Sod HaTzelem – lengthy manuscript that covers two large leaves [approximately 1800 words] and deals with one of the mysterious topics of Kabbalah. Entirely handwritten by the lion of Babylon, the sacred gaon Rabbi Yehudah Pattiyah. Autograph from his important Kabbalistic work, Beit Lechem Yehuda . [Baghdad, c. 1930].
It is told that manuscripts by rabbinic leaders through the generations – no matter the topic – comprised amulets for protection and success. How much more so the manuscript by the leading Kabbalist of his generation, known for his extensive use of practical Kabbalah and for amulet-writing (expanded upon in his book). And yet even more so, this Kabbalistic manuscript that deals with the secret of the tzelem – the shadow that accompanies a person all the days of his life, and can portend the future, according to him, at certain times (such as the night of Hoshana Rabba), as is explained in-depth in Beit Lechem Yehuda and other Kabbalistic works.
This manuscript includes Sha’ar 26 – “Sha’ar HaTzelem, ” Chap. 1 (the first essay in the second part of the book, printed in the author’s lifetime, in 1939). Close comparison has not been made between this manuscript and the printed version. However, we will point out that in the margins of the pages and between the lines, there are many glosses and additions added by Rabbi Pattiyah after he finished writing.
There is a unique and exciting curiosity along the length of the manuscript – Rabbi Pattiyah would write his novellae with ink and quill, and apparently, while sharpening the quill, a bit of ink got on Rabbi Pattiyah’s fingers, so that along the manuscript, there are about ten clear fingerprints from the G-dly Kabbalist, including all the detailed ridges.
Refer to the Hebrew catalog text for a brief biography of the Kabbalist Rabbi Yehudah Pattiyah .
[2] large pages, approximately 32×20 cm. Tiny, dense script. Characteristic chatzi-kolmus script in ink, with a few additions in pencil. Autograph writing with many erasures, corrections and additions.
Fine condition. Aging stains. Isolated worming perforations.