Bidspirit auction | Manuscript, Commentary on the Zohar

Manuscript, Commentary on the Zohar (Mikdash Melech) / Shema Yaakov – Morocco, 18th Century - Manuscript, commentary on the Zohar, resembling Mikdash Melech edited by R. Shalom Buzaglo, Part II – on the Book of Shemot. [Morocco, ca. 18th century]. Western semi-cursive script. On last page, colophon of scribe: ”Avraham son of Yisrael Shalom[?]”. The present manuscript is a neat copying of a commentary on the Zohar, resembling Mikdash Melech edited by R. Shalom Buzaglo, but with variations and omissions which appear in the original work – Leket Shoshanim, by the kabbalists of Marrakesh. The kabbalist R. Shalom Buzaglo printed his Mikdash Melech in Amsterdam, 1850-1852. This book is an adaptation of Leket Shoshanim, by the kabbalists of Marrakesh, the teachers and peers of R. Shalom Buzaglo. R. Shalom made changes to the above work, naming it Mikdash Melech and adding various comments he obtained on his voyage from Morocco to London, including comments from R. Moshe Zacuto and the Arizal's writings. The text of the present manuscript resembles Leket Shoshanim (which remains in manuscript) rather than the printed edition of Mikdash Melech; on the other hand, it contains sections which were added by R. Shalom to his book, such as comments from R. Moshe Zacuto and Chemdat Yamim. These sections appear in ”windows”. We were unable to determine the exact relation of this manuscript to Mikdash Melech. Part I of this manuscript, on Bereshit, by the same scribe, is held in the NLI collection in Jerusalem, Ms. 28 = 9134. · Bound with another manuscript: Shema Yaakov, homilies on the Torah portions by R. Yaakov Yisrael Algazi. Incomplete; includes sections from Bereshit and Shemot in Western script written by various scribes, ca. 18th century. This book was first printed in Constantinople, 1745. Commentary on the Zohar: 1-41, 41-186 leaves (complete manuscript). 21.5 cm. Good-fair condition. Stains, including dampstains and dark stains. Worming in several places, mainly to margins. Tears to several leaves. Shema Yaakov: 3-8, 10-30, 96-103, 105-110, 158-194 leaves (lacking at beginning, end and middle). Approx. 20 cm. Fair condition. Stains, including dampstains. Tears and wear, mainly to margins. Mold stains to some leaves. New binding. Manuscript Collection of Moroccan Rabbis – The Abensour Family In the 1960s, the Klagsbald collection was supplemented by a particularly important collection – the manuscripts of the Abensour (Ibn Tzur) family of Fez. The collection contains many volumes comprising halachic rulings and correspondence of leading Moroccan rabbis, centering around the figure of R. Yaakov Abensour, the Yaavetz, a leading Moroccan Torah scholar and Rabbi of Fez, and an ancestor of the family. The collection was painstakingly assembled by R. Refael Abensour the youngest (see below) and was held in its entirety by the Abensour family in Fez until its purchase by Victor Klagsbald. This collection is of inestimable importance as an immense and rare compilation of the Torah teachings and halachic rulings of generations of Moroccan rabbis, kept in its entirety over many generations. Many parts of this collection have yet to be studied and published. Furthermore, the present collection preserves an unparalleled, comprehensive assemblage of autograph manuscripts – handwritten by the leading rabbis of Morocco, with their unique, calligraphic signatures, first and foremost by the Or HaChaim and his peers. R. Yaakov Abensour – the Yaavetz The centerpiece of the collection is comprised of numerous halachic rulings and autographs by R. Yaakov Abensour, the Yaavetz (1673-1752; Malchei Rabanan, pp. 64-65), a most prominent and illustrious figure of Moroccan Jewry. A leading halachic authority of his generation (the generation of the holy Or HaChaim and his teachers), a poet and a kabbalist, also well versed in practical kabbalah. At the age of twenty, he was appointed scribe of the Beit Din of R. Vidal HaTzarfati, R. Menachem Serero and R. Yehudah ibn Attar in Fez. He then authored Et Sofer – laws and customs of halachic documents. With the passing of R. Vidal HaTzarfati, R. Yehudah ibn Attar was appointed head of the Beit Din and the Yaavetz became his fellow dayan. The Yaavetz (along with R. Yehudah ibn Attar and other leading Torah scholars of the generation) authored the approbation to Chefetz Hashem by R. Chaim ibn Attar, the Or HaChaim (printed in Amsterdam, 1732). Following R. Yehudah ibn Attar's passing, the Yaavetz succeeded him as head of the Fez Beit Din, and became the supreme authority in Morocco, responding to halachic queries from throughout the Maghreb. The Yaavetz was compelled to leave Fez several times. Between 1719-1728 he resided in Meknes, and during the famine of 1738, he wandered to Tétouan. In these places he was also received with great honor and joined the local rabbis in the Beit Din, even heading the list of signatories on Beit Din rulings. In his later years,