The Chayun Controversy.
Eish Das by Chacham Rabbi David Nito.
London, 1715
Theological composition written to counter the works of Nechemia Chiya Chayun, a follower of Shabbsai Tzvi, “who uproots the principles of our holy Torah”, by Chacham Rabbi David Nito, author of ‘Mateh Dan’.
This work was authored in the form of a discussion between Dan, an acronym for David Nito, and Naftali. In their discourse, Dan proves that Chayun’s Torah is heresy and apostasy, while Naftali expounds upon the significance of authentic Torah and kabbalah.
This work refuted Chayun’s works ‘Raza DiYichuda’, ‘Oz Le’Elokim’ and ‘Shalheves Ka’. In the course of his arguments, Chacham Rabbi David Nito defends the teachings of the Chacham Tzvi and Rabbi Yosef Ergas, author of ‘Shomer Emunim’, in their spiritual battle against Chayun.
Singular and rare edition.
See in catalog additional extremely rare booklets from this controversy.
Rabbi David Nito (1654-1728) was a rabbi, physician, philosopher and scholar of many sciences. Born in Venice, he served as Rav in Livorno and London. The Chacham Tzvi praised his words in his teshuvos (section 18).
During the Chayun controversy, Rabbi David stood alongside the Chacham Tzvi and Rabbi Yosef Ergas, and published his work ‘Aish Das’ for this purpose.
London, 1715. Sole edition. Page Count: [1], 38 leaves.
Size: 16.3 cm.
Condition: Good. Attractive new leather binding.
Provenance: Lunzer-Valmadonna Collection
The "Nachash" Controversy (Nechemiah Chiya Chayun)
Before his Sabbatean nature became known to the world, Nechemiah Chiya Chayun (c. 1668-1730) earned the respect of many great Rabbanim in Europe of that time and even received haskamas for his writings from Rabbi David Oppenheim of Prague and the kabbalist Rabbi Naftali Katz, author of
‘Semichas Chachamim’.
In 1713 he printed his work
‘Oz L’Elokim’ containing Sabbatean heresy and apostasy, and afterwards arrived in Amsterdam and only distributed this work to his close associates.
After one copy was secretly smuggled for review by the Chacham Tzvi and Rabbi Moshe Chagiz, these Rabbanim began to wage a total war against him. A major battle began to develop between Chayun’s opponents on one side, and the Portuguese community in Amsterdam on the other which supported Chayun. Due to the controversy, the Chacham Tzvi was forced to resign from his position as Av Beis Din of the city’s Ashkenazi community.
After some time, Chayun too was forced to abandon the city, and wandered throughout Europe until his death in 1730 in an unknown location. Though this calmed the controversy, its echoes persisted for many years.
During the passionate controversy, many polemic pamphlets were printed, and stormy letters were sent to Rabbanim in all corners of the world. Halachic rulings were issued on some of the controversial writings, instructing them to be burned. This is why almost no original documents from this controversy have survived.
