Shut Ohel Yaakov. Amsterdam, [1737]

Shut Ohel Yaakov. Amsterdam, [1737]

Complete and rare copy - single edition of the Shut book of the great fighter against Sabbateanism, which was censored. 

Sefer Ohel Yaakov, Shut on the four parts of the Shulchan Aruch, by the Gaon Rabbi Yaakov Sasportas, one of the greatest fighters against Shabtai Zvi. 

At the beginning of the book, a foreword by the author's son, Rabbi Avraham, and a foreword by the editor Rabbi David Meldola and an afterword by him at the end of the book. 

In the original printing of the book, printed at the end of the book was the book Kitzur Tzitzat Novel Zvi against Shabtai Zvi and his faction. By the order of the community, these leaves were removed from the book. 

The book Kitzur Tzitzat Novel Zvi, its banning and removal:

About the book Kitzur Tzitzat Novel Zvi, Rabbi David Meldola's doctrine and his sources, see: Sefer Tzitzat Novel Zvi, Yeshaya Tishbi edition, based on manuscripts Jerusalem 1954, introduction, pp. 41-42. Tishbi writes: "The leaders of the Amsterdam community saw the Kitzur too as an insult to their ancestors' honor and announced a ban on the book, ordering that the leaves containing the Kitzur Tzitzat Novel Zvi be removed from the book Ohel Yaakov and handed to the Mamad. The order brought about a situation in which almost all copies of the first edition [of Tzitzat Novel Zvi' were shelved". 

However, printed in the Responsa section (Ohel Yaakov) were three responses (Siman 68-69, a) about Nessi'at Kapayim on Sabbath which was instituted in Amsterdam with Shabtai Zvi's appearance "which the abbreviator removed from the author's book Tzitzat Novel Zvi and printed them in Sefer Ohel Yaakov (Tshbi, ibid.)

The Gaon author Rabbi Yaakov Sasportas (1610-1698): One of the leading and first fighters against Sabbateanism and specifically against Shabtai Zvi. He was born in Oran, Algeria. At the age of 18, he served as Dayan on the Tlemcen community there. At the age of 24, he was appointed the Rav of the town and of additional communities in Northen Africa. In 1651, he settled in Amsterdam. In those days, the Sabbatean Movement began spreading and many joined its ranks. Rabbi Yaakov fought hard to prevent people from following Shabta Zvi. He completed his large book Tzitzat Novel Zvi, 4 sections, in Hamburg in 1673; yet it was not published in his lifetime. An abbreviated version of the book was published with the book Shut Ohel Yaakov (the abbreviation was edited by the Yavetz). 

Amsterdam, [1737]. Single edition. The Press of Hirtz Levi Rofeh. 

This is the Shut section only: [5], 83, 121-125 leaves [including the rare leaf with the Portuguese dedication! The last leaves contain the indices. The last leaf contains the indices of Sefer Tzitzat Novel Zvi that was printed with it an as stated, was destroyed - there are copies from which the indices leaf was also removed or was covered with paper. This copy contains all the indices leaves!].

Good condition. A small tear to the title page not affecting the text. The first 5 leaves are complete yet their spine is slightly blemished. Some old taoing. The last page is slightly blemished. Most of the book is in veru good condition.