condition. In the first four leaves and five last leaves, very small tears along the edges with restoration and completion. Aging stains. In several leaves, the edges are trimmed close to the text. Old half-leather binding.

Rare complete copy of a Sefer Yesod that survived the Khmelnytsky Uprising.