Akedat Yitzchak, commentary on the Torah by R. Yitzchak Arama. Salonika: Yehudah Gedaliah, 1522. First edition.
Elegant full set, two parts in one volume. Printed without title page (first page blank).
The present book is the first edition of Akedat Yitzchak, the celebrated work by R. Yitzchak Arama (1420-1495), a renowned Sephardic rabbi from the generation of the Spanish Expulsion, an orator, commentator and thinker known as the Akedah after his work. Akedat Yitzchak is ordered after the Torah portions, comprising 150 "gates", each of which is composed of three parts: the first with a discussion of a topic in religious philosophy, connecting it to the Torah portion under discussion; the second with a homily on the Torah portion, usually based on a psalm, midrash or Zohar passage; and the third with various comments on the Torah portion presented as questions and answers. Throughout the book, the author quotes the leading Jewish philosophers and commentators, including R. Saadiah Gaon, Rambam, R. Avraham ibn Ezra, R. Bachya ibn Pakuda, R. Chasdai Crescas, R. Yosef Albo and many others. The book also cites philosophers from the non-Jewish world, especially Aristotle's Ethics and Alghazali's Intentions of the Philosophers.
Akedat Yitzchak gained immediate renown upon publication, and was cited at length by his contemporaries. Commentaries have been written on the book throughout the generations, and it remains to this day a focus of study and research.
The book begins with a lengthy introduction by the author: "…I, Yitzchak son of R. Moshe son of R. Meir ibn Arama… ventured to author… a work on the Torah of G-d, comprised of two parts. The first part investigates and exposits its particular topics… while the second part is a commentary of its words according to the simple method… such that each topic will include two modes of speech – exposition and commentary. The expositions are arranged according to the topics of the Torah… in 'gates', with each such topic given its own gate… A related section of the Prophets or Writings will be explained tangentially… And I called the part dedicated to this method Meah Shearim ("hundredfold"), for they increase rather than decreasing… The commentaries begin by noting the difficulties… with the simple meaning of Scripture… so I provide an explanation… whereby the verses are resolved… And I called the part dedicated to this method Be'er Acheret… and I called the book… Akedat Yitzchak…".
Colophon on last leaf: "Praise to G-d Who assisted us to complete this book… Printed at the press of the elder Don Yehudah Gedaliah… and it was completed on 12th Adar I 1522, here in Salonika…".
Last page includes list of gatherings, with first words of first three leaves of each gathering (as an aid for bookbinders).
Signature inside front board: "I, Noach Mordechai son of Natan of Fulda", and more signatures of his in several places. Other ownership inscriptions: "Moshe son of Zanvil Menisht", "Natan Feivel son of Yehudah", and more.
Dedication on endpaper: "A gift sent to my dear friend, the expert physician called Dr. Asten[?] as a souvenir of love, from me, his friend desiring his welfare. May there be peace in his walls in accordance with the wishes of his friend, seeking his welfare, Aryeh Yehudah Leib son of R. Yissachar Ber, dayan" (Hebrew) and "A L Barnett" (Latin) [R. Aryeh Leib Barnett (Lichtenstadt), 1799-1875, dayan and member of the Beit Din of R. Solomon Hirschell in London].
Inscriptions and glosses to margins and within text on some leaves. Lengthy non-Hebrew gloss on one leaf.
Stamps of Jews' College Library on endpaper and last leaf.
Complete copy, both parts in one volume. Bereshit-Vayikra: 383 leaves. Bamidbar-Devarim: 145, [29] leaves. Misfoliation in both parts. 28.5 cm. Most leaves in overall good condition, first and last leaves in fair condition. Stains, including dark dampstains (many stains to first leaves). Much wear to first and last leaves. Tears, including marginal open tear to one leaf, slightly affecting leaf number, partially repaired with paper. Light worming. Early leather binding, with wear and defects, partly repaired.
On R. Arama and his book, see: Sarah Heller-Willensky, R. Yitzchak Arama UMishnato, Jerusalem 1956, pp. 29-31.
Provenance:
1. Jews' College Library, London.
2. Kestenbaum, New York, 17 December 2002, Lot 3.
