Auction 109 Books | Letters and Manuscripts | Megillot and Jewish Ceremonial Art
Three Manuscripts, Novellae on the Bible and Talmud – Autographs of Rabbi Chaim son of Rabbi Shlomo HaLevi, Rabbi of Milas (Turkey) – 19th Century
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Three manuscripts, novellae on the Bible and Talmud, handwritten by R. Chaim son of R. Shlomo HaLevi, Rabbi of Milas. [Turkey, 19th century].
Three notebooks handwritten by R. Chaim HaLevi. His signed inscription appears at the beginning of each notebook: "Chaim son of R. Shlomo HaLevi"; in the third, he adds the location and date: "…here in Milas, year [1883]".
At the end of the first notebook is an ownership inscription by his father (Ladino and Hebrew), signed: "Shlomo son of R. Shem Tov HaLevi".
The notebooks comprise novellae and sermons on the Torah portions, the Bible and Talmudic tractates. Notebook 2 also contains a work of problems alphabetically ordered. In various places, the author mentions contemporary rabbis, such as his teacher – R. Yitzchak Krispin of Izmir, author of Shemo Yitzchak; and his uncle R. Chaim Palachi and his son R. Avraham Palachi. In several places he also cites Torah ideas in the name of R. Chaim Cadranel (1846-1934) and R. Yosef Franko (d. 1926), as well as his son Eliyah and his grandson Avraham (in 1892).
In one place (notebook 2, p. 8a), he mentions the local custom of Milas to perform Hakafot on the Shabbat after Sukkot. Top of one page (notebook 2, p. 24a) dated 1849.
On p. 23a of notebook 1 is a decorated title page, with an introduction explaining the book's purpose to refute Christian missionaries (with calligraphic signature at foot of page).
In several places, accounting inscriptions in Turkish and Ladino.
R. Chaim son of R. Shlomo HaLevi (b. 1832; R. Shlomo HaLevi was son of Chelebi Yedidiah Rachamim Shem Tov HaLevi). A descendant of R. Yosef ibn Ezra of Izmir, author of Shulchan HaMelech (mentioned in one of the present notebooks), and nephew of R. Chaim Palachi. R. Chaim HaLevi moved from Izmir to Milas, where he was appointed rabbi and disseminated Torah. R. Chaim was a close disciple of R. Yitzchak Krispin, author of Shemo Yitzchak, who printed one of his student's sermons in his own book.
Two other manuscripts of his are extant, with sermons and novellae – NLI Mss. 1048, 10796.
Three manuscripts. 42 leaves; 25 leaves; 53 leaves (with several pieces of paper between leaves). Varying condition. Overall good-fair condition. Stains and wear. Tears and defects in several places. Original bindings, with defects.
Oriental Jewry – Manuscripts and Books with Glosses
Oriental Jewry – Manuscripts and Books with Glosses