Sha’arei Orah – foundations of Kabbalistic wisdom. One of the most important and famous Kabbalistic works, by the G-dly Kabbalist Rabbi Yosef Gikatilla. [Ya’akov Markiah Press] Riva D’Trino, 1561. There are several glosses among the leaves of the book. Some are lengthy, in antique Italian script. There is likewise a lengthy inscription at the top of the title page in antique Italian script.
The book opens with a response to disciple’s question: What are G-d’s Names? The disciple in question wanted to use the names to perform magic, and Rabbi Yosef Gikatilla dissuades this disciple from using the Names, and certainly from using them for material gain.
The date of the book’s print has been determined from the colophon, [in which the printers wrote, “התהלה לנורא שזכנו להשלים שערי אורה, והמחזיק כל בדק, יסייענו לסיים ספר שערי צדק…”]. The book Sha’arei Tzeddek , which also appears at this auction, was also printed in Riva D’Trino in 1561, and in it, it was written that Sha’arei Orah was already printed. Parallel to this edition of the book, Sha’arei Orah was also printed that same year in Mantua (refer to Ginzei Yisrael-Osef Mehlman 1057).
This is the first edition of Sefer Sha’arei Orah , which is, as stated, one of the most important and renowned Kabbalistic works. Since the Ar”is time, leading Kabbalists instructed that earlier Kabbalistic books are not to be studied. The only exception to this instruction – studied to this day – is the work of Rabbi Yosef Gikatilla, author of this work, Sha’arei Orah . This was due to the fact that the Ar”i himself said about this work that it is the key to all Kabbalistic doctrine! This book, as indicated by its title, comprises an opening to those who want to begin to understand Kabbalistic wisdom. The gaon Rabbi Chaim of Volozhin ruled: In order to complete the obligation of studying Kabbalistic wisdom, the Zohar must be studied, and Sefer Sha’arei Orah .
Refer to the Hebrew catalog text for a brief biography of Rabbi Yosef son of Rabbi Avraham Gikatilla .
84 leaves. 19 cm. High-quality paper. Ginzei Yisrael – Osef Mehlman 1057.
Fine-very fine condition: Aging stains. Isolated worming perforations. Elegant new leather binding.