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From
<a href="http://tinyurl.com/7t4nzd2" eudora="autourl">
http://tinyurl.com/7t4nzd2</a><br><br>
<font size=3>The Kitzur Shelah by Rav Yechiel Michel Epstein, was first
published in Fürth in 1683. It was not truly an abridgement of the Shnai
Luchos HaBris, but rather a Sefer which stood on its own. It was used for
many years by people in smaller communities as a guide for what to do at
different times of the year. As many know, it is reputedly the source of
the actual Pesukim recommended for the custom of saying Pesukim Lishemot
Anashim. <br><br>
<Snip><br><br>
In fact, this custom of reciting a Pasuk associated with one’s name is
recorded there at the very end.<br><br>
Chapter 5 of Post Sabbatean Sabbatianism by Rabbi Dr. Bezalel Naor goes
into the reasons why Rav Yakov Emden blacklisted this book. It is based
on the Hakdamah which uses the expressions Mashiach Ha'Amiti and Y'Mot
HaMashiach, which equal 814 and is also the Gematria for Shabbetai
Zvi.[4] The copy I have from 1707 comes with the original quotation
marks, functioning like italics, on both Mashiach Ha'Amiti and Y'mot
Hamashiach. <br><br>
<Snip><br><br>
I was looking through the book to find the part that speaks about the
Pesukim L'Shemot Anashim and found it at the very end. I was fascinated
to see that immediately before the final section, Rabbi Epstein concludes
his Sefer with a hope for the coming of Moshiach, and he refers to
Moshiach as Nezer Rosheinu.<br><br>
I was curious about the words Nezer Rosheinu to describe Moshiach, and
suspecting foul play, I did two things. Firstly, I wrote to Dr. Shnayer
Leiman and asked him about the Kitzur Shelah and its use of the word
Nezer Rosheinu. This is what Dr. Leiman answered (posted with
permission).<br><br>
</font>
<dl>
<dd>“Briefly, Kitzur Shelah is a Sabbatian work. It is suffused with
Sabbatian material, so one needn't look for evidence just at the
beginning and end. It was already identified as Sabbatian by R. Yehezkel
Katznellenbogen in the first quarter of the 18th century. <br><br>
<dd>[Nezer Rosheinu] </i><font size=3>is surely a reference to Sabbetai
Zevi. The latter name in gematria totals 814, a sacred number for
Sabbatians. <br><br>
</font>
</dl>See the above URL for the entire article. YL<br><br>
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