Notebook of contracts of R. Rafael Ibn Tzur – rental contracts and loan agreements drawn up in Fez in 1864-1867, with the signatures of rabbis and prominent members of the Fez community.
Handwritten notebook of contracts, including rental contracts for various property owned by R. Rafael Ibn Tzur, and promissory notes for money which R. Rafael Ibn Tzur lent to various people.
The contracts bear the calligraphic signatures of over thirty witnesses, who were rabbis and prominent members of the Fez community. Most of the contracts bear the signature of R. Aharon HaKohen, scribe in Fez who presumably wrote most of these contracts. For full list of signatories, see Hebrew description.
R. Rafael son of R. Shlomo ibn Tzur (1830-1917), rabbi of Fez, Torah scholar and author. He was also a wealthy property owner, as arises from the present notebook.
[53] leaves, including 45 written leaves. 12.5 cm. Good condition. Stains. Worming. Tears. Original leather binding, torn and damaged.

PLEASE NOTE: Item descriptions were shortened in translation. For further information, please refer to Hebrew text.

Manuscript, piyyutim for Shabbat, festivals and various occasions. [Morocco, ca. 19th century].
Complete manuscript, compilation of various piyyutim, mostly from Moroccan rabbis (including: R. Yaakov Berdugo, R. Shalom ibn Tzur, R. David Ben Hassin, R. Moshe Attia, R. Shlomo Haliwa, R. Amram Elbaz, and others). Most the piyyutim are in Hebrew, a few are in Judeo-Arabic.
Colophon of the writer, Yehoshua Elkoubi, on final page.
[78] leaves. 17 cm. Good condition. Stains. Tears to two leaves, slightly affecting text. New binding.

PLEASE NOTE: Item descriptions were shortened in translation. For further information, please refer to Hebrew text.

Manuscript, piyyutim, novellae on the Torah and various selections. [Morocco, 19th century].
The manuscript comprises many piyyutim, including piyyutim composed by R. Yisrael Najara and by Moroccan Torah scholars (such as R. Yaakov Abuhatzeira, R. David ben Chasin, R. Avraham Koriyat, R. Yaakov Birdugo, and others).
The manuscript also includes novellae, two homilies, and other selections. The first leaf bears the signature of "Yaakov Ben Zaken".
[172] leaves. 15 cm. Fair condition. Several leaves are in poor condition. Stains. Dampstains. Wear. Mold to some leaves. Approx. 20 leaves at the end are in poor condition, with large open tears, affecting text, extensive damp damage and mold. Old, damaged binding.

PLEASE NOTE: Item descriptions were shortened in translation. For further information, please refer to Hebrew text.

"Yahrzeit of our master R. Chaim Pinto" – printed leaf in Judeo-Arabic, by R. Moshe Pinto. Mogador (Essaouira, Morocco): Albert Benoualid, [ca. 1950s].
On verso, a letter in Judeo-Arabic handwritten and signed by R. Moshe Pinto, addressed to Yaish Elmaliach, personally inviting him to participate in a dinner in honor of the yahrzeit of R. Chaim Pinto.
The printed leaf contains an invitation to participate in the yahrzeit of R. Chaim Pinto (the first), which would take place on 26th Elul. R. Moshe Pinto writes of the great power and merit of Tzaddikim, and in particular of exalted soul of R. Chaim Pinto, which had the capacity to bring redemption. He mentions the famous story of the rescue of the Prague community from the blood libel, with the birth of the Maharal on Seder night. He writes wondrous things about his son Chaim Shimon Pinto, who was also born on 15th Nissan, stating that the child was a spark of the soul of R. Chaim Pinto, whose yahrzeit they would be celebrating.
R. Moshe Aharon Pinto of Mogador (ca. 1910 – Elul 1985), son of R. Chaim Pinto (the second, d. 1938), a renowned wonder-worker. At a young age, his father commanded him to remain enclosed in his ancestral home in the Mogador mellah, and for forty years, he never stepped out of his door, always available to extend blessings and encouragement to those seeking his advice. He later moved to Casablanca, eventually immigrating to Eretz Israel and settling in Ashdod, where many flocked to his home to receive his blessings.
[1] leaf. 26.5 cm. Fair condition. Stains and wear. Folding marks. Tears to margins and folds, affecting text. Handwritten letter indistinct and partially faded.

PLEASE NOTE: Item descriptions were shortened in translation. For further information, please refer to Hebrew text.

Chessed Leumim. [Livorno, 1807].
A rhymed work describing the calamity which befell the Jews of Algiers in the early 19th century, following the murder of Naphtali Busnash, muqqadam (leader) of the Jewish community in Algiers, on 10th Tammuz 1805, and the ensuing disputes in the community. The work was written by friends of the Busnash family, against those appointed to succeed the murdered muqqadam.
Handwritten inscription on the back endpaper, attesting that the book belongs to R. Nathan Freider (1803-1857), dayan and later rabbi of Tzeilem (Deutschkreutz, Hungary, presently Austria), author of Tzemach HaSadeh, who exchanged halachic correspondence with the Chatam Sofer.
16 leaves. Approx. 15 cm. Good-fair condition. Stains. Open tears to title page, slightly affecting border, repaired with paper. Minor marginal open tears to final four leaves. Handwritten inscriptions on title page. New binding.

PLEASE NOTE: Item descriptions were shortened in translation. For further information, please refer to Hebrew text.