Two handwritten leaves, from the book Chukot HaDayanim by R. Avraham son of R. Shlomo ibn Tazarat, disciple of the Rashba. [Spain or Italy, ca. 15th/16th century].
Manuscript on paper. Neat semi-cursive Sephardic script (with headings and initial words in square script). Calligraphic signature of the Chida on the first page: "Chaim Yosef David Azulai".
These leaves are from a manuscript which was in the possession of the Chida. The Chida mentions this manuscript in Shem HaGedolim (entry about the Ritva), where he discusses the identity of the author of this work: "You should know that there are doubts about the identity of the author of Chukot HaDayanim, and I have a manuscript of it, and it says there that it was authored by R. Y.T. Asevilli [the Ritva] disciple of the Rashba…". It appears from his words that when it was in his possession, the manuscript was of greater scope, since the section where the composition is attributed to the Ritva is not found in the present leaves (in reality, it has been established that the author of Chukot HaDayanim was R. Avraham son of R. Shlomo ibn Tazarat, as most of the manuscripts of the work attest and based on other considerations. See introduction to Chukot HaDayanim published by the Harry Fischel Institute, Jerusalem 1970, where the present manuscript is mentioned p. 11).
The Chida – R. Chaim Yosef David Azulai (1724-1806) was a leading halachic authority, Kabbalist, outstanding Torah scholar, prolific author and famous emissary. Born in Jerusalem to R. Refael Yitzchak Zerachya Azulai, a Jerusalem scholar and great-grandson of the kabbalist R. Avraham Azulai author of Chesed LeAvraham. From his early years, he was a disciple of leading Jerusalemite Torah scholars and kabbalists, including R. Chaim ben Attar, the Or HaChaim. He began studying kabbalah at the Beit El Yeshiva for kabbalists headed by R. Shalom Mizrachi Sharabi – the Rashash, alongside with his colleague R. Yom Tov Algazi.
In 1753, he embarked on his first mission as emissary on behalf of the Hebron community. During the course of his five years of travel, he passed through Italy, Germany, Holland, England and France. During this mission, his name began to spread. Wherever he traversed, he attracted a great deal of attention and many acknowledged his greatness. In 1773, the Chida embarked on an additional mission on behalf of the Hebron community, leaving a profound imprint on all the places he visited. At the end of this journey, he settled in Livorno, Italy, serving there as rabbi. In Livorno he published most of his books.
The Chida was among the greatest authors of all times and composed more than 80 works in all facets of Torah, including his composition Birkei Yosef, a commentary on the Shulchan Aruch which greatly impacted the field of halachic rulings. His books were accepted throughout the Diaspora, and were regarded with great esteem. The majority of his compositions were written while he was preoccupied with his travels or other matters, and with access to very few books, and this attests to his tremendous erudition and phenomenal memory. In each city the Chida visited, he would visit the local libraries and search for unknown manuscripts and compositions written by prominent Torah scholars. Due to the great respect and admiration he evoked, he was granted authorization to enter large libraries and museums, such as the National Library of France, where he spent many hours copying important manuscripts. The vast knowledge he gleaned during these opportunities pervade all his books, particularly his bibliographic masterpiece Shem HaGedolim.
[2] leaves. Approx. 20 cm. Good condition. Stains. Marginal open tears, affecting text, professionally restored with paper. Inscriptions. New, elegant leather binding.