Auction 27
Lot 207:
Manuscript of the book Mekor Hayyim, a kitzur of the halachot of shechita and treifut by Rabbi Yehi ben Yaakov Tzalach (Maharitz ben Yaakov, the 2nd; See Chochmei Teiman 502), published in 1861. Pretty illustrated cover page. On the back of the cover is an original introduction written in rhyme, previously unknown. The scribe’s identity is unknown, but the handwritten appears to be that of the scribe Rabbi Hayyim Korach (Chochmei Teiman 558). The manuscript is complete except for a few cut letters on the last page. Bound to the last third of the book is an amazing chapter composed of pages which shed interesting light on the period: Various pages include: A deed of divorce for a woman with the signatures of witnesses "Daoud ben Yosef" and "Saadia ben Saadia". A deed of divorce without the signature of a witness. Certification for a Shochet "Rabbi Saliman Said Yahya" signed by "Said son of Salem." Approval letter to "Saliman son of Said", from the head of the kosher slaughterers "Yahya Ben Nahum [Chochmei Teiman 388]" from 1927. Certification for slaughter of live animals and poultry, for the student "Saliman ben Said" from the 9th of Nissan 1909. All in the handwriting of Rabbi Yahya Kapach. Signed by Rabbi Yitzhak, Yahya ben Moshe Halevi [Chochmei Teiman 234-5], Chief Rabbi of Sana’a in the 19th-20th century. And Rabbi Yahya son of Shlomo El-Kapach [Chochmei Teiman 545-6], the Chacham Bashi and founder of the Darda movement, Sana’a 19th century, known for his war against the Zohar and Kabbalah and for the return of Yemenite Jewry to halakhic rulings according to Maimonides and Saadia Gaon. Another certification page on the laws of slaughter, predation, knife testing and lung is also written entirely in the handwriting of Rabbi Yahya Kapach "and provided that we come before us during the Adar month to see … repeat the Talmud …", dated the 11th of Tevet, 1908, signed by Rabbi Yahya Kapach at the conclusion. Following is the handwriting and signature of the aforementioned Rabbi Yitzhak Halevi, who agrees according to Rabbi Yehia Salah as to the terms. Letter from Rabbi Yahya Kapach dated Menachem Av in 1907 on slaughter matters addressed to "Salem Dachan" , With an interesting and historically unknown mention of "Yahya Yitzhak in the prison, and so I was forced to extend …" with the signature of his holy hand. It is interesting to note that there is no record of a stay in prison for Rabbi Yitzhak Yahya Halevi, and he was known to be very close to the Turkish kingdom and therefore this line is very puzzling. Ten additional pages in later writing with ‘The Secret of the Beast in the Alef Mountain’, ‘The Laws of Slaughter according to Kabbalah’, ‘The Secret of the Maggid Meisharim’ and ‘the Prophecy of Said Ben Daoud Hacohen of the Pinchas Family … ‘. 140 pages. Some of the pages of various sizes mostly 17X12 cm. Tailor-made and bound with leather binding suitable for the period. Typical signs of wear and tear. Good general condition.
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