Auction 45

Autograph copy of a never-before-printed drasha, handwritten by Rabbi Yisrael Yaakov Elgazi (1743), with condolences and blessings for wealth and honor.

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Start price: $1,000

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Ten pages in Sefardi handwriting—by the Rishon LeZion Rabbi Yisrael Yaakov Elgazi. 

Rabbi Yisrael Yaakov Elgazi (1680? – 1756) was the son of Rabbi Yom Tov, grandson of Rabbi Shlomo Elgazi the First. He studied under Rabbi Haim Abulafiya (the Etz Haim) and Rabbi Yitzhak Rapaport (the Batei Kehuna). He moved to Tzfat in 1735 and served as rabbi in Jerusalem in 1749. In Av 1755 he was appointed the Rishon of Jerusalem sages and the Mara d’Arah of Israel, which he held for about a year until his death. In 1754 he signed the Shtar Hitkashrut of the Beit El sages.

He authored many works on a variety of Torah subjects: “Da’at LeHaSh’el, ” “Ara d’Rabbanan” on differences between Torah and rabbinic laws, “Chug HaAretz” on halachot of holidays for those living in Israel, and many others in print or still in manuscript. He travelled to Constantinople and Salonika. He gave many endorsements, including Admat Kodesh, Khut HaMeshulash (1739), Nechapeh BaKasef (1746), Pri HaAdama (1747), and more. His brother-in-law was Rabbi Yehoshua Ashkenazi of Constantinople, and his son was the Maharit Elgazi in Jerusalem.