Sefer Peirot Ginosaur – at center is the text of Shulchan Aruch Yoreh Deah, surrounded by two ” peirot ” – one is “Pri Chadash” – the famous commentary on the Shulchan Aruch by Rabbeinu Chizkiyah di Silva. The second is “Pri To’ar, ” by Rabbeinu Chaim ben Attar, author of Ohr HaChaim HaKadosh [and although his work Pri Toar includes several critiques of the Pri Chadash, the Ohr HaChaim printed his work together with the Pri Chadash]. Amsterdam, 1742.
First edition of Peirot Ginosaur printed in the lifetime of the author, Rabbi Chaim ben Attar. Trembling overtakes us as we approach the ancient gevilim of the sefer by Ohr HaChayim HaKadosh, the sefer printed in his lifetime, in the final year of his life.
Some gedolim were afraid to learn from this sefer because the Ohr HaChaim HaKadosh wrote in his foreword to Pri Toar : “These words are for any reader who wants to find fault with my words, to start up with me. I will whisper incantations for a snake to sting and bite to kill him.” Due to his great sanctity, people were afraid that they would disagree with him while studying and they would encounter his kepeidah .
Copy previously owned by Rabbi Meir Auerbach, av beit din of Kalish, author of Imrei Binah – one of the gedolei hador. The inner side of the binding bears a lengthy inscription attesting to the sefer belonging to “the rabbi, the light of the Diaspora, the gaon of the world, the true tzaddik … Rabbi Meir Auerbach, av beit din and reish metivta here in the holy city of Jerusalem. Likewise, there is a handwritten owner’s notation on the inner side of the binding: “Belongs to me, Meir Auerbach, av beit din of Kalish” (this notation is not in Rabbi Meir’s penmanship).
Additional lengthy and antique notation on the title page in Oriental script – its content has not been sufficiently examined. The flyleaf also bears markings of dots and lines, to foresee – somewhat of a projection of goral hachol , a form of predicting the future known from the period of the Rishonim .
Additional signature on the title page: “A protection for all who sign it, the small one Raphael David Tevele HaLevi …” along with more signatures and stamps.
Refer to the Hebrew catalog text for brief biographies of the author Rabbi Chaim ben Attar, the Ohr HaChaim HaKadosh and the owner of the sefer , the gaon Rabbi Meir Auerbach .
[4], 273 leaf. Lacking two leaves at the end, 32 cm.
Fine condition. Aging stains. Beautiful antique leather binding, blemished.