Auction 86 - Part I - Rare & Important Items
Notebook of Novellae Handwritten by Rabbi Shlomo Eliezer Alfandari – Unpublished Halachic Novellae and Homiletics
Opening: $5,000
Estimate: $10,000 - $15,000
Sold for: $18,750
Including buyer's premium
Manuscript, notebook of halachic novellae and homiletics, handwritten by the Saba Kadisha, R. Shlomo Eliezer Alfandari. [Ca. 19th/20th century].
The notebook comprises hundreds of passages on various topics, which R. Alfandari recorded during the course of his studies, with no specific order of writing or topics: halachic rulings and novellae, commentaries to verses and homiletics, references, and more. In one place, there is a lengthy responsum on the topic of one who finds money in his friend's house, addressed to Moharitz.
The contents of the notebook were not published (to the best of our knowledge).
A similar notebook was published by Machon Ahavat Shalom under the title Yakhel Shlomo Part I (Jerusalem, 2012). R. Yaakov Moshe Hillel, in his foreword there, describes the diligence of the Saba Kadisha in his unceasing Torah study, and his habit of taking notes as he learned, whether halachic responsa and novellae, or comments and commentaries on whatever topic he delved into and whichever book he studied, thereby leaving behind a wealth of Torah teachings for future generations.
The first leaves of the manuscript (pp. [2-4]) contain a copying of the beginning of the Shacharit prayer in a different hand. Inscription in Ladino on the first page in the same hand, attesting that the notebook belongs to Nissim Yitzchak Alfandari. The notebook apparently belonged to a Nissim Yitzchak Alfandari (perhaps a family member) before reaching the hands of R. Shlomo Eliezer who reused it to record his novellae.
R. Shlomo Eliezer Alfandari (ca. 1813-1930), leading Turkish rabbi. In his youth, he exchanged halachic correspondence with R. Akiva Eger (who passed away in 1837). He served as chief rabbi of Constantinople and Damascus. When he was about 100 years old, he immigrated to Eretz Israel where he served as rabbi of Safed. In his final years, he settled in Jerusalem, where he passed away close to the age of 120. During his time in Jerusalem, he refrained from taking a stance on communal matters, and remained in his home studying Halachah and Kabbalah, together with the elite holy men of Jerusalem. In his final year, the Minchat Elazar of Munkacs came to Eretz Israel specially to visit him, and they discussed kabbalistic matters together (reputedly, when the Minchat Elazar was asked about this visit, he stated in the name of the Baal Shem Tov that in each generation there is one Torah leader who is Mashiach ben Yosef, and R. Alfandari was the one of that generation. Yeshurun, XXX, p. 514). He authored Responsa of Maharsha, Responsa of the Saba Kadisha, and more.
[37] leaves written on both sides (over 70 pages handwritten by R. Shlomo Eliezer Alfandari). Approx. 21 cm. Paper of various colors: green, white and yellow. Fair-good condition. Stains. Wear and tears. Open tears, affecting text. Final two leaves torn down middle, lacking half the leaf. Original binding, torn, with significant loss.
The notebook comprises hundreds of passages on various topics, which R. Alfandari recorded during the course of his studies, with no specific order of writing or topics: halachic rulings and novellae, commentaries to verses and homiletics, references, and more. In one place, there is a lengthy responsum on the topic of one who finds money in his friend's house, addressed to Moharitz.
The contents of the notebook were not published (to the best of our knowledge).
A similar notebook was published by Machon Ahavat Shalom under the title Yakhel Shlomo Part I (Jerusalem, 2012). R. Yaakov Moshe Hillel, in his foreword there, describes the diligence of the Saba Kadisha in his unceasing Torah study, and his habit of taking notes as he learned, whether halachic responsa and novellae, or comments and commentaries on whatever topic he delved into and whichever book he studied, thereby leaving behind a wealth of Torah teachings for future generations.
The first leaves of the manuscript (pp. [2-4]) contain a copying of the beginning of the Shacharit prayer in a different hand. Inscription in Ladino on the first page in the same hand, attesting that the notebook belongs to Nissim Yitzchak Alfandari. The notebook apparently belonged to a Nissim Yitzchak Alfandari (perhaps a family member) before reaching the hands of R. Shlomo Eliezer who reused it to record his novellae.
R. Shlomo Eliezer Alfandari (ca. 1813-1930), leading Turkish rabbi. In his youth, he exchanged halachic correspondence with R. Akiva Eger (who passed away in 1837). He served as chief rabbi of Constantinople and Damascus. When he was about 100 years old, he immigrated to Eretz Israel where he served as rabbi of Safed. In his final years, he settled in Jerusalem, where he passed away close to the age of 120. During his time in Jerusalem, he refrained from taking a stance on communal matters, and remained in his home studying Halachah and Kabbalah, together with the elite holy men of Jerusalem. In his final year, the Minchat Elazar of Munkacs came to Eretz Israel specially to visit him, and they discussed kabbalistic matters together (reputedly, when the Minchat Elazar was asked about this visit, he stated in the name of the Baal Shem Tov that in each generation there is one Torah leader who is Mashiach ben Yosef, and R. Alfandari was the one of that generation. Yeshurun, XXX, p. 514). He authored Responsa of Maharsha, Responsa of the Saba Kadisha, and more.
[37] leaves written on both sides (over 70 pages handwritten by R. Shlomo Eliezer Alfandari). Approx. 21 cm. Paper of various colors: green, white and yellow. Fair-good condition. Stains. Wear and tears. Open tears, affecting text. Final two leaves torn down middle, lacking half the leaf. Original binding, torn, with significant loss.
Manuscripts, Letters and Signatures – Italian
and Sephardi Rabbis
Manuscripts, Letters and Signatures – Italian
and Sephardi Rabbis