A unique 400-year-old manuscript written by famed kabbalist Rabbi Chaim Vital is expected to fetch at least $100,000 when it is sold at auction this coming Monday.
The page comes from Vital's book "The Tree of Life," in which he collected the teachings of his teacher Rabbi Isaac Luria Ashkenazi, known as the Ari, one of the most prominent rabbis in history.
Vital studied under the Ari in Safed for several years in the 16th century and was seen as his successor. After the Ari died, Vital and a group of scholars formed the core of what was to become the formalized study of kabbalah, or Jewish mysticism. Vital's writings have become the basic texts for kabbalah, and millions have read his books.
King David Auctions in Jerusalem is selling off a page in Vital's writing from "The Tree of Knowledge."
"This is one of the most important items in the field of ancient Hebrew manuscripts to have come up in recent decades," said Moshe Cohen, a researcher at the auction house.
"The entire theory of kabbalah that is studied in Israel and worldwide and all Jewish mysticism rests on the teachings of the Ari, which Rabbi Vital wrote down," Cohen said.
Part of what makes the manuscript unique is that it comes from a noted kabbalah text. Pages from Vital's "Book of Medicine," which deals with more down-to-earth matters, have previously sold for tens of thousands of dollars each, but the kabbalah aspect makes this manuscript much more valuable.
"This is the most authentic kabbalah item that has been found, and it is unique," Cohen said.
The manuscript is being sold from a private collection, with the opening bid set at $15,000. If it meets auction estimates, it will be one of the most expensive items of this kind ever sold.
