Mevo She’arim: Classic Sefer on Arizal’s Kabbalah
Wide Margins!
Introductions to the teachings of the Arizal and writings of Rabbi Chaim Vital including glosses from Rabbi Yaakov Tzemach and the Rama”z.
The sefer Mevo She’arim includes foundational introductions to the wisdom of Kabbalah based on the writings of Rabbi Chaim Vital and edited by the Kabbalist Rabbi Yaakov Tzemach. The sefer represents the "mahadura basra" (later edition) compiled from manuscripts of Rabbi Chaim Vital discovered in the genizah, and some have referred to it as the "basra debasra" (latest version of the later edition).
A fine copy, with wide margins.
Koritz, 1783. First edition. Page Count: [1], 118 leaves.
Condition: Good. Minor restoration to the margins of the opening leaves. A name for prayer is inscribed on the verso of the title page.
Bibliography: Stefansky, Sefer Yesod, no. 350.
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Koritz: Birthplace of the Early Printed Kabbalistic and Chassidic Sefarim
The city of Koretz earned an everlasting name as the cradle of printing for Kabbalistic and Chassidic literature. Within just a few short years, many important Kabbalistic works were published there in their first editions, alongside foundational Chassidic sefarim — the very "cornerstones" of Chassidic literature — such as Toldos, Ben Porat Yosef, Tzafnas Paneach, Maggid Devarav L’Yaakov by the Maggid of Mezritch, and others.
There is a close connection between these two genres — Kabbalah and Chassidus — as is evident from clear testimonies that some of the Kabbalistic works were printed by chassidim, such as:
– The sefer Klac"h Pischei Chochmah (1785), printed at the directive of the Maggid of Mezritch by his disciple Rabbi Shlomo of Lutsk;
– The sefer Pri Eitz Chaim (1784), printed with glosses from the sefer of Rabbi Shabtai of Rashkov, the scribe of the Baal Shem Tov;
– The letters of approbation from Chassidic tzaddikim for many Kabbalistic works;
– The multiple sefarim printed by Rabbi Shlomo of Lutsk (Sefer HaZohar, 1778; Sefer Yetzirah, 1779; and others).
Among the Kabbalistic works printed as a first edition in Koritz are:
Pri Etz Chaim by Rabbi Chaim Vital (1782/1785), Eitz Chaim by Rabbi Chaim Vital (1782), Kanfei Yonah Sefer HaKaneh (1784), Tzemach Tzaddik by Rabbi Yaakov Tzemach (1785), Likutei Shas of the Arizal (1785), Kla”ch Pischei Chochmah of the Ramchal (1785), the writings of the Rema of Pano (1786), the two sefarim appearing in this current catalog, and additional works.
