Auction 92 Part 2 Rare and Important Manuscripts and Items of the Gross Family Collection
Manuscript, Taj Torah (Keter Torah – Books of the Torah), with vocalization and cantillation marks, Masorah Ketanah and Masorah Gedolah – Books of Bereshit and Shemot (until the middle of Parashat Vayakhel). [Yemen, ca. 15th/16th century].
Particularly neat script, in black ink, with color ornaments. Impressive manuscript, a typical example of the 15th and 16th century Yemenite scribal art in Taj books (see references to similar manuscripts below).
The manuscript opens with the verse "The Torah that Moses commanded us…" and the initials of the verse "My help is from G-d, the Maker of heaven and earth" (Psalms 121:2), scribed within a lattice border partially colored in red. The text on this page was scribed in hollow, calligraphic letters, filled alternately with red and an additional color (faded). Decorative hollow letters were also used in other places throughout the manuscript (for example, in the concluding lines and verse tally at the end of each Torah portion).
The verses of the Torah were scribed in square script, with vocalization and cantillation marks. Winding Peh letters in several places. The Masorah Ketanah was written at the foot of the Biblical text. The Masorah Gedolah was written in micrography in the other three margins, in zig-zag patterns. In several places, new parashiyyot are indicated with with hollow, calligraphic letters (pe or samekh), filled in with color and sometimes ornamented. The Shabbat Torah readings are indicated in a similar way (marked with the letters aleph through zayin). Fine ornaments mark the beginning and end of special Torah readings (for festivals and special days).
Rectangular tailpiece at the end of the Book of Bereshit, in a design similar to that of the title page, including the sum of verses in this book. The Song of the Sea was scribed in brickwork pattern, with red ornaments.
The Books of Bereshit and Shemot are almost complete; lacking only several leaves at the end (the manuscript ends in the middle of Parashat Vayakhel, and is lacking Parashat Pekudei), as well as one leaf in the middle of Parashat Vayechi (49:8-28). Damage to marginal text of Masorah Gedolah in several places.
[149] leaves (leaf [149] bound out of sequence, and is really a continuation of leaf [146]). 24-25 cm. Condition varies. Most leaves in good-fair condition. Stains, wear and tears. Margins of many leaves trimmed, occasionally affecting text of Masorah. Open tears to some leaves, including large open tears affecting text. Large open tears to title page and leaf [2], with significant damage to text.
For similar manuscripts see: Ms. Sassoon 330-331 (Ohel David I, p. 24), offered at auction in Sotheby's New York (Sassoon: A Golden Legacy), December 2020, lot 56 – two volumes comprising all Five Books of the Torah; and JTS Library Ms. 5594, which comprises books Vayikra-Devarim (Brumer catalog, VII, listing 1938). The JTS Library manuscript may be the second part of the present manuscript. The Sassoon manuscript was also possibly written by the same scribe.
Another similar manuscript (Bereshit and Shemot) is documented in: Benjamin Richler, The Hebrew Manuscripts in the Valmadonna Trust Library (Tel-Aviv, 1998), no. 7, pp. 9-12.
Exhibition: Reise an kein Ende der Welt – Journey to No End of the World (curator: Felicitas Heimann-Jelinek), Jewish Museum of the City of Vienna, 2001. See exhibition catalog, pp. 50-51.
Provenance: The Gross Family Collection, Tel Aviv, YM.011.054.
![Manuscript, Nur al-Zulm (Maor HaAfelah) by R. Netanel son of Yeshaya. [Yemen, ca. 15th/16th century]. Judeo-Arabic and Hebrew](https://files.kedem-auctions.com/files/Sale92_2/140_1.jpg "Manuscript – Midrash Maor HaAfelah – With Illustrations and Ornaments")
![Manuscript, Nur al-Zulm (Maor HaAfelah) by R. Netanel son of Yeshaya. [Yemen, ca. 15th/16th century]. Judeo-Arabic and Hebrew](https://files.kedem-auctions.com/files/Sale92_2/140_2.jpg "Manuscript – Midrash Maor HaAfelah – With Illustrations and Ornaments")
![Manuscript, Nur al-Zulm (Maor HaAfelah) by R. Netanel son of Yeshaya. [Yemen, ca. 15th/16th century]. Judeo-Arabic and Hebrew](https://files.kedem-auctions.com/files/Sale92_2/140_3.jpg "Manuscript – Midrash Maor HaAfelah – With Illustrations and Ornaments")
![Manuscript, Nur al-Zulm (Maor HaAfelah) by R. Netanel son of Yeshaya. [Yemen, ca. 15th/16th century]. Judeo-Arabic and Hebrew](https://files.kedem-auctions.com/files/Sale92_2/140_4.jpg "Manuscript – Midrash Maor HaAfelah – With Illustrations and Ornaments")
Manuscript, Nur al-Zulm (Maor HaAfelah) by R. Netanel son of Yeshaya. [Yemen, ca. 15th/16th century]. Judeo-Arabic and Hebrew.
Early Yemenite script. Headings and several lines decorated with red ink. Illustrations in several places, including: the Ark with the Tablets of the Law and cherubim, the Temple menorah, the Ephod, the Tabernacle and its utensils, and more.
In Parashat Ekev (p. [155b]), poem by the author (in red and black ink alternately), mentioning the author's name.
The manuscript is lacking beginning and end, and contains the work from the middle of Parashat Noach until the middle of Parashat Re'eh.
R. Netanel son of Yeshaya was a prominent Yemenite Rishon who lived in the first half of the 14th century. He composed his work Maor HaAfelah in 1329. This midrash was originally written in Judeo-Arabic, and is considered a classic work amongst Yemenite Jewry. The work is comprised of a combination of philosophical and kabbalistic thoughts, together with Peshat and Derash approach commentaries, following the order of the weekly Torah portions. It contains homilies and traditions which were only preserved in Yemen and are not known from any other sources. Midrash Maor HaAfelah was first printed only in 1957, by R. Kapach, with Hebrew translation.
The present manuscript is one of the early manuscripts of this work.
[163] leaves. Approx. 27 cm. Fair-good condition. Most leaves complete. Stains. Marginal wear and tears to many leaves, repaired with paper. Open tears, including large open tears, to several dozen leaves, affecting text. New leather binding.
Provenance: The Gross Family Collection, Tel Aviv, YM.011.055.
Manuscript, Menorat HaMaor by R. Yitzchak Aboab, with the Nefesh Yehuda commentary by R. Moshe son of R. Shimon of Frankfurt and the Chok LeYaakov commentary by R. Saadia al-Qati'i, copied and edited by the scribe R. Avraham al-Hazi. Sanaa, [1826-1827].
Complete manuscript. Yemenite script, in a fine layout. Illustrations and ornaments in red and black ink throughout the manuscript. Title page set in floral border topped by a pair of birds. LaMenatze'ach Menorah on page facing title page (additional menorah in the preface to Nefesh Yehuda, on the verso of the title page; and sketch of a menorah on the first leaf of the manuscript). Initial words and headings decorated with red ink.
The title page states that the manuscript was scribed in Sanaa in 1826. On the second leaf, lengthy foreword by the scribe, entitled: "Foreword to the commentary of R. Saadia son of Shalom al-Qati'i", signed: "I, the scribe… Avraham son of Avraham son of R. David". In his foreword, the scribe states that this work was entitled Chok LeYaakov by the compiler.
Additional signature of the scribe on p. 98a: "Avraham son of Avraham son of R. David al-Hazi". Colophon at the end of the manuscript, with his calligraphic signature: "The work was completed on Thursday, Rosh Chodesh Adar II 1827…".
Two columns per page. Nefesh Yehuda commentary mostly scribed in smaller characters at the foot of the page. R. Saadia al-Qati'i's commentary is incorporated in "windows" within the columns. The scribe added his comments in several places, opening with: "Says the writer".
Chok LeYaakov by the kabbalist R. Saadia Qati'i (al-Qati'i), who lived in the generation preceding the Maharitz, was passed down in Yemen from generation to generation in manuscripts, and was only first published in 2013 by Adam Ben-Nun. The present manuscript is one of the earliest complete manuscripts of the work, and was used as a basis for the printed edition. The scribe R. Avraham son of Avraham Hazi edited R. Saadia's work, expanded upon it and added sources and selections (see introduction to the aforementioned edition). The scribe describes his work at length in his foreword.
The scribe, Mori Avraham son of Avraham Hazi (al-Hazi), was a Torah scholar and scribe in Sanaa in the 19th century. He authored two books: Zivchei Tzedek – commentary to Shaarei Kedushah by the Maharitz, and Or HaChaim – addition and commentary to the Etz Chaim siddur compiled by the Maharitz. He reputedly copied the book Mikdash Melech on the Zohar, in Sanaa 1825, stating in the colophon that he was 18 years of age. If so, the present manuscript was scribed when he was 19-20 years old (see: Gavra, Encyclopedia L'Chachmei Teiman, I, pp. 127-128; and introduction to the aforementioned edition of Menorat HaMaor).
Menorat HaMaor was particularly well accepted amongst Yemenite Jewry, who referred to it as "Menorah". Yemenite Jews would read it every Shabbat and festival in the synagogue, before the recital of Aleinu LeShabe'ach. The Maharitz writes about this custom (in his Tiklal siddur), and the custom is preserved until this day in the Yemenite community.
165 leaves. 21 cm. Good condition. Stains, including large dampstains and dark stains. Mold stains to several leaves. Minor worming to a few leaves at beginning of manuscript, slightly affecting text. Paper repairs in several places. New binding.
Exhibitions:
• Jüdische Lebenswelten, Berlin, 1991. See exhibition catalog, pp. 241-242.
• Kabbalah – Om judisk mysticism (curator: Erika Aronowitsch), Stockholm Jewish Museum, April-December 2002. See exhibition catalog, p. 60.
Provenance: The Gross Family Collection, Tel Aviv, YM.011.020.
Manuscript of three megillot – Shir HaShirim, Ruth and Kohelet, with Targum and Rashi, selected midrashim and Nachal Eshkol by the Chida. Sanaa, [1785].
Yemenite script, in a fine layout. Ornaments in red and black ink throughout the manuscript. Title page set in floral border, topped with a pair of birds. Decorated initial words and headings.
The title page states the place, year and name of the man who commissioned the copying: "Written in Sanaa, in… for the wealthy… Shlomo son of R. Avraham son of R. Yichye son of R. Salem HaKohen Iraqi…". (The chronogram appears to indicate the year 1785, it may however follow the traditional Yemenite year count, thus referring to the year 1832). The scribe may be R. Avraham al-Hazi; see previous item.
Text of the megillah scribed in large letters (with vocalization and cantillation marks), with the translation in a column alongside it. Rashi's commentary occupies the lower part of the page. The scribe added Masoretic notes in several places in the margins. In Shir HaShirim, a compilation of Midrashim was also added in the margins (interrupted at the end of chapter VI). At the end of the manuscript: "Order for Shavuot night" – prayer to be recited on Shavuot night before beginning learning. This is followed by [16] leaves with Nachal Eshkol, the Chida's commentary to the three megillot. In Kohelet and Ruth, Yalkut Shimoni was added alongside the Chida's work.
[71] leaves. Approx. 23 cm. Good condition. Stains, including dark stains. Marginal paper repairs to several leaves. Original leather binding, repaired.
Exhibition: Jüdische Lebenswelten, Berlin, 1991. See exhibition catalog, pp. 240-241.
Provenance: The Gross Family Collection, Tel Aviv, YM.011.004.
Manuscript, "Order of prayers for all festivals", Azharot for Shavuot, prayers for Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur, and Torah reading for special days, scribed by R. Shalom Korach. Sanaa, [1938].
Impressive volume. Masterfully scribed in Yemenite script, on wide-margined, high-quality paper; with colorful ornaments and illustrations. Decorated title pages, initial words, headings and colophons – all in vivid shades of red, orange, green and purple. Illustration of trees and birds in haftarah for second day of Shavuot. Placed in an elegant box binding, with fine silver clasps and ornaments, some gilt.
The manuscript was scribed and decorated by R. Shalom Korach (prominent Yemenite rabbi) for R. Yichye Badichi. The title page states: "Order of prayers for all festivals – commissioned by… R. Yichye son of Suleiman son of R. Yosef son of Shalom Albidichi; scribed by… Shalom son of R. Yichye son of R. Chaim son of R. Yosef – written here Sanaa, Yemen, 1938". At the end of the Azharot, colophon marking the end of the writing, dated 3rd Sivan 1938.
Decorated title pages before the Azharot, and before the Torah readings (stating the place and date of writing – Sanaa, Yemen, 1938).
In several places, the writer added marginal glosses, relating to his efforts to write the precise text of the prayers and piyyutim.
The Torah readings include cantillation marks, and many marginal notes clarifying the accurate text of the Bible and Targum, with mention of other versions.
Colophon of final page (p. 135b) by the scribe R. Shalom Korach, dated Thursday, 4th Elul 1938.
The scribe, R. Shalom Korach (1873 – Cheshvan 1952), prominent Yemenite rabbi, and leader of the Sanaa community. He was a teacher and educator, who edified many disciples. He authored many works (Midrash Ashrei, Ginzei Chochmah, Derech HaChachamim, Divrei Shalom, and more). "The books he copied stand out for their great accuracy and splendor. He was an expert scribe with a flair for beauty and colorfully ornamented his books" (Encyclopedia L'Chachmei Teiman, I, p. 566).
[135] leaves (and many blank leaves at beginning and end of volume). 24.5 cm. Good condition. Stains and wear. Original box binding, with silver ornaments. Minor blemishes to spine.
A decorated manuscript of Pirkei Avot with commentary of the Rambam, scribed by R. Shalom Korach, was sold at Kedem, Auction 49, Part I, lot 137.
The binding is documented in the Center for Jewish Art (CJA), item 339308.
Provenance: The Gross Family Collection, Tel Aviv, YM.011.002.