Bidspirit auction | Yerushalmi Psak Din Regarding a

Yerushalmi Psak Din Regarding a Courtyard Adjacent to the Chida's Courtyard and the Ohr HaChaim's Yeshiva, Signed by Rabbi HaMeli”tz and Others Jerusalem, Shevat 1805 * A large legal document of a psak din regarding the rights of orphans to the courtyard of a house located in the Old City of Jerusalem. The document specifies that this courtyard borders on “the courtyard known to belong to the great Rav, a fortress and stronghold, Rabbi Chaim Yosef David Azulai, may he live and be well, ” and is maintained by his grandson, Rabbi Nissim Azulai. Rabbi Chaim Yosef David Azulai, the Chida, was still alive at the time, as stated in the document, and he passed away about a year later (Adar 1806). The courtyard also bordered on another side with “the courtyard of the Yeshiva of the great Rav…. Rabbi Chaim ben Attar, of blessed and holy memory.” This is referring to the Ohr HaChaim's renowned yeshiva Knesses Yisrael, which he had founded upon his arrival in Eretz Yisrael. The document bears the signatures of three of the great rabbanim of Jerusalem of that era: Rabbi Mordechai HaLevi, known as Rabbi HaMeli”tz, who was appointed Rishon LeTzion a few months later; Rabbi Chananya Yitzchak Michael Aryeh; and Rabbi Ephraim Navon. The reverse side of the leaf features three additional lines concerning the transfer of the chazakah into the hands of Rabbi Yehudah ben Rovi and Rabbi Avraham Chazut, known as Tzedakah, together with additional signatures of the three rabbanim who are signed above. The Rishon LeTzion Rabbi Mordechai HaLevi, known as “the Rav HaMeli”tz” (d. 1807), was the son-in-law of the Rishon LeTzion Rabbi Moshe Mordechai Meyuchas, author of Sha'ar HaMayim. He also served as an emissary, and Rabbi Chananel Nifi, who met him in Italy, described him with great respect: “A  Rav exceptionally proficient in Talmud and poskim, as if they were held in his pocket. The Torah of the Rishonim was printed through him, and he too was a great sage, author of a large work entitled Ma'amar Mordechai.” After the passing of his father-in-law in 1806, he was appointed Rishon LeTzion, but shortly thereafter was compelled to travel to Constantinople, where he passed away. Rabbi Chananya Yitzchak Michael Aryeh (d. 1814) was one of the dayanim of Jerusalem, signatory on haskamos to sefarim and on piskei din. He passed away in the midst of printing his sefer Sha'arei Chaim (Salonika 1814). Rabbi Ephraim Navon was one of the dayanim of Jerusalem and among the sages of the Yeshiva Neveh Shalom. He was the grandson of the renowned gaon Rabbi Ephraim Navon, author of Machaneh Ephraim. Jerusalem, Shevat 1805.  Written by a scribe, bearing the signatures of the three above-mentioned rabbanim, twice: once on the front of the leaf and a second time on its reverse. Written across the width of the page: 21.4 x 31.3 cm. Condition : Good to fair, with some holes and ink corrosion. Stains and fold marks.