Main Text (Title Page)

This is the gate of the Lord

original: "Zeh ha-sha'ar l'Adonai." A common biblical citation from Psalm 118:20 used on title pages to signify the holiness of the book.

The Book of

Leviticus from the Zohar

From the Divine Tanna Rabbi Shimon bar Yochai A 2nd-century sage traditionally credited with the authorship of the Zohar may his memory be for the life of the world to come, including the Commandments of the Torah original: "Pekudi Oraita," a section of the Zohar explaining the 613 commandments and the Faithful Shepherd original: "Ra'aya Meheimna," a section where Moses, the 'Faithful Shepherd,' discusses the commandments with Rabbi Shimon. Printed and proofread with great care by the young man, the honored Abraham may his Rock protect him and grant him life original: "yod-zayin-vav," a common protective abbreviation for the living, son of the honored Meshullam of blessed memory for the life of the world to come of Modena.

Here in Mantua

Under the government of our exalted lord, Duke Guglielmo Gonzaga may his glory be uplifted. In the year "When I restore your fortunes" according to the abbreviated era original: "B'shuvi et shevutchem." This is a chronogram from Zephaniah 3:20 where the numerical value of the bolded letters indicates the year 5320, corresponding to 1560 CE..

By the printer Jacob Cohen of Gazzuolo.