Five Books of the Torah, with Rashi commentary and the Messorah marks. [Unidentified edition, apparently Italian print, 17th century].
Incomplete copy, with missing parts at the beginning and end. The sheets of the Chumashim have dozens of glosses in tiny Italian handwriting, most in reference to Rashi's commentary. The glosses were written by a disciple of the Rabach, who mentions his teacher in one gloss: "…difficult…and My Teacher the Rabach answered…". The Rabach - Rabbi Binyamin HaCohen Vitale (1651-1730), disciple of Rabbi Moshe Zakut, eldest of the rabbis and Mekubalim of Italy whose disciples were considered some of the leading Torah scholars in Italy. His disciple and son-in-law Rabbi Yeshaya Bassan was the Ramchal's teacher and the Ramchal also considered himself as his disciple.
A note was found amongst the Chumash leaves with ownership inscriptions of the Fontanella family: "This Chumash belongs to David Fontanella", "Avraham Fontanella ben Rabbi Zechaya…". Apparently, the writer of the glosses in this Chumash was a member of the Fontanella family, the Mekubal Rabbi Israel Berechiah Fontanella (died 1763), who was a disciple of the Rabach and the leading sage in Reggio after the death of Rabach. In 1744, he edited and printed the book Maftechot HaZohar in Venice. Some of his responsa was printed in his teacher's book of responsa (The Rabach's Responsa, Simanim 33, 38) and in the encyclopedia Pachad Yitzchak by Rabbi Isaac Lampronti.
This volume lacks some leaves and begins with Parshat Noach (Sefer Bereshit) and ends at the end of Parshat Chukat (Bamidbar). 19 cm. Fair condition. Spotting, wear, tears with restoration (in some places the text is damaged). Detached leaves, unbound.