The Yaabetz - Rabbi Yaakov Emden

Over 120 hagahos handwritten by Rabbi Yakov Emdin ...

The Yaabetz - Rabbi Yaakov Emden

Over 120 hagahos handwritten by Rabbi Yakov Emdin on Yalkut Shimoni, autographed.

Rabbi Yaakov Emden’s autographed copy of sefer Yalkut Shimoni on Chamishah Chumshei Torah (Frankfurt am Main, 1687), with over 120 handwritten glosses which the Yaabetz wrote over a period of many years while learning this sefer time and again.

The title page features the following inscription in the holy hand of the Yaabetz:

“La’Hashem ha’aretz u’meloah. Yaabetz of Altona.”

The Yaabetz’s Story

In his preface to Shu”t Sheilas Yaabetz (Altona, 1739) Rabbi Yaakov Emden recounts why he signed his name by the acronym ‘Yaabetz.’

“When I was an infant carried in the arms of my father the gaon and chassid Tzvi, glory of Yisrael, (author of Chacham Tzvi), I once asked him about his signature, which he wrote merely as ‘Tzv”i’ without noting his father’s name at all. He replied that ‘Tzvi’ is the acronym of the name ‘Tzvi ben Yaakov.’ He then added that ‘When you are old enough to be wise in Torah and write sefarim and words of wisdom, sign your name in this way: ‘Yaabetz, ’ which is the acronym of ‘Yaakov ben Tzvi.’”

The Yaabetz, Rabbi Yaakov Emden (1698-1776) was the son of the Chacham Tzvi and among the greatest Achronim, Unparalleled in the scope of his writings and his unique style, he is also known for waging an impassioned battle against the Sabbateans. He was a prolific author whose works were universally acclaimed throughout the diaspora.

 Among his famous works are Mor U’ketziah, Shu”t Sheilas Yaabetz, Biras Migdal Oz, Lechem Shamayim, Eitz Avos, Luach Eress and many others.

Rabbi Yaakov Emden was born in Altona. He served briefly as Av Beis Din in Emden, and after resigning from this position and returning to his hometown of Altona, would comment that he makes a blessing, “That He did not make me an eved – an abad [Av Beis Din]!” (Shu”t She’elas Yaabetz Vol. 2 Ch. 168). In Altona, he formed a minyan in his house and established a printing house where he published his sefarim.

The marginalia in this sefer were printed in the Kerem Shlomo (New York, Bobov Press, edited by Rabbi Shmerel Citronenbaum).

 Yalkut Shimoni al HaTorah (Frankfurt am Main, 1687) with the Yaabetz’s marginalia. Page Count: 313 leaves. Page Size: 32 cm. Slight tears to the illustrated title page. restored antique leather binding.

Provenance : The Sdeh Zhofim Collection

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