Manuscript, Siddur Kavanat HaRashash – prayers for Rosh Hashanah, Yom Kippur and Sukkot. [Damascus/Egypt? ca. early 20th century].
Oriental semi-cursive and square script. Contains kavanot for the Amidah prayer of Rosh Hashanah, the blowing of the shofar, the Amidah prayer of Yom Kippur, Musaf for Rosh Hashanah, the Avodah for Yom Kippur, the blessing and waving of the lulav, and Hakafot for Sukkot and Hoshana Rabba.
This siddur was used by the rabbi, kabbalist and emissary R. Chaim Yitzchak HaKohen Tarab-Maslaton. His name is inscribed in gilt lettering on the spine of the binding: "Chaim Yitzchak HaKohen Tarab". He is likely the scribe of the siddur. The first leaf reads: "Siddur arranged by the Rashash… in accordance with his tradition from the writings of R. Chaim Vital… based on the holy Arizal, for the High Holidays, Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur. May G-d in His mercy grant me the merit to soon pray from it with the pious of Jerusalem". The last sentence gives the impression that the Siddur was not scribed in Jerusalem, and it is unclear if it was scribed in Damascus before he immigrated to Eretz Israel, in Egypt while he lived there, or in another place he visited on a journey as an emissary.
R. Chaim Yitzchak HaKohen Tarab-Maslaton (d. 1935), born in Damascus and later immigrated to Eretz Israel, becoming one of the Torah scholars and kabbalists of Jerusalem. He also lived in Egypt for some time. He served as an emissary for the Misgav LaDach hospital, and as such he traveled to many Asian and North African communities (during his visit to Tunis he wrote two amulets, one containing an Ilan Sefirot, for the infant R. Matzliach Mazuz, who wore them his entire life). In Jerusalem he joined a group of kabbalists specializing in kavanot, headed by R. Shaul HaKohen Dweck. Towards the end of his life, he published She'erit Yaakov by his father-in-law R. Yaakov HaKohen Tarab-Maslaton, Rabbi of Beirut (Jerusalem, 1930-1932).
[120] written leaves (and many blank leaves). 24 cm. Thick, high-quality paper. Good condition. Some stains. Bottom of first leaf trimmed. Original binding, with leather spine. Damage and wear to binding.
