ספר 'שולחן של ארבע' לרבנו בחיי בן אשר: תכניו, תולדותיו ויחסו לספרות הקבלה הקסטיליאנית

This research examines the history of the book “Shulhan shel Arba” – the first of its kind Jewish eating manuel authored by the commentator and Kabbalist Rabbenu Bahya ben Asher (late 13th century, northern part of the Iberian Peninsula). This work was alreadywidespread in Spain before the expulsion, and has since been accepted by many Jewis hcommunities throughout generations. Despite its widespread dissemination, fundamental questions regarding it have not yet been clarified, and this research seeks to address someof them for the first time. Among the topics discussed here are the content and structure ofthe work, its (mis)attributions to various historical figures, the estimated time period of its composition, its relation to Bahya’s other writings, its print editions and their relation to availble manuscripts, commentaries associated with it, the history of its reception in the Jewish diaspora, and the practical role assigned to it by its author in light of less known documents. Another section of this research is dedicated to exploring the relations hip between “Shulhan shel Arba” and the Zohar, as well as other Castilian literature of the time.It is argued that in his work, R. Bahya drew on Zoharic literature and the writings of R. Joseph Gikatilla (or anonymous texts attributed to him) while providing the rationales for several ritualistic meal practices. The exploration of the subject also includes an examination of Bahya’s unique adaptation of intellectual sources, and tracing the evolution of his teachings in later generations.