The world of Torah books is often renewed with new books, especially old ones that have never been printed before. Especially in the world of Kabbalah books, where in recent years wonderful and special works have been published that were hidden in libraries and archives for centuries and are being published for the first time from manuscripts.
Such is the book "Kol Beramah," which is a commentary on the Adra Zuta written by our Kabbalist Rabbi Yaakov Tzemach.
What is unique about the book and who its author was, is presented to us by the great Kabbalist, Rabbi Matityahu Safrin, son of the Rebbe of Kamerna, who has had many hands in the compilation of Kabbalah books and is considered one of the greatest scholars in the wisdom of Kabbalah in our day, and he is the one who has now also compiled this important book.
Want more news, videos and stories? Join the Haredim 10 WhatsApp channel >>
""Rabbi Yaakov Tzemach was one of the greatest copyists of the Arizal's writings. And one of the greatest Kabbalists of that generation. Rabbi Yaakov was born in the city of Lisbon, Portugal. Some believe that he was born in the year 560, and others believe that he was born in the year 544. When he was about thirty, he left Portugal and moved to Salonika. In the year 568, he immigrated to Eretz Israel and settled in Safed, where he apparently met the Arizal's students and learned Torah from them, and there he engaged in the study of the revealed Torah, especially the teachings of Kabbalah. Later, he traveled to Damascus and became a student of Rabbi Shmuel Vital, the son of Rabbi Chaim Vital. While in Damascus, he wrote several works. From there, he returned to Eretz Israel and settled in Jerusalem. In Jerusalem, he also connected with the group of righteous men and Kabbalists who lived there. Among them were the righteous men Rabbi Avraham Amigo, Rabbi Shmuel Ibn Tzachen, and Rabbi Yaakov Hagiz.
Where did the manuscripts come from?
After the passing of our Rebbe, the Arizal, Rabbi Chaim Vital arranged for the necessary documents and everything he had written in his rabbi's name. However, Rabbi Chaim stored a significant portion of the writings in his grave. Rabbi Yaakov Tzemach was very eager to obtain those writings, and fasted many days until Rabbi Chaim Vital appeared to him in a dream and allowed him to open the mysterious place where the writings were buried, from where he took out a large quantity of manuscripts in Rabbi Chaim Vital's sacred handwriting. Among the writings were several complete works edited and arranged in the wisdom of Kabbalah. As well as many individual leaves.
These writings are called the "Hamadura Batra" writings, and for many years Rabbi Yaakov Tzemach labored over the writings and published them in several collections (Otsrot Chaim, Kehalot Yaakov, Olat Tamid, and more).
And what is the current connection?
As is known, on the day of Rabbi Shimon Bar Yochai's death, he revealed many secrets to his disciples. These words were written and called "Edra Zuta," hence the great sanctity and importance of these words. Rabbi Yaakov Tzemach wrote a commentary on the words, and in addition, he compiled all the manuscripts in his archives and extracted from them commentaries and sermons related to "Edra.".
Another important thing that emerges from this manuscript of the commentary "Kol Brama" is the text of the Hadra itself that Rabbi Yaakov used. And it was copied from the text of the Zohar that was with the Arizal and later with his student Rabbi Chaim Vital ztzukal. In this edition, the editor divided the words. The words of the Arizal separately and the words of Rabbi Yaakov Tzemach separately.
The book has two introductions written by Rabbi Yaakov Tzemach. One from a manuscript found in the library of the British Museum, and the other from a manuscript found in the Rabbinical Seminary in New York. In the introduction, the author writes about what his work will be about, and also recounts the chapters of his life leading up to the compilation of this book, and lists books he has authored and edited to date.
The book is published in a wonderful and enlightening edition and is available in select bookstores.
Attached is the title page of the book Kol Rama on the Great Adra. (From Hibrox)
