Shaarei Dura, Venice 1548 - Foundational Edition - Important Handwritten Annotations from the ...

Shaarei Dura, Venice 1548 - Foundational Edition - Important Handwritten Annotations from the 1550s.

Sefer Shaarei Dura (also known as Sefer Issur Vheter) the foundational work on the customs of prohibitions and permissions, by Rabbeinu Yitzchak ben Meir HaLevi of Dura, one of the greatest students of Maharam of Rothenburg. Venice 1548 - Foundational Edition.

This foundational sefer was first printed in Krakow in 1534, and only one copy of that edition is known to exist in the world. Before us is the widely disseminated foundational edition printed in Venice in 1548.

Shaarei Dura – The Foundational work on the Laws of Kashrut and Purity.

The sefer Shaarei Dura was written by the renowned sage Rabbeinu Yitzchak ben Meir HaLevi of Dura, one of the greatest students of Maharam of Rothenburg, of blessed memory. In his sefer, Rabbeinu organized all the laws and customs regarding the laws of prohibitions and permissions and the laws of purity according to the customs of Ashkenazi Jewry. This sefer gained widespread popularity and was graced with the annotations of the great scholars of subsequent generations, including Rabbi Yisrael Isserlein, author of the Terumat HaDeshen. Additionally, a whole work named Mavo She'arim was written by Rabbi Natan Neta Shapiro (the grandfather of the author of Megaleh Amukot).

Furthermore, based on this sefer, the first work of the Rama, Torat Chattat, was written, and many of the Rama's annotations on the Shulchan Aruch Yoreh De'ah are based on Shaarei Dura.

Handwritten Annotations in Shaarei Dura.

Throughout the sefer, there are numerous annotations concerning customs and halacha (some slightly cut off). At one point, the proofreader cites a ruling in the laws of salting from the Torat Chattat (Rule 1, Letter 3) and adds, "and this is the custom." Elsewhere, he adds, "and this is the practice in the first instance."

In one instance, there is an annotation found in the annotations of Shaarei Dura (Section 38), and the proofreader adds, "and after the fact, it is permitted."

It appears that most of the annotations are based on the rulings of Rabbeinu the Rama in his works, with slight additions on matters of custom and halacha from the proofreader, who was apparently a leading halachic authority of his generation.

Good to fair condition, with some stains, paper reinforcements, and restorations, bound in a new, attractive half-leather binding.