Sefer Haterumot. Prague 1605. Second Edition With an Addition of References

Sefer Haterumot. Prague 1605. Second Edition With an Addition of References

Copy of the Gaon Rabbi Menachem Azarya Meir Castelnuovo, a Leading Italian Rav.

Sefer Haterumot, a book on Dinei Mamonot (Jewish civil law), an early halachic work on which many believe the Tur Choshen Mishpat is based, followed by the Beit Yosef and additional Poskim. By Rabbi Shmuel Hasardi, a disciple-friend of the Ramban.

This fundamental book deals with Jewish civil law. It is a kind of encyclopedia for Dinei Mamonot and Choshen Mishpat and is arranged by subjects rather than by the Talmudic tractates. The book is divided into seven gates and each of these into chapters. The central subject of the book is the laws of borrowers and lenders and related issues, which are the main focus of Jewish Dayanim.

The great influence of the book derived also from the fact that it is frequently referred to by the Choshen Mishpat section of Arba'ah Turim authored by Rabbi Yaakov ben HaRosh, which forms the base of Psikat Halacha.

This book was reprinted dozens of years later (in 1643) by Rabbi Azarya Figo (Piccio) of Italy, who wrote an extensive commentary on the book titled Gidulei Terumah, which to this day is one of the fundamental commentaries on the book. Actually, Rabbi Azraya Figo became known for his Gidulei Terumah.

The title page has an illustrated architectural border depicting the Cohen's hands spread in blessing (the printer's mark of the Katz family of printers from Prague. Printed above the hands is the name of Rabbi Mordechai Cohen, the grandfather of the printer, Moshe Katz), cherubs, animals and figures. Ornaments inside the book.

On the last page, there is a handwritten owner's signature: "מעמ"ק הבכ"א ס"ט" – the signature of Rabbi Menachem Azarya Meir Castelnuovo ben Rabbi Eliyahu – the author of Emek Hamelech and Misgeret Hashulchan.

The Gaon Rabbi Menachem Azarya ben Rabbi Eliyahu Castelnuovo (1772-1847): was born in Seina, Italy. For his living, he worked as a scribe in the house of the philanthropist Yehoshua Recanati. Later, served as Rav and Dayan of Siena and since 1815, as Rav of the large community of Padova. In 1824, he left Padova and served as the Rosh Yeshiva of Beit Yosef Franco in Livorno. Author of Sefer Misgeret Hashulchan (Livorno, 1840) and Shut Emek Melech (Livorno, 1868).

Rabbi Shmuel Hasardi [1190-1256]: one of the sages of Spain in the first half of the 13th century. Apparently, his origin was from Sardinia, thus the source of his name (in certain sources, he is mistakenly called Shmuel Haspharadi [Shmuel the Spanish]). Rabbi Shmuel was the Ramban's disciple-friend. When he wrote this book, he consulted with the Ramban on some matters he found difficult. The responses to Rabbi Shmuel Hasardi are the major ones we know of by the Ramban.

Prague, [1605]. Moshe Katz Press. Second edition, with the addition of references.

105 leaves. Dark leaves as is common in books printed in Prague. 31 cm. Good-fair condition. Minor blemishes with restoration to the first three leaves, slightly affecting the text. Moth perforations. Fine ancient half-leather binding.

Vinograd, Prague 135.