Sefer Nagid u-metsaṿeh : yagid kol ha-minhagim ṿe-kaṿanat aśiyat ha-mitsṿot

Sefer Nagid u-metsaṿeh : yagid kol ha-minhagim ṿe-kaṿanat aśiyat ha-mitsṿot

Nagid u-metsaṿeh

Nagid u-metsaṿeh (first published in Amsterdam 1712) is an anthology of customs in the tradition of Isaac Luria. It was written by Jacob ben Ḥayyim Ẓemaḥ, a Portuguese cabalist and physician. Ẓemaḥ receivedmedical training in Portugal as a Marrano (convert to Christianity), but in 1619 he fled to Safed and devoted himself to the Talmud and Cabala. Ẓemaḥ was a prolific writer but only two of his works were published: "Ḳol ba-Ramah," a commentary on the Zohar, and "Nagid u-metsaṿeh," a treatise on the mystical meanings of prayers.

This copy of Nagid u-metsaṿeh was published in 1794 or 1795 in Liṿorno. The last section of the book, "Nevuʼat ha-yeled", contains prophecies ascribed to the child Naḥman Ḳeṭofah.

The title page is signed by M. Gaster (whose signature is featured in the Brisman collection). The back endleaves have numerous inscriptions.

Part of the inscriptions:

זיה זבקנה נזכך עירנען

זה זהקכה הזכן

Ẓemaḥ, Jacob ben Ḥayyim, active 17th century.

Liṿorno : Yaʻaḳov Nunes Ṿais [u-]Refaʼel Meldolah

ליוורנו : יעקב נוניס ואיס [ו]רפאל מילדולה

555 [1794 or 1795]

Digital Image: Washington University in Saint Louis

Hebrew

Illegible inscription

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