Ohr Hashem
by Rabbi Chasdai Crescas
First Edition
Ferrara, 1555
This sefer by Rabbi Chasdai Crescas presents fundaments of religion and faith.
and considered the First Sefer to reject Aristotle philosophy with philosophical arguments
Rabbi Chasdai Crescas (circa 1340-1410) was born in Barcelona, Spain and was a disciple of the Ran, close friend of the Rivash, and spiritual master of Rabbi Yosef Albo who cited Rabbi Chasdai’s teachings in his Sefer Ikrim. In 1372, Rabbi Chasdai was arrested in Barcelona together with the Ran and Rivash, and he lost his only son in the Massacre of 1391 when Catholic mobs assaulted and murdered Spanish Jews. He passed away circa 1410 at the age of 70 in Saragossa.
Rabbi Chasdai was involved in defending the Jewish communities in the Christian-Jewish debates, which was the source of his sefer Bitul Ikrei HaNotzrim . In this sefer, he contests Greek philosophy, and specifically the theories of Aristotle.
Gedolei Yisrael who lived in the era of the Spanish Expulsion were effusive in their praises of his works. Rabbi Yaakov ben Chaviv writes in his sefer Ein Yaakov: “Pleasant words, sweeter than honey, are written in the sefer Ohr Hashem compiled by Rabbi Chasdai” (Ein Yaakov, Megillah 3a). Rabbi Yosef Yaabetz in his sefer Ohr Hachaim Ch. 12 likewise inscribed, “Rabbi Chasdai has surpassed all the philosophers of his era in his intellect, and even the scholars of Edom and Yishmael, …… The Name of Hashem was sanctified by his hand, and many noblemen from the kingdom have converted to Judaism in their hearts… And he authored a sefer called Ohr Hashem.”
Ferrara, 1555. First edition. [132] leaves. Page size: 19.5 cm. Good condition, small tear on left corner of title page, margin of leaf 2 and on last leaf. Title page with decorative border, printer’s emblem from Avraham ben Oshaki is printed on the title page and on the last leaf.
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