Bidspirit auction | The Ben Ish Chai ZYA”A

The Ben Ish Chai ZYA”A — Extensive Shabbos HaGadol Derashah in Ksav Yad Kodsho An important and lengthy derashah delivered by Maran Rosh Golas Bavel, Rabbeinu Yosef Chaim, author of the Ben Ish Chai, in his great beis medrash in Baghdad on Shabbos HaGadol of the year 1862. In this derashah, the gaon explains why Klal Yisroel were exiled specifically to Mitzrayim and not to another land. Penned in his own ksav yad kodsho on large and impressive pages of striking appearance. The derashah was later printed, with changes, in his sefer Ben Ish Chai (second edition, Vol. III, p. 78). Brochos for Ashirus and Protection At the beginning of the derashah, the Ben Ish Chai alluded to the year in which it was delivered through the words of Chazal, ”.. Birchas (5622) Hashem hi ta'ashir ..” a beautiful siman which does not appear in the printed version. Likewise, at the conclusion of the derashah he added heartfelt tefillos and brochos omitted from the printed text, repeating three times: ”.. Kel Shakai yihiyeh b'ezraseinu veyishmereinu veya'azreinu tomid, Amein kein yehi ratzon ..” and adding the posuk: ”.. Ana Hashem hoshiah na, Ana Hashem hatzlichah na, Amein kein yehi ratzon ..” These additions do not appear in the printed version. A Derashah Delivered Before Tens of Thousands Throughout most of the year, the Ben Ish Chai delivered his derashos in the Beis Medrash Salat al-Ze'ir, which contained approximately one thousand seats. On Shabbos HaGadol, the occasion on which the present derashah was delivered, he spoke in Baghdad's great beis medrash, Salat al-Kabiri, which contained close to ten thousand seats. Tens of thousands more gathered to hear his words. The vast crowds stood in absolute silence as his voice rang forth throughout the entire heichal, a sight that inspired wonder. Presented here is the original Shabbos HaGadol derashah of the Ben Ish Chai, delivered in the year 1862 before the multitudes of Baghdad, numbering in the tens of thousands. ”Yechid BeDoro” The Testimony of the Mahar”y of Belz ”.. In the year 5654, the second Belzer Rebbe, Harav HaKadosh Reb Yehoshua ZYA”A, passed away. His son, Harav HaKadosh Reb Yissochor Dov ZYA”A, related that his father instructed that the words 'Yechid BeDoro' not be inscribed upon his matzeivah, as had been written upon that of his father, the Sar Sholom ZTzVK”L, for the true 'Yechid BeDoro' of that generation was Rabbi Yosef Chaim of Baghdad, and he alone deserved that title ..” (From a letter of R. Tzvi Hirsch Farber, Yeshurun, Vol. V, p. 664.) It is noteworthy that in the year 1894, none of the Ben Ish Chai's sfarim had yet been published, and his greatness was virtually unknown throughout Ashkenaz. Clearly, the Mahar”y of Belz perceived through ruach kodsho that the gaon of Baghdad, Rabbi Yosef Chaim, was truly the Yechid BeDoro. Very fine condition. Bound in an elegant handcrafted leather binding. Included: Kanun al-Nisa,   a sefer on the halachos pertaining to women, together with minhagim, tefillos, and riddles, authored by Rabbeinu Yosef Chaim, the Ben Ish Chai. Baghdad, 1906. First edition. Very fine condition. Gilt-decorated title page.