Bidspirit auction | Manuscript in the Holy Handwriting

Manuscript in the Holy Handwriting of Maran the Ben Ish Chai – Featuring the Famous Segulah! - Manuscript in the Holy Handwriting of Rabbi Yosef Chaim of Baghdad – A Tisha B’Av Sermon on the Sin of the Golden Calf, with the Famous Segulah Manuscript handwritten by the holy hand of Rabbi Yosef Chaim of Baghdad, the renowned author of Ben Ish Chai – a sermon for Tisha B’Av concerning the Sin of the Golden Calf. At the heading: בהנ”ו (an acronym for B'Shem Hashem Na'aseh VeNatzliach – In the name of G-d we will act and succeed). At the conclusion of the sermon: ”El Shakkai will be our helper, will guard us and assist us always – Amen, so may it be His will.” A rare and significant kabbalistic manuscript discussing the episode of the Golden Calf and its rectification. It highlights the mystical significance of the number 24, referenced as כ”ד – such as the 24 chapters of Mishnayot in Tractate Shabbat, the 24 books of the Tanach, the 24 students of Rabbi Akiva, and the 24 gates of Jerusalem, etc. All autographic manuscripts of the Ben Ish Chai are traditionally considered powerful segulot for protection, success, and blessing in all matters – especially when the content of the manuscript relates to the issue at hand. It is well known that Rabbi Yosef Chaim customarily concluded many of his sermons with the blessing ”Hashem will guard and protect us – Amen, so may it be His will, ” and some say that this is why his handwritten manuscripts are uniquely revered as protective amulets beyond those of other sages of his time. All the more so in this case, where explicit and abundant blessings appear in the text – a rare feature not commonly found in his other manuscripts. Rabbi Yosef Chaim of Baghdad (1833–1909) – Renowned Sephardic sage, author of Ben Ish Chai, and the leading Torah authority of his generation in the East. Born to Rabbi Eliyahu Chaim, son of Rabbi Moshe Chaim, the rabbi of Baghdad. A disciple of Rabbi Abdallah Somekh, Rabbi Yosef Chaim was recognized from a young age for his brilliance and piety. He began delivering sermons at the Great Synagogue at age 26, and continued to do so on Shabbat and festivals for nearly fifty years. His sermons would draw thousands of listeners for hours at a time, and he became universally known as a ”once-in-a-generation” sage in both revealed and hidden Torah. In 1869, he traveled to the Land of Israel to pray at the graves of the righteous, during which he received a heavenly revelation identifying him as a soul-root of Benaiah ben Yehoyada – and accordingly titled many of his works with names reflecting that identity: Ben Ish Chai, Ben Ish Chayil, Ben Yehoyada, Rav Pe’alim, Od Yosef Chai, and others. [1] leaf, written on both sides. 10.5 × 13.5 cm. Condition: Very good. Newly rebound in half-leather binding.