Bidspirit auction | Discovery: A lengthy responsum by

Discovery: A lengthy responsum by Rabbi Yosef HaLevi, author of She’elot U’Tshuvot Mateh Yosef, one of the greatest halachic authorities of the 17th century - Seven-page manuscript (approximately 3,000 words), containing a detailed halachic responsum on chalitzah and kidushei katan, entirely handwritten and signed by the Gaon Rabbi Yosef HaLevi Nazir, Av Beit Din of Egypt, one of the great scholars of the Acharonim and a contemporary of the Pri Chadash [Egypt, mid-17th century]. The responsum is addressed to the Gaon Rabbi Moshe Chayon, Av Beit Din of Safed, whom Rabbi Yosef refers to in his works as “Raba De’amia.” While three of Rabbi Yosef’s responsa to Rabbi Chayon appear in his She’elot U’Tshuvot Mateh Yosef, the present responsum has never been printed and, to the best of our knowledge, remains unpublished. Specifications: [4] Leaves, 7 written pages. Approximately 19X14 cm. Light, high-quality paper that has been exceptionally well-preserved. Condition: Good. Slight tears in the margins of the first two leaves, with minimal impact on the text. Preserved in a new leather binding. Rabbi Yosef HaLevi Nazir (circa 1660–1714) , the son of Rabbi Moshe Chaim HaLevi Nazir, was married to the daughter of Rabbi Yitzchak Zein, author of Perach Shoshan. In 1689, he traveled as an emissary of Hebron’s rabbis to Italy (Shluchei Eretz Yisrael, p. 480). In 1706, he was appointed Av Beit Din of Egypt, succeeding Rabbi Avraham HaLevi, author of Ginat Veradim. Described in the introduction to the new edition of Mateh Yosef as being ”raised among Torah leaders and heads of the yeshivot in the holy city, alongside his friend and colleague, the Pri Chadash, ” Rabbi Yosef was one of the foremost halachic authorities of his time. His responsa were published in two volumes of Mateh Yosef, and halachic inquiries were sent to him from across the Jewish world. His correspondents included Rabbi Avraham HaLevi (Ginat Veradim), Rabbi Avraham Yitzchaki (Zera Avraham), Rabbi Avraham Yisrael Ze’evi (Orim Gedolim), Rabbi Yaakov Faraji (Mahari”f), Rabbi Yosef Ergas (Shomer Emunim), and others. Rabbinic leaders of the era extolled his greatness with titles such as: “His heart was like the grand entrance of the Temple, like Ben Azzai in the markets of Tiberias, and in the battles of Torah, he wielded unparalleled strength and wisdom, a giant among giants” (Ginat Veradim, Yoreh De’ah, General 2, Siman 9). “The foremost of leaders, a golden crown of holiness, the crown of the Holy of Holies, prince of the Levites, ruler and commander over Ariel’s exile” (his son-in-law’s introduction to Mateh Yosef, Vol. I). The Shem HaGedolim describes him as: “Rabbi Yosef HaLevi Nazir, the son of the holy Rabbi Moshe HaLevi Nazir, was a colleague of the Pri Chadash in Jerusalem. Later, he settled in Hebron before becoming Av Beit Din in Egypt. He authored Mateh Yosef in two volumes, and his son-in-law, Rabbi Yitzchak Zein, authored Perach Shoshan.” Rabbi Moshe Chayon, Av Beit Din of Safed, was described by the Chida in Shem HaGedolim as the son of the kabbalist Rabbi Aharon Chayon, author of Minchat Aharon on the Zohar. Rabbi Moshe Chayon served as a rabbi in Jerusalem before becoming Av Beit Din of Safed. His halachic rulings appear in several prominent works, including Mateh Yosef and Ginat Veradim.