The Key to the Secrets of the Torah – Sha’arei Orah – Offenbach 1715 – Zalkevei 1804
The book Sha’arei Orah, by the holy Kabbalist Rabbi Yosef Gikatilla, with the commentary of the Kabbalist Rabbi Mattityahu Delkart, was printed for the second time by Rabbi Benjamin Segal, the son of Rabbi Eliyahu Segal, at the press of Rabbi Zeligman Reis, Offenbach 1715.
At the beginning of the book, there is a commendation from Rabbi Avraham Broda, the Rabbi of Frankfurt, among others.
In the preface, the publisher explains how he initially wanted to print his father’s annotations within the text of the book, but Rabbi Avraham Broda, who was a faithful friend of his father, advised him not to do so and to print them on the side. Due to time constraints, however, the printer was unable to arrange the annotations on the side and only included a few essential notes.
Sha’arei Orah – Zalkevei 1804
The book Sha’arei Orah, by the holy Kabbalist Rabbi Yosef Gikatilla, with the commentary of Rabbi Mattityahu Delkart, was printed for the third time in Zalkevei at the press of Abraham Yehuda Leib Meir Ha’afir, 1804.
There are remnants of an ancient signature on the title page, and several pages contain antique marginal notes. Additionally, there is an old stamp: "Birkas Robinson."
Condition: Good, with slight stains and wear along the top-left edges of some pages. The book has been rebound in a nice new cover.
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This book is considered one of the foundational texts of Kabbalah. The holy Ari’zal himself stated that it is the key to all the secrets of the Torah. Even the Gra’s student, Rabbi Chaim of Volozhin, said that to fulfill the requirement of learning Kabbalah, one must study both the Zohar and Sha’arei Orah.
