Handwritten volume of the teachings of the Ari and the Ramak – "Limudei HaAtzilut – Olam HaBri'ah"; "Sod HaTzimtzum", kavanot of prayer and "Sod HaMargela". Cursive calligraphic Ashkenazi script, with calligraphic titles and hundreds of glosses and revisions. [Europe, ca. second half of 18th century].
The front flyleaf bears the signature of R. Wolf Boskowitz, son of the author of Machatzit HaShekel: "Wolf son of R. S. Segal – Boskowitz". The enclosed report by R. Yitzchak Yeshaya Weiss attests that the scribe of the manuscript is the renowned R. Wolf Boskowitz, author of Seder Mishnah, including the many glosses and corrections which are also handwritten by the same esteemed Torah scholar.
The manuscript contains kabbalistic essays with separate paginations for each essay:
1. "B'Olam HaBri'ah" – Leaves 1-11 [2-12], "Limudei Bri'ah" was printed in part 2 of "Limudei Atzilut" containing the teachings of the Arizal (Mukacheve 1897 edition, Leaves 23-33).
2. "Sod Hatzimtzum V'Malbush V'Adam Kadmon V'Avir Kadmon" – Leaves 1-11 [13-23], printed in the aforementioned book (Mukacheve 1897 edition, Leaves 11-23).
3. Kavanot of the prayers and the Torah reading, "Pe'[rush] Birkat Levana", various Kabbalistic compilations and "Sod HaMargela – Ma'amar Olam" – Leaves 1-6 – this part does not exist in the book Limudei Atzilut, and its source is unknown [apparently, the first section is not from the Kabbalistic teachings of the Ari and of R. Chaim Vital, rather copied from an earlier composition. Evidently, "Pe'[rush] Birkat HaLevana" contains the Ari's teachings. At the end of one anthology is the title: "Beginning of the progression of the worlds and tikunim imparted by the Ari to R. Shemaya Ashkenazi his disciple"].
The renowned R. Binyamin Ze'ev Wolf Boskowitz (1740-1818), an eminent Hungarian rabbi, son and disciple of the author of Machatzit HaShekel, R. Shmuel HaLevi of Kolin, Rabbi of Boskovice (1724-1806). Officiated as Rabbi of Assad, Prostejov [during this tenure, he developed a close relationship with R. Moshe Sofer, author of the Chatam Sofer, see Ishim BeTeshuvot Chatam Sofer, Ot 113], Pest, Kolin, Balassagyarmat and Bonyhad and taught hundreds of disciple. His Torah knowledge and sharpness were venerated by leading Torah scholar of his times such as the author of the Nodah BiYehuda, R. Bezalel Ronsburg, R. Mordechai Bennet, the Chatam Sofer, R. Akiva Eger, and others. Among his many printed and hitherto unprinted writings, his monumental work, Seder Mishnah on all parts of the Yad HaChazaka of the Rambam, is outstanding and until today, has not been fully printed. His Talmudic glosses are titled Agudat Ezov and are printed in the Vienna 1830-1833 Shas edition, endorsed by the Chatam Sofer.
This manuscript is especially important, revealing a new aspect of the illustrious figure who was renowned as exceptionally erudite in revealed Torah, showing his profundity and knowledge of Kabbalah as well.
[1], 1-11 leaves; 1-11 leaves; 1-6 leaves. Approximately 54 written pages. 29.5 cm. High-quality paper. Good-fair condition. Worn margins. Stains. Loose and detached leaves. Original binding, worn. Without spine.