Dedication written and signed by the Maharit Algazi on his father’s work, Kehillat Yaakov. Salonica, 1786. ...

Dedication written and signed by the Maharit Algazi on his father’s work, Kehillat Yaakov. Salonica, 1786.

Sefer Kehillat Yaakov by the Rishon LeZion Rabbi Yisroel Yaakov Algazi, with a lengthy dedication written and signed by his son, the Rishon LeZion, Rabbi Yom Tov Algazi – the Maharit Algazi.

The book was sent to the great Rabbi Yehoshua Sultan av”d Tlemcen, with his note that he received the work and his signature.

The Rishon LeZion Rabbi Yom Tov Algazi – the Maharit Algazi (1727-1802) was a prominent Sephardic sage. He was a chassid, kabbalist and disciple of the Rashash and his successor as Rosh Yeshivah in the Beit El Kabbalist yeshivah. He was a friend of the Chida and they studied niglah and nistar together. The Chida used effusive terms to praise him. His Hilchot Yom Tov on the laws of Bechorot and Challah (Leghorn, 1794) was accepted as a basic, fundamental work and is included in most editions of the Talmud. The Chatam Sofer extolled the work in his approbation to the Pressburg edition and wrote, “Since the day that the Mishnah L’Melech was written, there hasn’t been a work such as this.” He added that they once met in Frankfurt, and now that he sees the work, he realizes that he didn’t receive even half the honor he deserved.

Handwritten comments in the margins of the pages (slightly cropped), in a few hands, one is signed: לי יא"ה, this possibly is the initials of Rabbi Yitzchak Abulafia, av”d Damascus and author of Shu”t Pnei Yitzchak, who used to sign his responsa in this manner. One gloss opens with the initials: אמ"ן.

Salonica, [1786], first edition.

212 leaves. 29 cm.

Lengthy, three-lined dedication, half of the first line is cropped.

The book is in moderate condition, with worming holes, new, half leather binding.

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