Maor Einayim. First edition. Mantova, 1574. With pages disconnected and glosses handwritten.

With corrected pages (see below). The book has three sections: Kol Elohim, Hadarat Zekainim, and Imrei Bina. By Rabbi Azarya di Russi min HaAdumim (1513-1578), an Italian sage, historian, and researcher. The book Maor Einayim was boycotted by the Italian rabbis immediately after its appearance, since Rabbi Azarya min HaAdumim tried to set the words of Chazal within and adapt them to the accepted research of his era and his personal experiments. For that purpose, Rav Azarya explains a number of aggadot not according to their pshat, and in certain cases says that Chazal erred in their understanding of nature, and similar things, including things that oppose the flow of tradition. HaChida writes that during his final days, Rabbi Yosef Karo ruled that the book be boycotted, but he didn’t manage to sign that edict. The Maharal of Prague disagreed vehemently with the author, and even composed part of his book Be’er HaGola against the book. However, the Shedi Chemed sees the fact that the prohibition of the Maran of Beit Yosef was never put into place, a sign from God that the book was meant to reach the public. The author, attempting to prevent the book’s boycott, replaced a number of pages (52-3, 81-2, 87-8). The copy before us has the corrected pages. Because of the corrections, there are changes among the book’s editions. Quality paper, wide margins. Listings of ownership. Many handwritten glosses. New, handsome leather binding. Moisture stains. Moth marks. A number of pages are professionally repaired. 194 pages. 23cm. Generally good condition.