Rare and Valuable

There are only 20 to 30 copies of Maaseh Tuvia in existence today, and each is a rare Judaica item. “During its time, a few hundred copies were printed,” explains antiquities expert Rabbi Chaim Stefansky, who’s a partner at the Genazym auction house.

He himself has a copy of the book, which was passed down through generations until a Jewish family of rabbinic lineage emigrated from Russia to the United States in the early 1920s, bringing along their library. Their great-great-grandson unearthed this jewel of Jewish bibliography.

Authenticating a book like this is a complex process, Rabbi Stefansky says, and entails a collaborative effort between scholars of the Jewish realm and secular connoisseurs alike. They are jointly tasked with scrutinizing every facet for authenticity — ranging from historical provenance to the textual corpus, encompassing even the parchment’s grain and the intricacies of binding technique.

He adds that any wares proffered by a reputable antiquarian establishment arrive accompanied by an insurance policy, wherein the buyer is assured a full monetary restitution in the event that substantiation of forgery comes to light.

Journey to the Palace

Tuvia studied at the yeshivah in Krakow, then perpetuated the familial calling by furthering his medical education at the University of Frankfurt. He collided with anti-Semitism there, though, and was denied a degree solely due to his Jewish heritage. This would leave an indelible mark on him, and he would consistently speak out against German professors who held anti-Semitic attitudes. Undeterred, he moved to Padua, Italy and went on to complete his doctorate.

In the early 1680s, Tuvia migrated to Turkey, where his exceptional prowess as a doctor captured the attention of Ottoman Sultan Mehmed IV. The sultan retained Tuvia as his personal physician, and he retained this role for the subsequent four sultans. It was in that distant land, amid unfamiliar beliefs and foreign customs, that Rav Tuvia devoted himself to penning the book that would become an enduring legacy.

Match Quest

In 1724, in the twilight of his years, Rav Tuvia relocated to the Holy City of Jerusalem, where he resided until his passing in 1729. While Rav Tuvia’s one daughter was raised among Ottoman royalty, he must have successfully navigated the formidable challenges that came along with the position and preserved an unshaken faith within his household.

Evidence of such is the match he made with one of Jerusalem’s most venerable families. Rav Tuvia’s daughter married Rabbi Abraham Meyuchas, a dayan in Jerusalem and the brother of Rabbi Rephael Meyuchas, who would hold the esteemed title of Rishon L’Tzion.

Faith First

The book’s title has its origins in the opening lines of the mishnah in Rosh Hashanah: “Maaseh b’Tuvia harofei….” and like the original Tuvia who went to testify before beis din that he had seen the new moon, Tuvia HaKohein was undoubtedly a G-d-fearing Jew.

The first chapter of the book begins:

It is fitting for every member of the People of Israel to not merely believe in the existence of G-d, but to know it unequivocally, to acknowledge there is a Creator and Director of the World. And one should delve deeply into this understanding, not out of doubt, Heaven forbid, but so that this knowledge becomes firmly rooted in our hearts, devoid of any uncertainty.”

Any medical treatise starting with such an introduction today would assuredly be excised from scholarly discourse. Yet Rav Tuvia adeptly retained his dual identity, serving as physician for royalty without ever forsaking his loyalty to a Higher Power, successfully practicing medicine, all the while bearing in mind upon Whom true well-being depends.

(Originally featured in Mishpacha, Issue 980)