Bidspirit auction | Ya’ir Ozén, Midbar Kedemot –

Ya’ir Ozén, Midbar Kedemot – Livorno, 1793. Chida. First edition - Sefer Ya’ir Ozén, comprising two works: Ein Zocher – rules of the Talmud, and Midbar Kedemot – novellae on Aggadah arranged alphabetically, by our master Rabbi Chaim Yosef David Azulai – the Chida. Livorno, 1793. First edition, printed by the Chida during his lifetime. Ein Zocher has a separate title page. With all the leaves of corrections and additions. On the title page, owner’s inscription: “Yaakov Pitusi.” Possibly Rabbi Yaakov Pitusi, one of the great rabbis of Tunis, author of Brit Yaakov and Mizbe’ach Kapparah. Rabbi Yaakov Pitusi was born in Tunis in 1751. He studied Torah under Rabbi Yosef Zerka and Rabbi Yitzchak Lombroso. In 1773, the Chida visited Tunis, and in his work Ma’agal Tov he mentions Rabbi Yaakov Ma’arak, Rabbi Nehorai Jarmon, and Rabbi Yaakov Pitusi. He taught Torah to the public and trained many great Torah scholars. In 1780, he ascended to Eretz Israel and was highly esteemed by the sages of Jerusalem. Later, he traveled as an emissary of the sages of Jerusalem to Izmir, Tunis, Tripoli, and Algiers. During his mission, he passed away on the 13th of Tammuz, 1812, in Algiers. He authored many books: Brit Yaakov, Livorno 1800; Mizbe’ach Kapparah, Livorno 1810; Mar’eh HaOfanim, Livorno 1815; and Yerech Yaakov, published by his son in Livorno in 1842. On the leaf of corrections: a signed handwritten gloss by Rabbi Moshe [Shlomo] Suzin, Rishon LeTzion. Meir Benayahu, Sifrei HaChida 17–18. 110 leaves, approx. 29 cm. Good condition. Minor defects on the title page. A tear with loss of text on the index page. Slight adhesion on several pages. Simple binding.