Nachalat Yaakov, collection of responsa pertaining to monetary and kashrut issues, edited by R. Yehoshua Yaakov Heilprin. Padua: Gasparo Crivellari, 1622-[1623]. Only edition.

The editor of this book, R. Yaakov Heilprin, was a disciple of the Maharam of Padua and R. Avigdor Cividal of Venice, a Polish exile to Italy. He served as rabbi in several communities, finally settling in Padua near the end of his life. Most of the book is comprised of the responses sent by the Torah scholars of the generation to the author's questions. The authors of the responsa include the Shlah, the Levush, and leading Italian Torah scholars: R. Yitzchak Gershon, R. Simchah Luzzatto, and others. The Torah scholars whose responsa are presented in this book, are listed in the leaf following the title page.

At the beginning of the book (before the list of authors) appears an approbation by R. Yeshayah HaLevi Horowitz – the Shlah, in praise of R. Yaakov Heilprin and his book, and a recommendation to print and buy the book: "It is fitting and a mitzvah to print it, to fulfill 'and the land will be filled with knowledge', and whoever sees it should buy it…". This approbation was written by the Shlah in Venice, on his way to Eretz Israel.

Ownership inscription on title page (somewhat blurred): "G-d granted me this book, Avraham HaLevi of Chełm" – R. Avraham HaLevi of Chełm, Rabbi of Emden – leading Torah scholar of his generation. He succeeded R. Yaakov Emden (Yaavetz) as Rabbi of Emden (ca. 1750s-1760s). He is mentioned in Responsa Noda BiYehudah Kama, Yoreh Deah, section 1, and in Zichron Yaakov (Fürth 1770); a responsum by him dated 1765 appears in Responsa She'elat Yaavetz II, sections 24-25. In 1760 he served as Rabbi of Hildesheim, and his document of appointment is printed in Kerem Shlomo (IV, 1). Together with R. Yaakov Emden he battled the remaining Sabbateans in Germany (see further in articles by A. Brik, Shanah BeShanah, 1980, pp. 335-340; Shanah BeShanah, 1993, pp. 409-420).

4, [1], 5-48, [4] leaves. 18.5 cm. Fair-good condition. Stains, including large dampstains to many leaves. New binding.

The Bibliography of the Hebrew Book lists two copies, one of them containing several blank pages, and the other, from the library of N. Ben-Menachem, containing only one blank page – p. 26b. This copy, just like the Ben-Menachem copy, contains only one blank page.

Regarding further typographic differences between the various copies, see: Y. Rivkind, Dikdukei Sefarim, Alexander Marx Jubilee Volume, New York, 1950, p. 429.

CB, no. 5538,2; Zedner, p. 300.