Singular Masterpiece!
Personal Seal of Rabbi Yeshayahu Bassan, Teacher of the Ramchal. Italy, Late 17th -early 18th Century.
The present item is the personal seal of Rabbi Yeshayahu Bassan, disciple of the Ramaz and kabbalistic master of the Ramchal. The seal, which manifests meticulous artisan workmanship, is fashioned of brass and boasts a finely carved handle crafted of high-quality wood. On the metal seal, the owner’s name is inscribed in a spiral: “Yeshayahu, son of the esteemed Rabbi Yisrael Chizkiya Bassan, zt”l.” The spiral inscription culminates with an attractive decoration.
The seal features a Renaissance-style handle sculpted to a very high standard that depicts the scene of Akeidas Yitzchak, with Avraham holding his son Yitzchak down with his left hand while grasping his knife in his right hand. A sheep rests at Avraham’s feet, and above him, the angel restrains his hand. With his other hand, the angel grasps a rolled scroll with the verse: "They will neither harm nor destroy on My holy mountain, says Hashem" (Yeshaya 11:9). On either side of the angel are intertwined figures of a lion, eagle, and serpent, possibly alluding to the perils facing the Jewish nation that are forestalled by Akeidas Yitzchak. The scene’s tree or plant motif may hint to the thicket in which the ram was caught or the wood on the altar.
The above verse derives from the prophecy in Sefer Yeshaya which discusses Mashiach who will judge justly and righteously and bring true peace to the world, as it is written, “The spirit of Hashem will rest upon him… He will not judge by what he sees with his eyes… He will righteously judge the needy… The wolf will live with the lamb… and the infant will play near the cobra’s den…” This may intend to express the idea of Rabbi Bassan as a rabbi and judge who seeks to render true justice and bring peace between people.
Rabbi Yeshayahu Bassan (circa 1673-1739) was the son of Rabbi Yisrael Chizkiya Bassan and one of the venerable Italian sages, poets and liturgical composers at the turn of the 18th century. He authored teshuvos to Jewish communities throughout Italy, many of which were published in his sefer Shu"t Lachmei Todah.
In his youth, Rabbi Yeshayahu studied under Rabbi Moshe Zacuto, the Ramaz, who was also one of Italy’s greatest scholars and kabbalists and whose yeshivah disseminated the writings of Rabbi Chaim Vital on the teachings and prayer customs of the Arizal throughout Europe. Rabbi Yeshayahu married the daughter of Rabbi Binyamin Hakohein Vitali (the Ravach), the prime disciple of the Ramaz.
During his years as a Rav in the yeshiva in Padua, Rabbi Bassan became the teacher of Rabbi Moshe Chaim Luzzatto (the Ramchal), author of Mesillas Yesharim and a renowned kabbalist. Throughout the Ramchal’s life, the two corresponded regularly and shared a very close relationship. When the controversy against the Ramchal and his kabbalistic writings erupted in Italy, both Rabbis Vitali and Bassan, were his main defenders and supported him unwaveringly. After Rabbi Vitali’s passing, Rabbi Bassan corresponded with European rabbis involved in the controversy, vehemently opposing the ban against the Ramchal. Rabbi Bassan also collected and preserved the letters concerning the controversy, and these serve as primary sources for research on the controversy surrounding the Ramchal’s writings.
Ultimately, Rabbi Bassan persuaded the Ramchal to sign an agreement to cease writing kabbalistic books like those that had stirred opposition which led to the burial of most of his works. Notwithstanding, the eventual universal acknowledgment of the Ramchal as a tzaddik, and the influence and acceptance of his written legacy, including Mesillas Yesharim and Derech Hashem, can be largely credited to Rabbi Yeshayahu Bassan.
There is no doubt that this personal seal of Rabbi Yeshayahu Bassan is of exceptional historical significance, and it is possibly the most beautiful known Jewish seal in the world.
Condition: Good. Size: 11 cm.
Provenance: Yechezkel Toporowitch Collection.
Family Seals
Since the dawn of time and until this very day, kings and noblemen, countries, states and cities, associations, families and even individuals were known to adopt a particular symbol to identify and project their name and status. Many a Jewish family and dignitaries, specifically Italian Jews, chose specific symbols as their family seals, and these hallmarks were often manifested on illustrated kesubos, seals, books, bindings, ornamental items and even tombstones! Some of the more prominent and common seals included hands and crowns for families of Kohanim and washing cups for Levi’im. Yet aside for these typical ones, there were many others chosen by Jewish families, with common themes being lions, eagles, towers, the sun, moon and stars, birds, fish and a wide variety of trees and foliage. Some of the most famous family seals include those of the Rothschild family, Sir Moses Montefiore, and the Adler family who served for two generations as Chief Rabbis of England.
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