Wonderful and deep secrets about the intentions in prayers and blessings by Rabbi Moshe who was exiled from Kiov. Early manuscript with many differences, including entire paragraphs, and many illustrations and tables that do not appear in the printed book.
The book is called Shoshan Sodot due to its originally containing 656 secrets, the numerical value of Shoshan [שושן]. In fact, the printed work only includes 463 secrets, and this manuscript includes 491 secrets.
There are various opinions as to the author’s identity, including: The Rama”h, the Ramba”n, the Ramba”n’s disciple and the Ramba”n’s grandson. This has been thoroughly investigated and it has been resolved that the author is Rabbi Moshe B., who is Rabbi Moshe who was exiled from Kiov. [Refer to Shem HaGedolim by the Chid”a in the entry on Shoshan Sodot. ]
This Rabbi Moshe was born in 1449 in Lithuania. For several years, he was a resident of Kiov, which in those days was home to a large and prominent Jewish community. In 1495, Jews were expelled from Kiov and R’ Moshe went into exile, hence his name: ‘Rabbi Moshe who was exiled from Kiov.’ In 1506, when he was in the city of Lida, the Tatars attacked the city and plundered it, and Rabbi Moshe was taken captive to their country, Crimea. The Crimean Jews redeemed him and he became their leader.
This book started to be written in the year of exile, 1495, and was completed in Crimea in 1511. The author passed away in 1520. [ Ohel Rache”l Part I pp. 93-94].
The book was first printed in Koritz, in 1784. We have not carried out a precise comparison between the printed version and the manuscript.
This manuscript apparently predates the printed version, given that aside from the pagination, there are booklet paginations, which may indicate that the book was used as a preparation for printing.
Ashkenazic script, clear and orderly. [132] leaves. Size: 16×18 cm. The manuscript starts on leaf 6 and ends with leaf 138, and contains secrets 20-491. Few Kabbalistic tables and diagrams.
The book is in fine condition with the exception of tears and worming perforations that have been professionally restored with damage to text. Not bound.