Obj. ID: 54423  Kame'ah zo le-Magefah me-ha-Ari ha-Kadosh zl, Lviv (Lvov, Lwów, Lemberg), 1855

The following description was prepared by William Gross:

Amuletic page excised from the book Sha'ar ha-Yechudim, Lviv, 1855 (see B.627 for a complete copy). The amulet was prepared to protect the home and to protect its inhabitants from disease. It is stated that its formulat is by the "Ari", a famous Kabbalistic Rabbi from Safed in the 17th century.

Segula Sefer: “Sha’ar HaYechudim” by Rabbi Chaim Vital; Lemberg, 1855

Sha’ar HaYechudim by Rabbi Chaim Vital, replete with holy names and formulas for segula amulets for protection. These holy amulets were used by great leaders of his time.In his introduction, the publisher writes that he printed this sefer upon the directives of Rabbi Avraham Yaakov of Sadigura. He writes that Rabbi Avraham Yaakov of Sadigura purchased the amulets in the sefer for himself and for his holy brothers from the Ruzhin dynasty. The publisher also quotes a letter from the sons-in-law of Rabbi Meir of Premishlan attesting that their father-in-law purchased this sefer for its amulets.

It is written on the title page: “...The greatness of these yechudim and holy names... protect and save from every bad thing. Also found here are new amulets for any bad happening; for a fire or plague that may come upon the world...”

An amulet intended for times of plague is printed on page 32b.

Sefer Tzaddik Yesod Olam is printed at the end of this volume along with an explanation from the Ari on Megillas Ruth and more.

Published in Lemberg, 1855.

Vital was born in Safed and studied in yeshivot there, especially under R. Moses Alshekh, his teacher in exoteric subjects. In 1564 he began to study Kabbalah, at first according to the system R. Moses Cordovero, and, later after R. Isaac Luria’s (Ari) arrival in Safed, under the latter, becoming the Ari’s principal disciple. After the Ari’s deat, R. Vital began to arrange the Ari’s teachings in written form, elaborating on them according to his own understanding, becoming the primary transmitter of the Ari’s teachings. R. Vital later moved to Jerusalem, serving as rabbi and head of a yeshivah from late 1577 to late 1585, where he wrote the last version of his presentation of the Lurianic system. In 1586 he returned to Safed, remaining there until 1592. In 1590 R. Vital was “ordained” as rabbi by his teacher R. Moses Alshekh, and then returned to Jerusalem in 1593 remaining several years, occasionally returning to Safed. His last move was to Damascus where he died. R. Vital was a prolific writer, his works encompassing Talmud, response, homilies, and even astronomy. R. Vital assembled his major writings into two vast works Ez ha-Hayyim and Ez ha-Da’at. The former is the inclusive name for all those writings in which he elaborated on the teaching of R. Isaac Luria. These works went through several versions and adaptations, for Vital began to arrange what he had heard from Luria immediately after his death, and remained absorbed in this task for more than 20 years.

Segulah for protection from plagues. Shaar HaYichudim by Rabbi Chaim Vital. Lemberg 1855.