Auction 61 - Rare and Important Items
Shabbat HaGadol Sermon - Complete Manuscript Booklet, Approximately 50 Leaves, Handwritten by Rabbi Yosef Chaim of Baghdad, The Ben Ish Chai - Baghdad, 1894
Opening: $30,000
Sold for: $37,500
Including buyer's premium
Complete booklet, sermon for Shabbat HaGadol (the Shabbat preceding Passover). Autographic handwriting of R. Yosef Chaim of Baghdad, author of "Ben Ish Chai". [Baghdad], 1894.
Approximately 50 leaves (almost 100 pages), handwritten by the Ben Ish Chai. Larger-than-average leaves (other extant manuscripts of the Ben Ish Chai are written on 13.5 cm papers, while this manuscript is written on 19 cm paper). Autographic writing with erasures, corrections and additions between the lines. Several lines and paragraphs were crossed out, and two pages have been completely crossed out.
At the head of the first page, he wrote: "…This is a sermon which I delivered in 1894; may G-d allow me to continue to speak every year in life and peace for the sake of Heaven, Amen".
The sermon closes with the words: "May we rejoice with the coming of the Messiah, speedily in our days, Amen. May G-d help and guard us, Amen".
R. Yosef Chaim of Baghdad (1833-1909) was known as the Ben Ish Chai after the title of his most famous work. He was the son of R. Eliyahu Chaim and grandson of R. Moshe Chaim, rabbi of Baghdad. He was a student of the renowned R. Abdullah Somech, and became known even in his youth for his brilliance and righteousness. Upon his father's passing in 1859, he succeeded him as chief Torah lecturer of Baghdad at the young age of 26, and lectured every Shabbat thereafter in the city’s central synagogue for the next 50 years. His sermons on special
occasions such as Shabbat Shuva and Shabbat Hagadol drew crowds of thousands, all of who sat enthralled throughout the sermon, which often lasted for four to five hours. His sermons educated his listeners in Jewish law, history, Torah and Kabbalah.
Despite the fact that he held no official position, the Ben Ish Chai was recognized as the de facto leader of Baghdad and the entire Iraq, and all the local rabbis and judges deferred to him. His complete mastery of Torah and Kabbalah, as well as his great piety and holiness, gained him renown throughout the world. In 1869 he travelled to Eretz Israel in order to pray at the graves of tzaddikim. While praying, he received a heavenly message that the source of his soul was that of Benayahu ben Yehoyada. He therefore titled many of his works after the descriptives of Benayahu: Ben Ish Chai, Ben Ish Chayil, Ben Yehoyada, Rav Pe'alim, Od Yosef Chai and others. The Ben Ish Chai was a prolific author, and some of his other works include: Leshon Chachamim, Aderet Eliyahu, Responsa Torah Lishma (published anonymously), Chasdei Avot, Birkat Avot and others.
[50] leaves, including 48 written leaves, most written on both sides - 93 written pages. Approx. 25 lines per page, in the handwriting of the Ben Ish Chai. Approx. 19 cm. Good-fair condition. Stains and ink spreading in a number of places. Tears to several pages. Bound in an elaborate leather binding with gilt embossing.
Approximately 50 leaves (almost 100 pages), handwritten by the Ben Ish Chai. Larger-than-average leaves (other extant manuscripts of the Ben Ish Chai are written on 13.5 cm papers, while this manuscript is written on 19 cm paper). Autographic writing with erasures, corrections and additions between the lines. Several lines and paragraphs were crossed out, and two pages have been completely crossed out.
At the head of the first page, he wrote: "…This is a sermon which I delivered in 1894; may G-d allow me to continue to speak every year in life and peace for the sake of Heaven, Amen".
The sermon closes with the words: "May we rejoice with the coming of the Messiah, speedily in our days, Amen. May G-d help and guard us, Amen".
R. Yosef Chaim of Baghdad (1833-1909) was known as the Ben Ish Chai after the title of his most famous work. He was the son of R. Eliyahu Chaim and grandson of R. Moshe Chaim, rabbi of Baghdad. He was a student of the renowned R. Abdullah Somech, and became known even in his youth for his brilliance and righteousness. Upon his father's passing in 1859, he succeeded him as chief Torah lecturer of Baghdad at the young age of 26, and lectured every Shabbat thereafter in the city’s central synagogue for the next 50 years. His sermons on special
occasions such as Shabbat Shuva and Shabbat Hagadol drew crowds of thousands, all of who sat enthralled throughout the sermon, which often lasted for four to five hours. His sermons educated his listeners in Jewish law, history, Torah and Kabbalah.
Despite the fact that he held no official position, the Ben Ish Chai was recognized as the de facto leader of Baghdad and the entire Iraq, and all the local rabbis and judges deferred to him. His complete mastery of Torah and Kabbalah, as well as his great piety and holiness, gained him renown throughout the world. In 1869 he travelled to Eretz Israel in order to pray at the graves of tzaddikim. While praying, he received a heavenly message that the source of his soul was that of Benayahu ben Yehoyada. He therefore titled many of his works after the descriptives of Benayahu: Ben Ish Chai, Ben Ish Chayil, Ben Yehoyada, Rav Pe'alim, Od Yosef Chai and others. The Ben Ish Chai was a prolific author, and some of his other works include: Leshon Chachamim, Aderet Eliyahu, Responsa Torah Lishma (published anonymously), Chasdei Avot, Birkat Avot and others.
[50] leaves, including 48 written leaves, most written on both sides - 93 written pages. Approx. 25 lines per page, in the handwriting of the Ben Ish Chai. Approx. 19 cm. Good-fair condition. Stains and ink spreading in a number of places. Tears to several pages. Bound in an elaborate leather binding with gilt embossing.