Sefer Chefetz Hashem by Rabbeinu Chaim ben Atar, the holy “Or Hachaim” – Amsterdam, 1732 – first edition – the Or Hachaim’s first work. Printed in his lifetime.
Chiddushim on tractate Berachot, Shabbos, Horayot, and Chullin – the first printed fruit of Rabbeinu the holy Or Hachaim. The author made a special sea voyage to Amsterdam in order to have this Sefer printed.
The holy author writes a special preface to the Sefer, in which he tells a bit about his life and the adventures and suffering he went through. He writes about himself and about the Sefer things that are heart-shaking:
“Know, my brother, that all that I have learned in my life was only because of the love of Hashem and the yearning for Torah… It is clear and known before my Master, blessed is He that all my wish is to do the will of my Creator. Therefore anyone who opens this Sefer and reads in it, should only do so with a pure intent for the sake of heaven, in fear and awe to understand the pleasant words. And if he so does, he will understand well that which is before him and the pleasantness of the words of the Shas will please him… but without this, he should remove his hand from me and not defile the Torah of Hashem simply to vex…
I chose to, with Hashem’s help, name this Sefer ‘Chefetz Hashem’ for all my purpose is to do His will with it…and the sign will be that Hashem will want it to awaken his love to us and to the entirety of our holy nation…”
Self-dedication in ancient handwriting on the title page: ‘I, too, want Hashem and His Torah, and purchased this Sefer for a few coins in honor of the Rabbi, the author and his Torah, Shlomo (?) called Zalmen A”D’.
Additional ownership notation on the rear flyleaf.
[2], 17; 71 pp. 29cm. Moisture stains on all pages. New leather binding. Good-fair condition.
' d='M0 0h21v15H0z'/%3E%3Cpath fill='url(%23b)' d='M0 0h21v3H0zm0 12h21v3H0z'/%3E%3Cpath fill='url(%23a)' d='M0 3h21v9H0z'/%3E%3Cpath d='M7.575 9.25L10.5 3.985l2.925 5.265h-5.85z' stroke='%23093EC5' stroke-width='.5'/%3E%3Cpath d='M7.575 5.75l2.925 5.265 2.925-5.265h-5.85z' stroke='%23093EC5' stroke-width='.5'/%3E%3C/g%3E%3C/svg%3E){kind=small}
