Manuscript – the Book Derech Hakodesh by Rabbi Vidal Hatzarfati – Morocco, the 18th Century

Manuscript – the Book Derech Hakodesh by Rabbi Vidal Hatzarfati – Morocco, the 18th Century

Manuscript, Sefer Derech Hakodesh, commentary on Torah Kohanim – Sifra Debei Rav. By Rabbi Vidal Hatzarfati Av Beit Din of Fes. Beautiful western script. North Africa [Morocco], the 18th century.

The book was published for the first time from an "ancient manuscript" by Chevrat Dovevei Siftei Yeshenim in Husiatyn, in 1908. A comparison we made between the manuscript before us and the printed version found many textual variations throughout the entire book. Therefore, undoubtedly, the book was not printed from the manuscript before us. An additional manuscript of the book "Derech Hakodesh" is known to exist in the Moscow-Ginzburg Library 393 and its photocopy appears in the National Library, listing no. 000086980.

The author

Rabbi Vidal Hatzarfati (died in ca. 1620) was one of the leading and most important rabbis of Fes. He authored several important compositions which remained as manuscripts. He wrote many Novellae, all of them in a concise yet deep manner. His well-known compositions: Tzuf Devash, Megilat Setarim, Otzar Nechmad, Imrei Yosher, Derech Hakodesh, Kuntras Hagahot V'Hosafot ak Divrei HaRe'em.

The Chida said of the author at the beginning of Derech Hakodesh, Husiatyn edition: "One of the early geniuses of the west and the rabbi the 'Korban Aharon' was of his Beit Din. Authored hasagot on the Re'em which were printed in the book Nimukei Shmuel by the rabbi his grandson, and authored the book Tzuf Devash and was Av Beit Din of Fes and I have heard he authored a book Imrei Yosher, commentary on Midrash Rabba and his words are concise and need study and only then can one taste the spring of his wisdom and the aforementioned book is in manuscript and I have also heard that he authored a commentary on the Torah and I the poor have gathered some of his commentary and written it in the compilation Savar Yosef. And the rabbi is the grandson of the great rabbi Rabbi Vidal Hatzarfati the first and the rabbi Eliyahu Hatzarfati Av Beit Din and Ram in Fes is the grandson of Rabbi Vidal author of Tzuf Devash amd his genealogy can be traced to Rabbi Natan the son of Rashi's daughter and I have heard that the aforementioned Rabbi Eliyahu is the fifteenth generation from Rabbeinu Tam. And that Rabbi Eliyahu is a disciple of Rabbi Chaim Ben Atar".

117 leaves. Written on both their sides. 15.5x19.5cm. Very good condition. Quality leaves. In three leaves there is a partial blemish restored with paper with a completion in different script. Original leather binding, the spine of the binding is partly missing. Decorations on the binding.