Illustrated
Seder Hanikur
Venice, 1595
___
Laws of nikur (concerns the removal of forbidden cheilev and sciatic nerve from an animal) by Rabbi Yaakov Sorzina Katz from Kastilatz, with translation of the names of the different parts of animal meat to Yiddish, Italian and Spanish. Includes illustrations of sinews.
An important and foundational sefer on the laws of nikur. Exceptionally rare.
This sefer is an abridged version of the laws of nikur set by the author’s Rabbi, Rabbi Tzvi Yaakov of Cracow, with various supplements. In his introduction, the author explains that after learning from his Rabbi in Cracow the Laws of Nikur, upon arriving in Italy he noticed that nikur was performed irresponsibly by unlearned Jews. He therefore published this sefer to educate and bring awareness as to the correct way of performing nikur.
Rabbi Yaakov Sorzina Katz Ish Kastilatz was the proverbial wandering Jew, starting out in Cracow where he attained mastery upon the laws of shechitah and bedikah under the guidance of the abovementioned Rabbi Hersh Buchtner and continuing to Italy where he became a printer and proofreader of sefarim, among them the landmark sefer Tiferes Yisrael by the Maharal of Prague (Venice, 1599). Two of his famous teshuvos, both concerning shechitah and bedikah, were printed in Shu”t HaRosh (Venice, 1607).
On the verso of the title page is a Cherem Form which was delivered by ten municipal officials of Venice regarding the printing rights of this sefer. The form also includes the approbation of the city’s Rabbanim, most notably among them Rabbi Shmuel Yehuda Katzenellenbogen, son of the Maharam Padua. This is one of the very first approbations to appear in a sefer printed in Venice (see Benayahu, Haskamah V’reshut B’dfusei Venice p. 247 #2).
Rabbi Tzvi Yaakov of Cracow, known as Rabbi Hershel Buchtner, was one of the great experts on the laws of Shechita and Bedikos in Cracow during the times of the Rema. He discussed these matters at length with the Rema, and his glosses that were published in the Mahari Vail’s Hilchos Shechitos U’Bedikos (Cracow, 1585) are later quoted by poskim under the name Maharatz.
Venice, 1595. First edition. 8 leaves. Page size: 13.7 cm. Few marginal restorations. Good condition. New binding.
…………………………………………
Any inquiries about this lot ?
