fbpx
Customise Consent Preferences

We use cookies to help you navigate efficiently and perform certain functions. You will find detailed information about all cookies under each consent category below.

The cookies that are categorised as "Necessary" are stored on your browser as they are essential for enabling the basic functionalities of the site. ... 

Always Active

Necessary cookies are required to enable the basic features of this site, such as providing secure log-in or adjusting your consent preferences. These cookies do not store any personally identifiable data.

No cookies to display.

Functional cookies help perform certain functionalities like sharing the content of the website on social media platforms, collecting feedback, and other third-party features.

No cookies to display.

Analytical cookies are used to understand how visitors interact with the website. These cookies help provide information on metrics such as the number of visitors, bounce rate, traffic source, etc.

No cookies to display.

Performance cookies are used to understand and analyse the key performance indexes of the website which helps in delivering a better user experience for the visitors.

No cookies to display.

Advertisement cookies are used to provide visitors with customised advertisements based on the pages you visited previously and to analyse the effectiveness of the ad campaigns.

No cookies to display.

Lot : 70

Kushta Reish


First Jewish Book on Mathematics!

Sefer Hamispar by Rabbi Eliyahu Mizrachi
The Re’em

Constantinople, 1533-4

Start price: $40,000
|
Est. Price: $50,000 - $70,000

Kushta Reish


First Jewish Book on Mathematics!

Sefer Hamispar by Rabbi Eliyahu Mizrachi
The Re’em

Constantinople, 1533-4


Foundations of mathematics and geometry by the Re’em, Rabbi Eliyahu Mizrachi, one of the great Turkish sages in the era of the Spanish Expulsion.

In the past, this book was regarded as a fundamental work in the study of mathematics. Due to popular demand, it was reprinted in several abridged versions and translated into several languages.

The present first edition is a rare, valuable find.



Rabbi Eliyahu Mizrachi (c.1450 – 1526) was one of the greatest spiritual luminaries in Turkey in his era. He is renowned for his “Mizrachi” commentary on Rashi on the Torah, which is regarded as a fundamental commentary on Rashi. Aside from his Torah wisdom, he was also acclaimed as “great scholar and treasure trove of wisdom” (Taz in Divrei Dovid, Parshas Mishpatim) in many fields of study.

As he attests in his foreword, the Re’em authored the present sefer at the request of his students. In one of his teshuvos, he writes, “There are those who desire to learn astronomy, and those who desire to learn trigonometry, and those who desire to learn mathematics…” (Shu”t HaRe’em Ch. 56).

In this sefer, he discusses the four basic mathematical actions: Addition, subtraction, multiplication and division, along with fractions, value of a triangle, equations, sequences and formulas that facilitate mental computations (S. Bolag, Brachos B’cheshbon p. 132 note #225).

The Famous Jewish Printer Gershom Soncino

This work was printed in the famous Hebrew publishing house of Gershom Soncino who during his latter years was forced to flee Italy to Turkey. The title page relates a brief family history:

“Gershom son of Rabbi Moshe son of Chacham Rabbi Yisrael Nosson Soncin son of Rabbi Shmuel son of Rabbi Moshe z”l. He fought in the city of Fürth against the wicked John of Capistrano and expelled him from there. He was a fifth-generation descendent of Moreinu Harav Moshe of Speyers who is mentioned in Tosfos in the year…1533…”

The colophon states: 
“This book was completed on Thursday, the 26th of Adar, 1534.”

John of Capistrano, also known by his Italian name of San Giovanni da Capestrano, (1386-1456) was a zealous monk and virulent anti-Semite who traveled across Europe preaching and inciting the masses against their Jewish neighbors. At his behest, Jews were expelled from Bavaria, and several Jews were murdered in vicious auto-da-fes. He proposed to banish all Jews in Rome and send them abroad on ships, and it was also he who persuaded Pope Nicholas V to issue an edict prohibiting Jews from engaging in lending money at interest, which was their primary livelihood.

When he arrived in Fürth, Rabbi Moshe rose courageously to battle him, and with the support of honest Christians, banished John of Capistrano and his mobs from the city.


Constantinople, 1533-1534. First edition. Page Count: [110] leaves. Title page features decorative border and initials. Condition: Complete, in good condition. Stained margins. Two last leaves restored at edges. Antique parchment binding.


Bibliography: Yaari, Hadfus HaIvri B’Kushta #116.

Wisdom of Mathematics: A Jewish Perspective


Jewish sages throughout the ages praised and encouraged the study of mathematics, as the Re’em writes in the preface of the present book:

“It is incumbent upon us to increase our study and diligence in this wisdom, as it is integral for all wisdoms.”

The Ramchal likewise writes in ‘Derech Chochmah’: “The logical studies that man must train himself in are essential, for otherwise he will never be able to arrive at the true and clear knowledge, like an artist who lacks an artistic tool. For example… geometry and trigonometry and astronomy are required for the understanding of mitzvos of ibur, kilayim, techumin, etc.”

Rabbi Yisrael of Shklov writes similarly in the preface to ‘Pe’as Hashulchan’ in the name of his rebbi, the Vilna Gaon: “He said: All wisdoms are required for our holy Torah and are mixed into it, and he knew them all: Algebra and trigonometry and geometry, etc.

……………………………

Any inquiries about this lot?
We are available also on
WhatsApp >>>
×
en
he
en
he
en
he