Sefer Yere’im, on the laws of the 613 commandments. By Rabbi Eliezer of Metz, one of the Baalei HaTosafot.
Venice: Giorgio di Cavalli, 1566. First edition.
This abridged edition was edited by Rabbi Binyamin son of Rabbi Avraham Anav, and divided into twelve chapters, while the original composition comprised seven chapter.
6, [5]-146 leaves. 21 cm.
Antique signatures.
A very important & rare classic.
Zedner 223; Roest 349.
Overall in good condition, worming professionally restored, added paper to the corners, full leather binding.
R. Eliezer ben Samuel of Metz (c. 1115–c. 1198) of the ba’alei tosafot was a recognized halakhic authority. He was a pupil of Jacob Tam, R. Samuel en Meir, and R. Hayyim Cohen of Paris. Among R. Eliezer’s disciples were some of the greatest German rabbis, such as R. Eliezer ben Joel ha-Levi and R. Eleazar ben Judah of Worms (Roke’ah). He thus served as an intermediary between the centers of study in France and those in Germany. R. Eliezer obtained his livelihood by moneylending, and was in charge of the distribution of charity. His daughters died during his lifetime. Little else is known of him.
R. Eliezer’s most important work is his Sefer Yere’im, written between 1171 and 1179, a work on the 613 precepts according to the enumeration of the Halakhot Gedolot. It was abridged by Benjamin ben Abraham Anav, who divided it into 12 Pillars, in which form it was published in Venice in 1566, and in many later editions. R. Eliezer is also an author of tosafot and novellae. Mention is made of his commentary to Berakhot, Shabbat, Zevahim, and Nedarim. R. Hayyim Joseph David Azulai (Hida) was in possession of a manuscript by him on Hullin. Very few of his responsa have been preserved.
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