Manuscript of composition on the Torah, on Job, Megillot and haftarot, according to the book Midrash HaBeur by Rabbi Sa'adia ben David, one of Yemen's early Sages. [Copied in approx. 1930].
Jewish Arabic. Nice script of Yemenite calligrapher and copier. This manuscript contains translation to Hebrew, between the lines, on many of the pages, in late handwriting (1960).
Enclosed are papers in later handwriting, containing long parts of the book in its Hebrew translation, written several decades ago.
The owner's name is written on the back cover page: Avraham ??, ritual slaughterer of Yemenite Colony.
Midrash HaBe'ur was written by Rabbi Sa'adia ben David Aldamari, who was one of Yemen's early sages [lived in 1441]. The book is built in format typical of Yemenite midrashic works - with anthology of Chazal's midrashim, such as Yalkut Shimoni, together with commentaries of the author and his teachers. Many of the midrashim which appear in this book, have been otherwise lost, and appear only here.
In various places, the translators and editors crossed out names and honorary titles. For example, at the end of Parshat Mas'ei, they crossed out the words "Rabbi Netanel ben Yeshayahu quoted from Midrash HaBe'ur by Rabbi Sa'adia". It is possible that the purpose of doing so was to eliminate the copier's additions (of Rabbi Sa'adia and Rabbi Netanel's names) from the body of the text.
746 pages, 27 cm. Very good condition. Leather cover, decorated in Yemenite fashion, scuffed and slightly torn.
Another 17 leaves of Hebrew translation are enclosed, in good-fair condition.