Manuscript, kabbalistic commentaries on prayer – sections from Or Zarua by R. David son of Yehudah HeChasid and the commentary attributed to R. Yosef ibn Tzayach – a copying in the handwriting of R. Yichya son of R. Yosef Tzalach, the Maharitz. [Yemen, 18th century].

A copying in the characteristic handwriting of the Maharitz. In the page before the title page appears an ownership inscription of the great-grandson of the Maharitz: "Yosef son of Chacham son of R. Av[raham] Tzalach".

The first page contains a fine, illustrated title page, attributing the manuscript's commentary on prayer to the kabbalist R. Yosef ibn Tzayach, a Torah scholar from Jerusalem and Damascus in the 16th century. It goes on to describe the copy that was the source of the present manuscript as the autograph copy of R. Yosef ibn Tzayach. The Maharitz writes that when that manuscript began to undergo tears and erasures, the owner of the manuscript, R. Shalom Iraqi, had him copy it. The Maharitz does not sign his name. Furthermore, the present copying is incomplete, and was interrupted some leaves later.

[16] leaves. 22 cm. Fair condition. Stains. Heavy worming, affecting title frame and text of all leaves. New binding.

Provenance: Gross Family Collection, Tel Aviv, YM.011.063.

PLEASE NOTE: Item descriptions were shortened in translation. For further information, please refer to Hebrew text.