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Old stamp and early inscriptions on title and second leaf. Marginalia of a few words. One inscriptions is by Yosef of Reinitz (Weisskirchen) which is today's Hranice in Moravia, in the the Czech Republic, where Jews first settled c. 1500 C.E. Vinograd v 2, p 648, Cremona #45. Steinschneider 6891, 33 col 2274. Zedner 715 Roest 988 Benayahu Hadfus Haivri BeCremona, 1971. HEBREW PRINTING AT CREMONA, ITS HISTORY AND BIBLIOGRAPHY. Number 31 (pp 217 218) MEHLMAN COLLECTION IN THE JNUL p 116, no. 692 . shaved, inner margin renewed, slight worming of title and 4 following leaves, with some loss of text, repairs to fore margins of last few leaves, touching one or two letters, slight waterstaining, modern calf. Title within architectural border with Cherubs. Title page completely adorned with an illustration made as a copperplate and wood engraving, with the forms of people and angels. The abridged Torat Habayit is considered a composition by itself. The author, Solomon ben Abraham of Barcelona, known by his initials "RaSHBA" (c. 1235 - c. 1310), was the acknowledged leader of Spanish Jewry and was the most famous Spanish rabbi in the thirteenth century. His teachers were the two Geronese cousins Jonah ben Abraham ("Rabbenu Yonah") and Nachmanides. It was particularly Nachmanides' method that Rashb"a continued: a fusion of the French Tosafists and the early Spanish luminaries. Rashb"a left a literary legacy of commentaries to seventeen tractates of the Talmud and approximately one thousand response. Torat ha-Bayith ha-Katzar is the author's own abridgment of the lengthy work by that name, which deals with most of the ritual laws, such as slaughter, forbidden foods, gentile wine, and the menstruant woman. The RaShBa's influence has remained to this day. He belonged to a well to do family of Barcelona where he lived all his life. His principal teacher was *Jonah ben Abraham Gerondi and Adret always refers to him as "my teacher." He also studied under Nahmanides, being considered one of his outstanding students and principal exponent of his "school" in the interpretation of the Talmud. While still young, Adret engaged extensively in financial transactions, and the king of Aragon was among his debtors. After a few years he withdrew from business and accepted the position of rabbi in Barcelona, which he held for more than 40 years. Adret was recognized as the leading figure in Spanish Jewry before he was 40 and his opinions carried weight far beyond the frontiers of Spain. He was a man of great accomplishments, strong character, and incorruptible judgment. Not long after he entered upon his office as rabbi, he vigorously defended an orphan against leading court Jews and the powerful Christian nobles who supported them. Yet, he was a humble man, with a warm sensitive heart. Beside his responsa and novellae, Adret wrote two legal manuals. The more important, TORAT HA BAYIT, deals with most of the ritual observances, such as ritual slaughter, forbidden foods, gentile wine, and the laws of NIDDAH. Seller Inventory # 005056
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