Book of responsa, on Tur Even HaEzer, by Rabbi Chaim Shabtai [Maharchash]. Thessaloniki, 1651.
The personal copy of the Or HaChaim HaKadosh, given to him as mishloach manot by Chacham Rabbi Shemaya Meimran, as seen in the dedication from 1728 in the handwriting of Rabbi Shemaya Meimran which appears on the leaf after the title page:
"Raised as a gift from me to the complete Chacham, son of Kedoshim, pure hearted on Purim in the year 1728… as mishloach manot to my dear friend Rabbi Chaim Ebn Atar, from one who is tied to his love Shemaya Meimran".
The writer of the dedication is Rabbi Shemaya Meimran a chacham in the city of Meknes, father-in-law of Rabbi Chaviv Toledano, a rabbi in Meknes (Teacher of the Rabbi the Mashbir. See attached material). To the best of our knowledge, the Or HaChaim resided at that time in Meknes. His grandfather, Rabbi Chaim ben Atar the elder, died in 1621, so this dedication was written in honor of the Or HaChaim and not in honor of his grandfather, and we assume that it was given to him on Purim 1628.
Rabbi Chaim Ben Atar (1596-1643), called by all "The Or Hachaim Hakadosh" after his monumental work, one of the leading beacons of Western and Eretz Yisrael Jewry. Born in Sale, Morocco and educated by his grandfather Rabbi Chaim ben Atar the Elder, after whom he is named. In his youth, he moved with his family from his native city to the city of Meknes. There the light of his Torah began to shine in the discourses he delivered to many, morning and evening and his name spread as a holy man who does wonders. In 1632, his novellae on the Talmud was printed in his book Chefetz Hashem. In 1638, he left Morocco and traveled through Algeria and Italy on his way to Eretz Yisrael. When sojourning in Italy, he printed his famous work Or HaChaim on the Torah. In 1641, he ascended to Eretz Yisrael with a group of disciples, at first settling in Acre and Peki'in and after a short while moved to Jerusalem where he established his yeshiva. Among the disciples who basked in his presence was the Chida. The Chida mentions the Or HaChaim in his books many times with great esteem [in Shem HaGedolim he wrote: "And I the young have merited to study in his yeshiva and my eyes have seen the greatness of his Torah… and his holiness is a wonder of wonders". In Kikar LaEden the Chida writes: "And I saw the Rabbi…Chaim ebn Atar who fasted three days before Purim night and day…", and many more similar references]. It is told that besides for his renowned yeshiva, he had a hidden yeshiva for studying secret wisdom and the Ba'al Shem Tov told his brother-in-law rabbi Gershon of Kuty of its existence before he ascended to Eretz Yisrael and told him to attempt to be counted among its disciples.
His book Or HaChaim on the Torah was accepted by the entire Jewish world. Chassidic leaders claimed that its level is like the Zohar in its ability to purify the soul. His disciple the Chida brings the Chassidic custom to study his holy book on Shabbat eve: "And we have heard that now in Poland it is highly valued and has been printed twice more, and this has arisen since the Rabbi the Chassid the Ba'al Shem Tov has told of the greatness of the soul of the aforementioned Rabbi Chaim".
Chassidic leaders have spoken at length of the holiness of the Or HaChaim HaKadosh. The Ba'al Shem Tov said that every night the Or HaChaim hears Torah from G-d and he "was from those who have plunged the depths of the merkava and the revelation of souls and has risen to the level of true Holy Spirit". And he further said that at the time that his soul rises every night, he sees that from all the tzaddikim, only Rabbi Chaim ben Atar precedes him and as hard as he tries, he cannot precede Rabbi Chaim. It is told that the efforts of the Ba'al Shem Tov to ascend to Eretz Yisrael were to meet Rabbi Chaim ben Atar, who was "The spark of the Messiah", and by this means to bring the redemption. Many tales of wonders were written about him and about the salvations he performed during his life and after his death.
[2], 219 leaves (without the index leaves 220-222). Good-fair condition. 28 cm.
Moth and wear damages, few stains, 12 last leaves are torn in the upper left corner, with damage to text. Several leaves are cut in the margins bordering on the text. Worn binding.