Manuscript, Lechem Shlomo, kabbalistic work by R. Shlomo son of R. David HaKohen, an early Yemenite kabbalist. [Yemen, ca. 17th/18th century].
Yemenite script. Decorated headers. Several glosses and comments incorporated inside "windows". Several glosses in margins.
On title page: "Lechem Shlomo – we begin with the help of G-d". At top of p. [2b], introductory remarks with details about author, date of authorship and details on the first copyist – the author's disciple R. Yitzchak Wanneh: "Lechem Shlomo – authored by R. Shlomo HaKohen son of R. David HaKohen, in the city of Dayan, provided for by the lofty Avraham son of Shlomo al-Abyad… at the end of Elul [1635], by the wise, lofty copyist R. Yitzchak son of Avraham Wanneh…" (this introduction appears in other manuscripts of the work).
On leaf before title page, Ilan Sefirot and other inscriptions, including an ownership inscription of "David son of R. Saadiah al-Kabali…" (perhaps the son of R. Saadiah son of Shalom al-Kabali, who copied Midrash Megillat Esther in 1662 in Nabat, Haymah District, west of Sanaa [see: Gavra, Encyclopedia LeChachmei Teiman, I, p. 555]).
The work comprises chapters on kabbalah, and is based on a diverse range of works, including the Zohar, Tikunim, early kabbalistic works, the kabbalah of R. Moshe Cordovero and the Arizal, and more. The work also contains several passages on practical kabbalah. It comprises 13 "gates" (chapters): Shaar HaYichud, Sod HaAtzilut and permutations of names, Sod HaMerkavah, Sod HaMitzvot and Seder HaYom, Sod HaGilgul and more. At beginning of thirteenth chapter, Shaar HaHarisah (p. [66b]), the copyist omitted approx. a full page from the work, replaced with a word (meaning unclear).
In the introduction, the author writes a lengthy prefatory explanation on the importance of studying kabbalah and the Zohar, beginning with the story about the dispute of R. Moshe Bassola and R. Yitzchak de Lattes against "one of these malfeasant groups" who "when the Zohar was being published, disputed with the great shepherds… saying that we do not need the Zohar, and that this discipline is unnecessary for us in mitzvah observance, which in honor of the Torah the great Moshe Bassola and Yitzchak de Lattes answered… by destroying his proofs, which were utterly damaged and irrefragably disassembled…".
Some of the glosses in "windows" may be by R. Yitzchak Wanneh, the author's disciple. On p. 17b, a gloss was incorporated in a "window", with a decorated title: "Iggeret", described as "a letter sent by the author to the copyist, because the copyist was writing…".
The work concludes on p. [69a]. On leaf [70] appears "Conclusion of Maamar HeAnan".
The author, R. Shlomo HaKohen (born ca. 1550-1560 – after Gavra, Encyclopedia LeChachmei Teiman, I, pp. 268-269), an early Yemenite kabbalist, a contemporary and member of the circle of R. Shalom son of Yosef HaKarchi. His Lechem Shlomo, authored in 1635, is the second kabbalistic work to be authored in Yemen. It was preceded by Sefer Segulot by his companion R. Shalom HaKarchi, copied and edited by R. Shlomo HaKohen. Both works enjoyed wide circulation in Yemen (in his introduction, R. Shlomo writes that he initially intended only to write a supplement to Sefer Segulot, but eventually reconsidered, deciding to author a separate work, while simultaneously copying Sefer Segulot so that "they would be as one"). They were first printed by Moshe Chalamish, On the History of Kabbalah in Yemen in the Early 17th Century, Bar Ilan University, 1984 (Hebrew; see there for an extensive preface discussing both of the above works), and were subsequently published by R. Yair Mah Tov (Bnei Brak, 2018). The above introduction also appears in other manuscripts of the work, regarding the copying of the work by his disciple – R. Yitzchak Wanneh (ca. 1570-1655), head of the Ma'bar Beit Din, a leading Yemenite rabbi, author of the Paamon Zahav siddur. His siddur and commentaries often cite his teacher R. Shlomo HaKohen. The present work also contains original material by R. Yitzchak Wanneh.
[70] leaves. 22 cm. Fair-good condition. Many stains. Wear and tears (repaired). New leather binding.
