Chozeh Tziyon . Psalms with commentary by Rabbi Rephael Emanuel Chai Ricchi. Leghorn, [1742-1743]. First edition.
Expansive commentary on Psalms, including kabbalistic ideas, written by noted kabbalist Rabbi Rephael Emanuel Chai Ricchi.
Rabbi Rephael Emanuel Chai Ricchi was born in Italy in [1688]. In his youth, he wandered through Italy, earning his keep as a tutor. At the age of 30, he immigrated to the Land of Israel and settled in Safed. There he studied kabbalah and the writings of the Ariza”l. About two years later, he returned to Italy and settled in Leghorn. Many years later, he returned to the Land of Israel. He then returned to Leghorn again, in order to print the rest of his books and to raise money to establish his yeshivah in Jerusalem. On his journey home, in 1743, as he was printing the book, he was martyred in sanctification of G-d’s name. The title page refers to him with terms alluding to the fact that he was alive; the last leaves bear a description by his son, Rabbi Shmuel Ricchi, of his father’s martyrdom. He also copied a manuscript in which his father writes that he dreamed that he would be killed in sanctification of G-d’s name. Large family seal of the Ricchi family on the title page. The author includes his biography in his introduction.
The title page bears the stamp of Rabbi Nachum Dovber Friedman of Sadigura and the stamp “Kinyan Kaspi” [קנין כספי]. Rabbi Menachem Nachum Dov of Sadigura [1843-1883] owned an extensive library and stamped his books to mark how they reached his hands. The “Kinyan Kaspi” stamp indicates that he purchased the book so that he could study it. The printer’s device is surrounded by a note, apparently in his holy hand: קנין כספי נחום דובער פרידמאן.
138 [2] leaves, 31 cm. Fine condition, other than a restored tear on the title page. Simple binding.