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Medieval Jewish Encyclopedia: Shvilei Emunah (Paths of Faith) - שבילי אמונה Żółkiew (Galicia), c. 1784 Edition

Lot 44: Medieval Jewish Encyclopedia: Shvilei Emunah (Paths of Faith) - שבילי אמונה Żółkiew (Galicia), c. 1784 Edition

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Start price: £100

Buyer's premium:

A rare and encyclopaedic work of Jewish philosophy, science, and medicine by the 14th-century sage, Rabbi Meir ibn Aldabi. A highly sought-after edition from the important Eastern European press of Żółkiew.


        • This magnificent volume,
          "Shvilei Emunah" (שבילי אמונה), is one of the great compendiums of Jewish thought and scientific knowledge from the medieval period. Composed in 1360, the book offers a complete worldview, harmonizing traditional faith (Theology, Kabbalah) with the contemporary scientific knowledge of the time (Anatomy, Astronomy, Health).

          The Author: Rabbi Meir ibn Aldabi (c. 1310–c. 1360)
          The author is one of the most distinguished polymaths of Spanish Jewry:

          • Family Lineage: Rabbi Meir was the grandson of the Rosh (Asher ben Jehiel), one of the most authoritative codifiers in Jewish history.
          • Scholarship: He was a rabbi, philosopher, theologian, physician, and Kabbalist, studying the entire corpus of Jewish and general knowledge.
          • Content Synthesis: The work is notable for its comprehensive, non-systematic approach, covering the existence of God, creation, astronomy (cycles of the planets), human anatomy, embryology, dietetics, and the soul.
          Content and Structure: The Ten Paths (נתיבים)

          The book is uniquely structured into ten major chapters, which the author calls
          נתיבים (Netivim, or "Paths"), a term mentioned in the author’s forward that lends a spiritual and intellectual journey to the text. These paths cover everything from the microcosm to the macrocosm:

            1. Existence of God and His Names
            2. Creation, Spheres, and Astronomy (Includes astronomical diagrams, visible on the final page)
            3. Creation of Man and Family Life (Including Halachic rules)
            4. Embryology and Anatomy (The structure of the human body)
            5. Rules for Health and Diet (Including a detailed alphabetical list of foods and their medicinal properties)
            6. The Nature and Function of the Soul
            7. The Exaltation of the Soul and Ethics
            8. The Truth of Oral Tradition (Torah She-Be’al Peh – תושבע"פ)
            9. Reward and Punishment
            10. Redemption and the World to Come

          Bibliographical Details
          • Location: Żółkiew (Zalkwa), Galicia (now Ukraine) – an important center for Hebrew printing in the 18th century.
          • Date: c. 1784 (Based on the date on the title page, תקמ"ד).
          • Collation: Complete (Title page + 80 leaves / 160 sides), as reported by the owner.
    This is a rare opportunity to acquire a complete, historically used edition of a foundational work of Jewish philosophy, science, and thought.


Condition report:

This is an authentic, historically used text whose condition reflects its age and long life in a Jewish library.


  • Binding: The spine is largely broken and detached. The cover is worn and the book block is separating from the covers, requiring restorative repair.
  • Interior: Generally Good Vintage Condition for a book of this era. Pages show age-toning, some minor staining, and light foxing. All leaves appear present, and the entire text is completely legible.
  • Provenance: Includes numerous antique signatures, ownership inscriptions, and handwritten notations on the first pages, indicating generations of study and use. Some pages show evidence of previous tape repairs.