Exceptionally Rare Sefer
Mekor Chaim
Constantinople, 1650
Commentary on Shulchan Aruch – Hilchos Pesach (including the text of the Shulchan Aruch), based on Kabbalah by the renowned Kabbalist Rabbi Chaim HaKohen of Aleppo, a disciple of the renowned Kabbalist Rabbi Chaim Vital.
This book contains unique and fascinating content, integrating Halacha and Kabbalah. Each halachic ruling in the Shulchan Aruch is expounded with a moral teaching – what ethical lesson can be derived from it – and primarily, the mystical hints and secrets it contains according to the wisdom of Kabbalah.
Throughout the sefer are many halachic rulings that were later cited by leading poskim, such as the Eliyahu Rabbah and primarily by the Chida.
This book is the first of Rabbi Chaim HaKohen’s works to be printed. All first editions of his books are considered rare, but this initial work is exceptionally rare. It was overlooked by some bibliographers and is absent from major libraries. The National Library of Israel holds only a single incomplete copy (lacking the title page). It is evident that this edition was unknown to the editors of the most recently reprinted editions (Jerusalem, 1995, and Zichron Aharon, 2021).
Since this sefer was unknown, most biographers of Rabbi Chaim erroneously state that his first published sefer was ‘Tur Bareket’, printed in Amsterdam in 1654 [תי"ד]. However, as noted, the work before us (Mekor Chaim) was his first printed book, published in 1650 [ת"י].
This book, in such complete and excellent condition, is extraordinarily rare.
Rabbi Chaim HaKohen of Aleppo (circa 1585–1655)
Rabbi Chaim HaKohen, author of ‘Mekor Chaim’ and ‘Toras Chacham’, was a preeminent disciple of Rabbi Chaim Vital, from whom he received extensive knowledge in Kabbalah. He traveled from Aleppo to Italy to publish his works. Rabbi Chaim was one of the greatest Kabbalists of his time, and even the illustrious Kabbalist Rabbi Moshe Zacuto (Ramaz) consulted him on Kabbalistic matters.
During his stay in Venice, where he printed ‘Toras Chacham’ in 1654, he encountered the Kabbalist Rabbi Natan Nata Hanover. Rabbi Natan became his disciple in Kabbalah and included in his sefer ‘Sha’arei Tzion’, the famous poem "Kol B’Rama Nishma" by Rabbi Chaim, recited at Tikkun Chatzos.
Rabbi Chaim was particularly revered by the Chida who references him dozens of times in his writings, bestowing upon him titles such as "The Pious Divine Kabbalist", "Holy One of the Highest Order" and "Light of Life." During his first visit to Livorno in 1753, the Chida went to pray at Rabbi Chaim’s grave (Ma’agal Tov, p. 4).
The Skverer Rebbe, Rabbi Yaakov Yosef, would study extensively the sefer ‘Mekor Chaim’, as his son, the current Skverer Rebbe, testified. He practiced several customs based on the sefer, saying that he observed these customs by his father-in-law, Rabbi Yehoshua of Belz (see the introduction to Tur Bareket, Jerusalem, 1995, and Zera Yaakov, Skver, vol. 28, p. 225, note 23).
Rabbi Chaim’s comprehensive commentary on the four sections of the Shulchan Aruch is collectively titled ‘Mekor Chaim’. Each section was given a unique name from the Choshen (breastplate) worn by the Kohen Gadol, such as ‘Tur Bareket’, ‘Tur Pitda’, and ‘Tur Yahalom’. The volume before us is titled ‘Tur Bareket’.
Constantinople, 1650. First Edition. Shlomo Franco press.
Page Count: 40, [89] leaves
Size: 15 cm.
Condition: Good, some water stains.
The title page bears the signature of Rabbi Mazal Tov Modina, one of the great Italian sages of the era, who was a disciple and successor of Rabbi Yishmael HaKohen, author of Zera Emes, as rabbi of Modena.
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