Holy Handwriting of the Rema of Pano.
Hagahos on Rabbi Galiko’s Commentary on Koheles.
Venice, 1578
Twenty glosses handwritten by the holy hand of the saintly kabbalist Rabbi Menachem Azarya, the Rema of Pano. Written on the margins of commentary on Megillas Koheles by the Rav Hamusmach Rabbi Elisha Galiko of Tzfas, of the disciples of the Bais Yosef.
For two of the handwritten glosses, the Rema of Pano added his name in abbreviation beginning the comment with his distinct acronym אמ"ע (Amar Menachem Azarya – said by Menachem Azarya).
The glosses in the margins of this sefer are identical to other known handwritten legacies of the Rema of Pano.
The kabbalist
Rabbi Menachem Azarya of Pano (1508-1620) was one of the eminent Italian sages and kabbalists whose legacy in Torah and kabbalah illuminates the world until this very day. He authored dozens of compositions, some of them fundamental kabbalistic words, the most of famous of all being ‘Asarah Maamaros’. In his youth, he already acquired a sterling reputation among the sages of Italy, and everyone foresaw that he was destined for greatness. In 1534, at just 26 years of age, Rabbi Yosef Karo sent him a copy of ‘Kessef Mishnah’ and requested that he arrange to have it printed.
The present sefer was printed when the Rema of Pano was just thirty years old.
Gedolei Yisrael throughout the past five centuries extolled his praises, among them luminaries such as the Shl”a Hakadosh and Rav Yehonasan Eibschitz. In a letter sent from Eretz Yisrael, the Shl”a writes: “I will advise you, and Hashem should be with you. Cleave to the sefer ‘Yonas Eilem’ composed by the saintly Moreinu Harav Menachem Azarya z”l. This sefer is pure in the eyes of Hashem and man…and his Torah is true.”
Biur on Megilas Koheles, first edition by Rabbi Elisha Galiko, a comprehensive commentary on Megilas Koheles, printed in Venice 1578.
Rabbi Elisha is best known for his commentary upon the Five Megillos, although only the commentaries on Koheles (the present sefer, 1578), Esther (1583) and Shir Hashirim (1587) ever appeared in print. The commentary on Megillas Koheles is the longest and most expansive of all his commentaries.
The author
Rabbi Elisha Galiko (circa 1520-1580) was one of the great spiritual luminaries of Tzfas and a prime disciple of the Beis Yosef. He served as Rosh Yeshivah in Tzfas, and his signature appears alongside those of his contemporary Rabbanim on many teshuvos, halachic rulings and significant documents.
Rabbi Elisha’s prime disciple was the kabbalist Rabbi Shmuel De Ozida, who was one of the foremost talmidim of the Arizal. Whenever Rabbi Shmuel mentions Rabbi Elisha in his sefarim, he refers to him with the respectful “mori”.
Very rare sefer; rarer than the author’s other sefarim. The Chida, in ‘Shem Hagedolim’, mentions only Rabbi Elisha Galiko’s commentary on Shir Hashirim.
The left corner of the title page bears an owner’s signature that was scratched out: Elchanan David Poa, who was one of the Rema of Pano’s contemporaries. (The Poa family was related to the Rema of Pano).
Venice, 1578. First Edition. Page Count: [12], 143, [1] leaf.
Page Size: 19 cm. The glosses are concentrated in the first twenty leaves of the sefer.
Condition: Miniscule holes in margins; on several pages, holes also appear within the text, although generally in good condition. New binding with case.
