Kabbalistic commentary on the Torah, by R. Menachem Recanati. Venice: Daniel Bomberg, 1523. First edition.

R. Menachem Recanati, a posek and kabbalist – one of the first Italian kabbalists in the 13th and 14th centuries. Named for his city in Italy, his biography is shrouded in mystery. His teachings are influenced by the Gerona kabbalists – R. Yitzchak the Blind and his circle, and the Ramban and his successors. He was also influenced by the Castilian kabbalists, including R. Yosef Gikatilla and R. Moshe de Leon. He was simultaneously influenced by the German pietists, with his works containing quotations from R. Yehudah HeChassid and R. Elazar of Worms. His halachic rulings also show the influence of the laws and customs of the Ashkenazi world. His lengthiest and most important work is his Torah commentary, of which the present item is the first edition. This work exerted a heavy influence on the kabbalists of the following generations. His work covers the entire Torah, following the kabbalistic method. He quotes from the Zohar extensively, and he is in fact the earliest kabbalist to cite it consistently by that name (see: Boaz Huss, KeZohar HaRakia, Jerusalem 2008, p. 62). His other works include Taamei HaMitzvot, Constantinople 1544; Piskei Recanati, Bologna 1538. There are known to have been other works of his which are no longer extant (see further: Moshe Eidel, R. Menachem Recanati HaMekubal, Tel Aviv 1998).

The Recanati commentary on the Torah was one of the first kabbalistic books to be printed, and it contains many quotations from the Zohar (which was first printed only in 1558). The colophon states that the printing was completed on "Monday, 35th day of the Omer [Iyar], 1523".

This is the second book proofread by the famous proofreader Yaakov son of Chaim ibn Adoniyahu at the Bomberg press (the first being Tzror HaMor, printed that year). The beginning of the book contains an introduction by Yaakov son of Chaim, pertaining to kabbalah.

Signature on title page: "Yaakov de Pinto" [a Torah scholar and distinguished member of the 19th century Hague community].

Several glosses in early Italian script and several inscriptions.

[155] leaves (handwritten leaf numbers on margins, misfoliated). Approx. 24 cm. Fair condition. Stains, including many dampstains and traces of former dampness (with mold stains). Tears and open tears, to title page and other leaves (large tears to last leaf), affecting text on last leaf, repaired with paper filling. Bookplate. Old binding with leather spine. Minor defects to binding.

Bookplate of Mozes Heiman Gans.