Obj. ID: 39700
Jewish printed books Shefer ha-Tikunim by Moses ben Mordechai Zacuto, Venice, 1682
This text was prepared by William Gross: Tikkun to be recited on the nights of Shavuot and Hoshana Rabbah, compiled by the renowned kabbalist Moses ben Mordechai Zacuto (c. 1620-1697). Zacuto was a prolific writer, the author of many books, and the compiler of numerous liturgical works (including Shefer ha-Tikkunim). His name here appears only in the epilogue, there referred to by Zacuto’s acronym, Remaz.
While mentioned in the Zohar, the custom of reciting Tikkun Leil Shavuot and Tikkun Leil Hoshanah Rabbah , a digest of biblical and Midrashic readings, originated among the kabbalists of Tzfat.
The volume concludes with an epilogue from R. David ben Solomon Altaras who mentions the author by his acronym (Remaz), and states that this edition has improvements over previous editions, such as cantillation notes, adding two entire Mishnayot missing from the previous edition, and larger letters, as well as informing that it was printed at the expense of R. Jacob ben Isaac ha-Levi.
Architectural title page, topped by a cartouche w
ith the Levite symbol of a hand pouring water from a laver into a basin. Two similar title pages are found in the GFC. Here, however, the name of the printer, Ya’akov [ben Isaac] ha-Levi , is printed above the symbol.
The Vendramin Hebrew press was established in 1630 by Giovanni Vendramin, who thereby broke the monopoly enjoyed by the Bragadin family in Venice. The press eventually joined with that of Bragadin, however, and the combined presses continue to operate well into the 18th C.