Zeidah la-Derekh, R. Menahem ben Aaron ibn Zerah, Sabbioneta 1567
צדה לדרך
- Sold Winning Bid: $1,500.00 Reserve Price Met
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- Lot Number 52323
- Title (English) Zeidah la-Derekh
- Title (Hebrew) צדה לדרך
- Author R. Menahem ben Aaron ibn Zerah
- City Sabbioneta
- Publisher דפוס וויצינצו קונטי
- Publication Date 1567
- Estimated Price - Low 3,000
- Estimated Price - High 6,000
- Item # 2152280
- End Date
- Start Date
Physical Description
261, [261 foldout, [1] folout] ff., quarto, 200:145 mm., wide margins, light age staining. A very good copy bound in modern leather over boards.
First edition of Ibbur Shanim Chart -a 1000 year calendar to calculate the leap years.
Detail Description
R. Menahem composed Zeidah la-Derekh for the honor and benefit of Don Samuel, whom R. Menahem praises in the introduction. The book is directed towards the wealthy, who, because of their responsibilities and lifestyle, including social intercourse with non-Jews, are not always rigorous in the performance of muroot, nor do they have sufficient times to master a detailed code. His code, therefore, is directed towards the practical. It provides, as its name Zeidah la-Derekh "provision for the way" (Genesis 42:25, 45:21) implies, the traveler's necessities, not too burdensome to bear. In addition to its halakhie content, Zeidah la-Derekli provides reasons, based on the Rambam, for commandments, philosophical and moral precepts, and medical advice.
Zeidah la-Derekli is divided into five ma'amarim (articles), further divided into kelalim (rules), which are subdivided into 372 perakim (chapters). The ma'amarim are: 1) prayers, blessings, tijillin and zizit; 2) issur oe-hetter (dietary laws); 3) laws of matrimony and divorce; 4) laws pertaining to the Sabbath and festivals; and 5) fast days and the laws of mourning. This last part is completed with a discussion of the coming of the messiah and the resurrection of the dead. In this, the first edition of Zeidah laDerekh, the section on the Amidah includes a discussion of the twelfth benediction, malshinim (slanderers, informers), added to that group of prayers at the beginning of the Common Era. This paragraph, comprising almost an entire leaf, is omitted from later editions of Zeidah la-Derekh and the enumeration of the prayers comprising the Amidah was correspondingly adjusted. In some instances, rather than ink out so many lines, the entire quire was removed.
R. Menahem ben Aaron ibn Zerah, despite his sufferings, expresses great tolerance, noting that a non-Jew who fulfills those commandments that are incumbent upon him, that is, the seven Noahide mitroot, is better than a Jew who does not observe muroot.
Hebrew Description
וזוודין לאורחא ... והוספנו ... ביאור קצת מלות ערביות ובראש כל פרק ופרק הנכלל בו. ולוחות העבור ...
מעבר לשער דברי המגיה, ישראל הזפרוני מגווסטאלה תושב גאזולו, ובסופם שיר, הפותח: יהי נא זה למקנה לך ותעשה טוב בעיני אל. עיין: אוצר השירה והפיוט, ב, עמ’ 313, מס’ 1237.
במהדורה זו חלו שינויים מטעמי הצנזורה. עיין: יודע ספר, עמ’ 833, מס’ 1701.
ראינו טופס שנדפס "לשם כמ"ר שמואל בכמ"ר אלחנן קזיס", כאמור בשער של הטופס. טופס שנדפס "לשם כמ"ר שלמה מפונטרימולו" נרשם על ידי א’ יערי, קרית ספר, טו, תרצ"ח-תרצ"ט, עמ’ 502.
References
Bibliography of the Hebrew Book 1470-1960 #000106090; BE zaddik 40; Marvin Heller, 16th Century Hebrew Book