Chemdat Yamim. Venice, 1763. Dozens of Handwritten Kabbalistic Glosses

Chemdat Yamim. Venice, 1763. Dozens of Handwritten Kabbalistic Glosses
Chemdat Yamim L'Moadei Hash-m (Part III) conduct and prayers for the Pesach festival, the days of Sefirah, Shavuot and Sukkot. With an introduction by Rabbi Yom Tov 'Mahar"it' Algazi.
There are dozens of kabbalistic glosses handwritten in Italian amongst the book's leaves. Some of the glosses are especially lengthy; some mention the Chid"a's customs.
The book Chemdat Yamim deals with kabbalah in general and the Ar"i's kabbalah in particular. It was first published by the Rishon L'Tziyon, Rabbi Yisrael Ya'akov Algazi (father of Mahar"it Algazi, Izmir, 1731), from writings he founds in Safed. Questions as to the author's identity and character - whether he was earlier or later; whether he was Sabbatean or true to tradition, are matters of dispute - as a result of which the customs written in the book are also disputed. The book was printed 54 years after the death of Shabbetai Tzvi. There are poems written in the book which include the acrostic "נתן עזתי", as well as essays known for their reference to Sabbateans. The Ya'avetz expressed regarding it: "I looked into it for a short while and I recoiled, and then I understood its character, and traces of Sabbatean heresy concealed in innumerable abominations and hints." It is told that one motza'ei Shabbat, the Ba'al Shem Tov said that a book was published by Shabbatai Tzvi's sect, and it will drag many Jews along with it with its slick language - he was referring to Chemdat Yamim (as brought down in Shabchei HaBesh"t). Rabbi Yehudah Pattiyah, as well, one of the Iraqi kabbalists and rabbis, stated that he rectified the author's soul after exertion (as brought down in Ruchot Mesaprot). On the other hand, Rabbi Chaim of Volozhin, disciple of the Vilna Gaon, expressed a positive opinion of the book, saying that even if the book's author is indeed Nathan of Gaza, the book itself contains nothing invalid, and it was apparently written before he turned to Sabbateanism. The author of Leshem characterized the author as "one of the most holy" (Leshem Shevo V'Achlamah, sermons on the world of chaos דרושי עולם התוהו, ב"ח, sermon 4, branch 24, section 68, in the paragraph starting "והנה"). This book, in the 2003 edition, opens with Rabbi Ovadiah Yosef's foreword: "Enthusiasm for the sanctity of Shabbat and Yom Tov only enters my heart by reading this book of Torah."
96 [should be 97] leaves, 26 cm. High-quality paper; very fine condition. Minimal aging stains. New binding.