Kabbalah: The Book 'Tola’at Ya'akov' of the Kabbalist Rabbi Meir Ibn Gabbai. Constantinople, 1560. First Edition. A ...

Kabbalah: The Book 'Tola’at Ya'akov' of the Kabbalist Rabbi Meir Ibn Gabbai. Constantinople, 1560. First Edition. A Fantastic Copy with Handwritten Glosses.
Elucidations on prayers as per the PaRDeS (Pshat, Remez Drash and Sod) model, authored by one of the most prominent Kabbalists during the Spanish Expulsion.

Rabbi Meir Ibn Gabbai authored a number of important Kabbalah works. The book 'Tola’at Ya'akov' is the first of them. Rabbi Meir concluded writing it when he was only 26 years old!

“And I came to reveal just a very small part of what I gleaned from authors and books that are drawn from the Zohar. In particular from the holy books of the greatest of the Acharonim, the holy Rabbi Meir Gabbai zt”l, and the holy Maharam of Cordova zt”l, and the great Acharon, the holy Arizal” ( The Shela Hakadosh).

This is a first edition copy of the Kabbalah book, 'Tola’at Ya'akov' by the Kabbalist Rabbi Meir Ibn Gabbai. It is a commentary on prayers according to the four different approaches: Pshat, Remez, Drash and Sod as well as esoteric thoughts on Jewish holidays. We glean from this book that the custom in Rabbi Meir’s region was to commence Pesukei Dezimra with the psalm 'Hodu' and not with 'Baruch She’amar’.

This copy is complete and in very good condition. Bound in its original, leather binding with gilding on the back of the book. Inside are a number of early glosses, possibly by two different writers. A few brown stains on several pages, but aside from this, it is a wonderful copy.

In addition, this copy includes an additional page following the title page, featuring a poem printed on it. (It was likely added by the one who had it printed). This page does not appear in every copy.

The great Rabbis of Rabbi Meir’s time, as well as those after him, held him in high esteem. The Maharal refers to him as "The Exceptional Rabbi".

Rabbi Meir ben Yechezkel Ibn Gabbai was one of the most prominent Kabbalists during the period of the Spanish Expulsion. In addition to the book ‘Tola’at Yaakov’, Rabbi Meir authored other important works on Kabbalah, including ‘Avodat Hakodesh’ and ‘Derech Emunah’.

Rabbi Meir was born in Spain in 1480, and was exiled as a child from Spain during the Expulsion of 1492. He probably settled in Turkey and was ultimately buried in the Land of Israel. He authored three books on Kabbalah, within which he also developed his own theories.

Rabbi Meir opposed the study of philosophy prevalent at that time, while extolling the wisdom of the Torah ("The true wisdom"). He cautioned students that "Philosophy would distance them from perfection".

Constantinople, 1560.

80 pages. Complete and beautiful.

Otzar Hasefer Computerized Database, No. 58282.

First edition of an important Kabbalah book.