Auction 89 - Rare and Important Items
Manuscript – Responsum by R. Chaim Abulafia Rabbi of Izmir, with His Handwritten Additions and Signature – Larissa, Mid-18th Century
Opening: $1,000
Estimate: $2,000 - $3,000
Sold for: $2,750
Including buyer's premium
Manuscript, responsum on laws of inheritance, by R. Chaim son of R. David Abulafia Rabbi of Izmir. [Larissa (Greece), ca. mid-18th century].
Written by a scribe, with two additions presumably handwritten by R. Chaim Abulafia. Concludes with the calligraphic signature of R. Chaim Abulafia.
Lengthy responsum regarding a previous ruling issued by R. Chaim Abulafia, in which he had rendered a certain will invalid. The disinherited heirs contested his ruling in the Salonika Beit Din, that ruled in their favor. In the present responsum, R. Chaim Abulafia defends his original ruling. The manuscript begins with a copying of the ruling of the rabbis of Salonika – R. Yitzchak HaLevi (d. 1758) and R. Shmuel Florentin (d. 1754), with their copied signatures.
This responsum is to the best of our knowledge unpublished.
R. Chaim son of R. David Abulafia (the third; d. 1775), rabbi of Izmir and leading halachic authority in his times. Nephew of R. Chaim Abulafia founder of the Jewish settlement in Tiberias. Born in Jerusalem, he studied under R. Yitzchak HaKohen Rappaport author of Batei Kehunah. At a young age he was accepted as dayan in Safed, and around 1740, he was appointed rabbi of Larissa, Greece. In 1755, various decrees were passed against the Larissa community, and R. Chaim Abulafia was compelled to leave the city together with some of his community members. He settled in Salonika, where he remained until his appointment as chief rabbi of Izmir in 1761. R. Chaim was a prominent posek in his times. R. Elyakim Gattegno, a dayan in his Beit Din, attested that the Beit Din would follow his rulings. Some of his responsa and rulings are recorded in the books of his contemporaries. His comprehensive and important work on the Semag was burnt in the great fire in Izmir, 1772. A small part of his rulings, sermons and remnants of his book on the Semag were published in his book Nishmat Chaim, Salonika 1806. Additional remnants of his writings were published at the end of Ashdot HaPisga by his disciple R. Yosef Nahmoli (Salonika 1790), including some halachic responsa, homilies and commentary on the Passover Haggadah.
[5] leaves. 20.5 cm. Good-fair condition. Stains. Tears. Worming, affecting text. New binding.
Written by a scribe, with two additions presumably handwritten by R. Chaim Abulafia. Concludes with the calligraphic signature of R. Chaim Abulafia.
Lengthy responsum regarding a previous ruling issued by R. Chaim Abulafia, in which he had rendered a certain will invalid. The disinherited heirs contested his ruling in the Salonika Beit Din, that ruled in their favor. In the present responsum, R. Chaim Abulafia defends his original ruling. The manuscript begins with a copying of the ruling of the rabbis of Salonika – R. Yitzchak HaLevi (d. 1758) and R. Shmuel Florentin (d. 1754), with their copied signatures.
This responsum is to the best of our knowledge unpublished.
R. Chaim son of R. David Abulafia (the third; d. 1775), rabbi of Izmir and leading halachic authority in his times. Nephew of R. Chaim Abulafia founder of the Jewish settlement in Tiberias. Born in Jerusalem, he studied under R. Yitzchak HaKohen Rappaport author of Batei Kehunah. At a young age he was accepted as dayan in Safed, and around 1740, he was appointed rabbi of Larissa, Greece. In 1755, various decrees were passed against the Larissa community, and R. Chaim Abulafia was compelled to leave the city together with some of his community members. He settled in Salonika, where he remained until his appointment as chief rabbi of Izmir in 1761. R. Chaim was a prominent posek in his times. R. Elyakim Gattegno, a dayan in his Beit Din, attested that the Beit Din would follow his rulings. Some of his responsa and rulings are recorded in the books of his contemporaries. His comprehensive and important work on the Semag was burnt in the great fire in Izmir, 1772. A small part of his rulings, sermons and remnants of his book on the Semag were published in his book Nishmat Chaim, Salonika 1806. Additional remnants of his writings were published at the end of Ashdot HaPisga by his disciple R. Yosef Nahmoli (Salonika 1790), including some halachic responsa, homilies and commentary on the Passover Haggadah.
[5] leaves. 20.5 cm. Good-fair condition. Stains. Tears. Worming, affecting text. New binding.
Manuscripts and Letters
Manuscripts and Letters