Chemdat Yamim on the Torah. Rabbi Shalom Shabazi. Autograph. Mid-17th Century.

Chemdat Yamim on the Torah. Rabbi Shalom Shabazi. Autograph. Mid-17th Century.
Rare manuscript, autograph. “Chemdat Yamim” on the Torah. Rabbi Shalom Shabazi, mid-17th century. [181] leaves. 21×15 cm. Prominent commentary of the foremost Yemenite poet and sage, Rabbi Shalomo Shabazi (1619-1710?), the Rasha”sh. A section of his commentary on Genesis and Exodus (from parshat Lech Lecha through Parshat Mishpatim). Hundreds of leaves written on both their sides in the author’s hand. Rabbi Shalom Shabatzi was a prominent Yemenite poet who is adored and admired by Yemenite Jewry. See Hebrew catalogue description for more information about this personality. Rabbi Shalom’s prominent “Chemdat HaYamim” commentary on the Torah is based on Pardes – Pshat, Remez, Drush and Sod (according to kabala), along with philosophical ideas. He first wrote the work in 1646, when he was only 27 years old. He added supplements and revised the work in the many editions that were published later. This is from an edition unknown to the researchers who studied the “Chemdat HaYamim”, and it was apparently written about fifteen years after the first edition. It features supplements that are not found in the printed editions. The manuscript was dated according to its watermark (crown, star and crescent above the letters “MC”), which is identical to a different manuscript from 1658 that is in the National Library – MS. AP AR. 499. Not bound. Missing its beginning and end: a number of leaves are also missing from the body of the manuscript. Leaves in varying conditions, moderate-fine. Aging stains, dampstains and wear, worming blemishes, tears to a number of leaves. Detached leaves and booklets. Within a case custom-made for this manuscript, with gold embossing: ר’ שלום שבזי זצוקלה”ה כי”ק.