First Edition Hagahos HaRama on Four Parts of Shulchan Aruch; Krakow, 1578 – 1580
Rare Complete Set!
Four parts of Shulchan Aruch with glosses by Rabbi Moshe Isserles of Krakow, known by all as the Rema. This complete first edition is exceptionally rare.
Sefer Hagahos HaRema on Shulchan Aruch left its mark on Ashkenazic Jewry more than any other sefer. It is a foundational pillar upon which the Halachic rulings and customs of Ashkenazic Jewry are derived, and from the day of its publishing in Krakow, 1578 – 1580, Halacha was taught according to it; as though a Divine voice came out and announced that the Halacha is as it says (shla).
Published by Yitzchak Prostitz of Krakow, each part has its own title page. There is a handwritten index at the end of Even Ha’ezer as well as handwritten comments and additions in the body of the sefer.
All four volumes are bound in beautiful leather and cased in a matching box covered in matching leather.
Orach Chaim: Krakow, 1580
Yoreh Dei’ah: Krakow, 1578
Even Ha’ezer: Krakow, 1580
Choshen Mishpat: Krakow, 1580
Stefansky , Hebrew Classics 158
29 cm | Small restored tear on page 109, Yoreh Dei’ah; restored holes on pages 54-56 and completion to title on page 60, Even Ha’ezer | Very rare
HaGahos HaRema on Shulchan Aruch
Krakow 1578 – 1580
"And the leaders of the generation accepted upon themselves to keep and do just as is stated in… sefer Shulchan Aruch and HaGahos HaRema. And I have no doubt that it is all written from the Hand of Hashem…"
(Rabbi Yehonasan Eibshitz in his sefer Urim V’tumim)
Back in the year 1565, 454 years ago, sefer Shulchan Aruch authored by Rabbi Yosef Karo stunned the Jewish people and changed the face of history. The publishing of this soon-to-be iconic sefer immediately aroused a great stir of respect and admiration from Jews across the Diaspora, becoming a cornerstone of life according to Halacha.
The arrival of the Shulchan Aruch on the shores of Poland and Ashkenaz brought with it a difficult dilemma. While the rabbanim of these communities recognized the need filled by this remarkable sefer, Shulchan Aruch neglected to include the opinions of the ruling Ashkenazic rabbis, such as the Ba’alei HaTosfos, the Mordechai, Terumas HaDeshen and others, and made no mention of the countless customs and takkanos (regulations) practiced in this part of the world.
In response to this, Rabbi Moshe Isserless (Rem"a) rose to the challenge and accepted the gargantuan task of adjusting the Shulchan Aruch for the Jews of Ashkenaz. He carefully researched the various customs practiced in these lands and included them in his work as well. The Rem"a called these glosses a "mapah" (tablecloth), figuratively signifying that he spread a tablecloth over the "shulchan" (table).
The first publishing of all four parts of sefer Shulchan Aruch with HaGahos HaRema took place soon after the Rema’s passing, in his hometown of Krakow between the years 1578 – 1580.
As a result of this significant compilation, tens of thousands of Jews throughout the cities of Poland and Ashkenaz now had this Halachic blueprint with which to run their lives. As the Shla"h attested, the Rema’s Halachic rulings were so widely and thoroughly accepted, that it was as though a Heavenly Voice came out and proclaimed that the Halacha is as he stated.
Rabbi Binyamin Selnik, a prized disciple of the Rema, writes in his sefer Responsa Masas Binyamin that the Beis Yosef and the Rema stand as pillars of the world whose waters we all drink.
Sefer Shulchan Aruch and HaGahos HaRema by far remains the undisputed, most significant sefer published over the last five hundred years, who’s influenced has left its imprint more so than any other sefer, as it is a sefer that affects the every action of religious Jews.
Following its publishing, the sefer has since become a fundamental cornerstone of Jewish law for all generations. Countless explanations and treatises have been written based on this incredible work, but this sefer will always remain at the center.
Immediately after making its first appearance, sefer Shulchan Aruch with HaGahos HaRema earned the spot as one of the most sought-after works. There remains only one singular edition of the first edition Orach Chaim published on its own in 1570, during the lifetime of the Rema. This copy is housed in the Oxford Library.
The first full set of Shulchan Aruch with HaGahos HaRema, including first editions of Yoreh Dei’ah, Choshen Mishpat, Even Ha’Ezer, and a new edition of Orach Chaim, is a rare and valuable artifact in every respect.
Rabbi Moshe Isserless, known as the Rem"a, was born in Krakow, sometime around the year 1535. He traveled to Lublin in his youth where he studied by the great Rabbi Shalom Shachna of Lublin, later marrying his daughter. Following his marriage he settled in Krakow and began teaching Torah. Many of his disciples went on to become leading rabbis, such as the Sm"a, the Levush, the Masas Binyamin, Rabbi Avraham Horowitz – father of the Shla"h, and others.
The Rema was appointed Rabbi of the great city of Krakow despite his young age and served in this position for twenty years. He passed away at a young age, during his father’s lifetime, on Lag Ba’omer of 1573.
The Rema is looked upon as the Father of Ashkenazic Jewry and is accorded tremendous respect. Until the rise of the Nazi regime, thousands would flock to his grave and a large gathering took place by his gravesite on Lag Ba’omer.
