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Volume of Manuscripts – Responsa and Novellae of the Yaavetz, His Descendants and Moroccan Rabbis – Includes Lengthy Responsum Handwritten and Signed by Rabbi Yaakov Sasportas – Salé, 1642 - Volume of manuscripts, responsa and works – autographs of R. Yaakov Abensour (the Yaavetz), his descendants and several Moroccan rabbis. [Morocco, 18th and 19th centuries]. Includes booklet handwritten and signed by R. Yaakov Sasportas – a lengthy halachic responsum written to the rabbis of Fez. [Salé, 1642]. Bound in the present volume is a booklet (leaves 101-103) with a lengthy responsum handwritten and signed by R. Yaakov Sasportas, beginning: ”The perfect scholars, sitting at judgment, instructing their people and nation in justice, R. Saadiah ibn Danan and R. Imanuel Serero”. At the end he signs: ”These are the words of the servant of G-d, the least of the scholars, signing in Parashat [Shemini], rejoicing in the words of the Sages which break open rocks like a hammer, Yaakov Sasportas”. This responsum was printed with variants in his Ohel Yaakov, section 8 (among other differences, the concluding line quoted above is greatly abbreviated). The printed responsum adds (at the beginning and end) that it was sent from Salé to Fez in 1642. In addition, the volume includes: • Responsa and halachic rulings by the Yaavetz, with halachic rulings of other Torah scholars of his generation (some of the page headers read ”Responsa of R. Yaakov Abensour”). Most of them are copied by R. Refael Abensour (the last), Rabbi of Fez, with glosses and notes by the copyist R. Refael (some signed with his initials). At top of p. 77a: ”I began to copy the book of rulings of grandfather R. Yaakov Abensour on 29th Kislev [1844] in Fez… So says… [Refael] son of R. Shlomo Abensour”. Responsa from this manuscript were printed in Kerem Chamar Part I, to which R. Refael's note on p. 11a makes reference: ”May G-d reward R. A[vraham] Ankawa for his work printing this responsum in his book Kerem Chamar… among several responsa by my grandfather. And most of the responsa in this volume are the same as the ones printed in the abovementioned book, as he took them from this copy which I lent him. And with G-d's help, when I have free time I will emend the errors of the above printing, which is full of them in deficiencies and additions to the point of fatiguing the mind; go and see. R[efael] Ab[en]s[our]”. • Among the leaves of the volume appear also original halachic rulings, with autograph signatures of the Yaavetz and other Moroccan rabbis: A ruling from 1715 signed by R. Yehudah ibn Attar and the Yaavetz, with additional halachic rulings on the same issue, dated 1722-1732, signed by R. Yehudah ibn Attar, R. Mordechai Lankri, R. Shmuel ibn Saadon, R. Shmuel son of David Ochayon and others (leaves 36-37); halachic rulings from 1732-1733 signed by R. Yehudah ibn Attar and the Yaavetz (leaf 46); a lengthy letter of the Yaavetz addressed to his peer R. Yaakov ibn Malka, with R. Yaakov ibn Malka's response to the Yaavetz at the end (leaves 71-74; the Yaavetz signs this letter: ”oppressed with suffering, the crushed and wretched Yaakov Abensour”); and additional halachic rulings signed by: R. Refael Oved Abensour, R. Eliyahu HaTzarfati, R. Matitiah Serero, R. Efraim Monsonego, R. Refael Yaakov ibn Simchon, R. Shaul son of R. Yaakov ibn Danan, R. Shlomo Eliyahu Abensour and others. • Leaves 114-120, 133-171: Selected halachot of tzitzit, tefillin and the morning prayers, handwritten by R. Shlomo Eliyahu Abensour. On p. 133a: ”I saw in the handwriting of… my uncle R. Refael Abensour on the side of Machazik Berachah where he wrote as follows…”. His signatures (”Shaavetz”) on p. 144a, at end of gloss, and on p. 161b. On leaves 121-132 – copying of responsa and rulings of Moroccan rabbis, also handwritten by R. Shlomo Eliyahu Abensour. • Leaves 172-183: ”Commentary on Tractate Sukkah by… my grandfather R. Refael Abensour”, handwritten by R. Refael Abensour the last. 183 leaves (several additional leaves blank). Maximum size (most leaves): 24 cm. Fair condition. Stains, tears and wear. Several leaves in poor condition, with open tears affecting text. On some leaves, dampstains and mold stains. Detached leaves and gatherings. • Enclosed: Handwritten booklet, work on the Hebrew calendar (intercalation, moladot and tekufot, with circular diagrams). Western script. Written in 1672 (as stated in colophon on p. 3a) by R. Masud son of R. Levi Nachmani, a rabbi in Meknes (regarding him see: Malchei Rabanan, p. 85a; his name appears in several places in the work, and his calligraphic signature appears on p. 9b). [11] leaves. Approx. 20 cm. Fair condition. Stains. Worming, affecting text. Provenance: 1. The Abensour Family Collection, Fez, Morocco. 2. The Victor Klagsbald Collection – Morocco, no. 47. Reference: Victor Klagsbald, Catalogue des manuscrits marocains de la collection Klagsbald, Paris, 1980, pp. 104-105.