Three books printed in Salonika, with signatures and glosses by Torah scholars from the Or Shraga family, Persia:
• Darkei HaYam, homiletics, by R. Refael Yitzchak Mayo. Salonika, [1813]. Signature and stamp of R. Moshe son of R. Yitzchak "grandson of the Maor Shraga" (Mullah Aghababa) on the title page. The book contains several lengthy glosses, one bearing his signature. The front endpaper contains many handwritten inscriptions.
• Tolaat Shani, homiletics on the Torah portions, by R. Avraham Pinso. Salonika, [1805]. At the top of the title page – dedication to R. Moshe son of R. Yitzchak Or Shraga (Mullah Aghababa): "A gift to my beloved… Chacham Moshe son of Chacham Yitzchak, grandson and great grandson of Chacham Or Shraga… youngest of my town, Moshe Chaim". At the foot of the title page, calligraphic signature and stamp of R. Moshe son of R. Yitzchak Or Shraga (Mullah Aghababa). Several other inscriptions on the title page. On the page following the title page, earlier inscription of "The young one sent by the rabbis… Yosef HaKohen", alongside an inscription of Mullah Aghababa: "And I, last remnant…" with his calligraphic signature and stamp. The book contains many glosses, some of them presumably handwritten by Mullah Aghababa.
• Shemo Avraham, Part I, treatises on the qualities of our forefather Avraham, by R. Avraham Palachi. Salonika, [1867]. Stamps of "Refael son of Chacham Moshe, grandson of HaMaor" (Mullah Refael, son of Mullah Aghababa). Several glosses. Signature and stamp of his son, R. Moshe son of R. Refael Shraga.
Several handwritten pieces of paper were found inside the books.
The Or Shraga family of Yazd, descendants of the Kabbalist Mullah Or Shraga, were among the greatest rabbis of Persia. Mullah Or Shraga served as a rabbi for decades and was the force behind the enduring adherence of Yazd Jewry to Torah study and mitzvah observance. He and his descendants led the local community for some two hundred years. Rabbi Or Shraga reputedly came to Yazd from the city of Isfahan, some two hundred and fifty years ago, after the king issued a decree ordering the killing of ten great Torah scholars. He was one of three Torah scholars who managed to escape, the other seven died sanctifying G-d’s Name. In Yazd, he facilitated the flourishing of the city’s Jewish population and transformed the city into a Torah center. Yazd Jews were among the first to emigrate from Persia to Jerusalem, establishing there the famous Yazdim community.
Rabbi Or Shraga and his descendants were revered by the Jews of Persia. Of particular renown is R. Moshe son of R. Yitzchak, known as Mullah Aghababa, who served as rabbi of Yazd (see: Yosef Shraga, MiYazd LeEretz HaKodesh, pp. 157-161).
3 books. Size and condition vary.