Mareh Cohen – Krakow, 1589

Mareh Cohen – Krakow, 1589
Mareh Cohen, index of content and index of verses of the Zohar. By the Mekubal Rabbi Yissachar Ber Katz author of Matnot Kehuna. Krakow 1589. Printed by Yitzchak ben Aharon of Prostitz.
The author Rabbi Yissachar Ber ben Rabbi Naftali Katz was a disciple of the Rama. He wrote his famous commentary Matnot Kehuna on Midrash Raba, but although this work is celebrated, his work Mareh Cohen which was printed in only a limited number of copies was less known. Even the author's own descendent Rabbi Avraham ben Eliezer Katz, 80 years after its printing, heard a rumor that this book existed and only after much effort was able to obtain the book and reprint it in Amsterdam in 1673.
In his later years, Rabbi Yissachar Ber ascended to Hebron and died in c. 1590. In the book Shem HaGedolim by the Chida, he writes that the author of Matnot Kehuna was buried in the holy city of Hebron near the grave of Rabbi Eliyahu di Vidash, author of Reshit Chochma.
Ancient stamp on title page: "Daniel ben Rabbi A. D. J." – Stamp of the renowned Rabbi Daniel Yaffe of Berlin who lived in the mid-18th century. He supported Torah scholars in his home, filled all their needs and bought many books for them, Rabbi Yosef Te'omim, author of Pri Megadim wrote most of his books while living in Rabbi Daniel Yaffe's home in Berlin as he notes in the introductions to his books.
[52] leaves, 18.5 cm. Fair condition, spotting and wear, holes on Leaves 2 and 3. The title page is damaged and restored. Spotting. Leaf cut on text border. Erases signature on title page.