One of the most important teshuvos sefarim!
Shu”t Maharik. First Edition. Venice, 1519
Bomberg Press.
Only signature in the world (?) of the Mishpetei Shmuel
Teshuvos in halacha by Rabbi Yosef Colon, the Maharik.
The Maharik’s teshuvos are one of the fundamental works on halachah and the basis of the Shulchan Aruch.
In the introduction to his great work, the Beis Yosef cites the Maharik along with the great Rishonim the Rashba, the Rosh, Ran and Rivash.
The Maharik is mentioned over 300 times in the Beis Yosef!
In the introduction to ‘Darkei Moshe’, the Rema writes, “The teshuvos of the Sages after whose words we are drawn…the Rosh, the Rashba, the Maharik and the Rivash…they are the great beacons of light that illuminate the eyes of the people.”
This is an extremely important copy: The final leaf features the signature of the great gaon, Rabbi Shmuel Kalai, author of ‘Mishpetei Shmuel’, one of the foremost Rabbanim of Greece in the generation of the Beis Yosef.
As far as is known, this signature is the only one in the world. (See below for more details.)
The author, the Maharik (1410–1480), was one of the last of the Rishonim, and effectively sealed that era. His rulings and teshuvos are granted heightened authority, following the principle of “halacha kebasrai” — that the halacha tends to be determined according to the later authorities. Among his prominent disciples was Rabbi Ovadia of Bartenura, the commentator of the Mishnah.
Venice, 1519. First edition. Printed by Daniel Bomberg.
Page Count: [10], 233 leaves. Condition: Artistic restorations to the title page, age stains. Good condition. Old half-leather binding.
Bibliography: Stefansky, Sifrei Yesod no. 273.
Exciting Discovery: The Signature of the Author of ‘Shu"t Mishpetei Shmuel’ with Additional Unknown Details About His Family!
The final leaf features the signature of Rabbi Shmuel son of Rabbi Moshe Kalai, together with details about the acquisition of the sefer in Salonika, shortly after its printing.
From all his teshuvos, not even a single one in his handwriting is known, therefore there is no other signature of his for comparison. Yet the abundance of identifying details here aligns exactly with what is historically known about him.
In addition to Rabbi Shmuel Kalai’s signature, there are two additional passages recording birth dates of family members, with signatures by his son Rabbi Mattisya (who is mentioned in Shu"t Mishpetei Shmuel), and another entry written by his grandson, Rabbi Moshe son of Rabbi Mattisya, who printed ‘Mishpetei Shmuel’ in Venice in 1599.
See here for more information about the signatures appearing in this sefer and the remarkable insights they reveal, not known from any other source.
Rabbi Shmuel Kalai (c. 1500–1585), Av Beis Din of Arta and author of ‘Mishpetei Shmuel’, was one of the leading Rabbanim of Italy, Greece, and the Ottoman Empire. He was a prime disciple of Rabbi David HaKohen (the Radach) and son-in-law of Rabbi Binyamin, author of ‘Shu"t Binyamin Ze’ev’ (Venice 1539).
He was "renowned for his wisdom and fear of Heaven" (entry about him in Seder HaDoros), and authored numerous teshuvos printed in his sole sefer ‘Mishpetei Shmuel’ (Venice 1599–1600), which also includes rulings and teshuvos from the leading sages of his generation, such as Mahari Ben Lev, Maharshadam, Maharshach, and others. Several of his teshuvos were printed in ‘Shu"t Binyamin Ze’ev’ by his father-in-law.
