Tzemach Tzaddik. First edition. Venice, 1600
A work of mussar in story and parable form, by the great sage Rabbi Yehuda Aryeh of Modena, inspiring the
reader to rectify his character traits.
Each parable features an impressive
woodcut illustration depicting the allegory, with a total of 39 illustrations.
During this era, it was rare for Jewish books to feature such a large number of illustrations and designs. Nevertheless, this sefer boasts an illustration on almost every page!
The sefer was printed anonymously, however in his autobiography Chayei Yehuda, Rabbi
Yehuda Aryeh of Modena reveals that it was he who authored this prominent work
and that he alluded to his identity in the acronym of the first words of the sefer (Chayei Yehuda, 1985 Edition, p. 74).
The sefer is based on the Italian work of ethics, Fior di Virtu. Rabbi Yehuda Aryeh adapted the stories and allegories to suit his Jewish readership, interspersing them with numerous teachings of Chazal, to the point that it bore virtually no similarity to the original Italian book.
Rabbi Yehudah Aryeh of Modena (1571-1648) was a renowned Italian sage who served as a respected Rabbi and Dayan in Venice, where he taught and disseminated Torah to thousands. One of his famous disciples was Rabbi Shaul Halevi Morteira who would eventually teach Rabbi Moshe Zacuto (the Ramaz).
Rabbi Yehudah Aryeh of Modena was extolled for his genius and abundant talents and was regarded as one of the most prolific Torah authors in Italy. His written legacy spans the spectrum of commentary, mussar, drush, shailos and teshuvos, tefillos, liturgy, riddles, segulos, history and Hebrew dictionaries. The present sefer Tzemach Tzaddik was his very first work to be printed, and he was all of 29 years old when the printing was complete.
Venice, 1600. First edition.
Exceedingly rare!
Pages: 40 leaves.
Page Size: 14.5 cm.
Condition: Good; several pages cropped at margins until the edges of the text.
Provenance: Yechezkel Toporowitch Collection
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