Manuscript, Siddur Kavanot HaRashash – kavanot for the morning blessings. [Tunisia, 19th century].
Neat, square and semi–cursive Sephardic (Tunisian) script. The manuscript opens with a passage from the foreword to Rechovot HaNahar. Several glosses by a different writer.
One section mentions the year 1768, yet it was presumably part of the text copied by the writer from an earlier siddur.

Siddur HaRashash was a siddur with kabbalistic kavanot based on the writings of the Arizal and R. Chaim Vital, edited by the kabbalists of the Beit El yeshiva in Jerusalem, based on the siddur compiled by their teacher the Rashash – R. Shalom Mizrachi Sharabi, dean of the Beit El yeshiva in the mid–18th century. For many years, copyings of Siddur HaRashash were produced from accurate manuscripts proofread by the kabbalists in the yeshiva.
Prayer using the manuscripts of the siddur was the privilege of just a few kabbalists. In general, the kabbalists themselves produced various copyings of Siddur HaRashash for their personal use, or entrusted them to reliable kabbalists only. Each of these manuscripts bore the stamp of the kabbalist who copied it, through the emendations and additions he inserted.
For many years, the siddur was zealously and intentionally kept in manuscript form only, without being printed at all. Only in 1911–1916 was in published in six parts by several Ashkenazi kabbalists of Yeshivat Shaar HaShamayim in Jerusalem.

[22] leaves (+ blank leaves). 21.5 cm. Good–fair condition. Stains, including dark stains. Worming, slightly affecting text in several places. New binding.

Regarding the development of Siddur HaRashash, its scribing and redaction by the kabbalists of the Beit El yeshiva, see essay by R. Moshe Hillel: The Rashash's Meditation Prayer Books, Between Tradition and Innovation, in: Windows on Jewish Worlds. Essays in Honor of William Gross, ed. Shalom Sabar, Emile Schrijver, Falk Wiesemann, pp 205–239. An addendum at the end of his essay lists the manuscripts of Siddur HaRashash found in the Gross Family Collection. The present manuscript is listed there as no. 5.

Provenance: The Gross Family Collection, Tel Aviv, TU.011.007.

Manuscript, Siddur Kavanot HaRashash – for Chanukah, Purim and Passover Haggadah, scribed by the kabbalist R. Yichye Tzarum. [Jerusalem, 19th/20th century].
Oriental–Yemenite script. In several places, the copyist – R. Yichye Tzarum – added his own glosses. The Passover Haggadah is preceded by homilies for the Seder by R. David Magar (prominent disciple of the Rashash).

R. Yichye son of R. Yosef Tzarum (1843–1917), a leader of Yemenite immigration in 1882. In 1885, he was appointed head of the Yemenite Beit Din and rabbi of the Yemenite community in Jerusalem. A kabbalist in the Beit El yeshiva.

Siddur HaRashash was a siddur with kabbalistic kavanot based on the writings of the Arizal and R. Chaim Vital, edited by the kabbalists of the Beit El yeshiva in Jerusalem, based on the siddur compiled by their teacher the Rashash – R. Shalom Mizrachi Sharabi, dean of the Beit El yeshiva in the mid–18th century. For many years, copyings of Siddur HaRashash were produced from accurate manuscripts proofread by the kabbalists in the yeshiva.
Prayer using the manuscripts of the siddur was the privilege of just a few kabbalists. In general, the kabbalists themselves produced various copyings of Siddur HaRashash for their personal use, or entrusted them to reliable kabbalists only. Each of these manuscripts bore the stamp of the kabbalist who copied it, through the emendations and additions he inserted.
For many years, the siddur was zealously and intentionally kept in manuscript form only, without being printed at all. Only in 1911–1916 was in published in six parts by several Ashkenazi kabbalists of Yeshivat Shaar HaShamayim in Jerusalem.

[42] leaves. 18 cm. Good condition. Stains. Stamps. New, elegant leather binding.

Regarding the development of Siddur HaRashash, its scribing and redaction by the kabbalists of the Beit El yeshiva, see essay by R. Moshe Hillel: The Rashash's Meditation Prayer Books, Between Tradition and Innovation, in: Windows on Jewish Worlds. Essays in Honor of William Gross, ed. Shalom Sabar, Emile Schrijver, Falk Wiesemann, pp 205–239. An addendum at the end of his essay lists the manuscripts of Siddur HaRashash found in the Gross Family Collection. The present manuscript is listed there as no. 12.

Provenance: The Gross Family Collection, Tel Aviv, EI.011.012.

Manuscript, Siddur Kavanot HaRashash – kavanot for the Shabbat prayers and for the Passover Seder, scribed by the kabbalist R. Shalom Yosef Alshech, head of the Yemenite Beit Din in Jerusalem. [Jerusalem, 19th/20th century].
Neat Oriental–Yemenite script.

R. Shalom son of Yosef HaLevi Alshech (1859–1944), prominent kabbalist and head of the Yemenite Beit Din in Jerusalem. Disciple of R. Chaim Korach and R. Yichye Badichi. Immigrated to Eretz Israel in 1891, where he helped establish the Yemenite institutions in Jerusalem. Kabbalist of the Beit El and Rechovot HaNahar yeshivot. Composed many piyyutim on yearning for Eretz Israel.

Siddur HaRashash was a siddur with kabbalistic kavanot based on the writings of the Arizal and R. Chaim Vital, edited by the kabbalists of the Beit El yeshiva in Jerusalem, based on the siddur compiled by their teacher the Rashash – R. Shalom Mizrachi Sharabi, dean of the Beit El yeshiva in the mid–18th century. For many years, copyings of Siddur HaRashash were produced from accurate manuscripts proofread by the kabbalists in the yeshiva.
Prayer using the manuscripts of the siddur was the privilege of just a few kabbalists. In general, the kabbalists themselves produced various copyings of Siddur HaRashash for their personal use, or entrusted them to reliable kabbalists only. Each of these manuscripts bore the stamp of the kabbalist who copied it, through the emendations and additions he inserted.
For many years, the siddur was zealously and intentionally kept in manuscript form only, without being printed at all. Only in 1911–1916 was in published in six parts by several Ashkenazi kabbalists of Yeshivat Shaar HaShamayim in Jerusalem.

[34] leaves. 21 cm. Good condition. Stains (including dark stains). Wear. Some worming. Original binding, detached and damaged.

Enclosed: piece of paper with kavanot, dated 1930.
Regarding the development of Siddur HaRashash, its scribing and redaction by the kabbalists of the Beit El yeshiva, see essay by R. Moshe Hillel: The Rashash's Meditation Prayer Books, Between Tradition and Innovation, in: Windows on Jewish Worlds. Essays in Honor of William Gross, ed. Shalom Sabar, Emile Schrijver, Falk Wiesemann, pp 205–239. An addendum at the end of his essay lists the manuscripts of Siddur HaRashash found in the Gross Family Collection. The present manuscript is listed there as no. 15.

Provenance: The Gross Family Collection, Tel Aviv, EI.011.014.

Collection of leaves, booklets and sections of manuscripts, with many selections on practical kabbalah, hashbaot, amulets, segulot and remedies. [Eastern Europe, ca. 18th–19th century].
Leaves by many writers, in cursive Ashkenazic script, including leaves in scripts typical of the 18th century. Some of the leaves are written in Yiddish. Includes kabbalistic diagrams and illustrations. This collection may have been compiled by a healer who dealt in practical kabbalah (Baal Shem), who prescribed segulot, cures and amulets based on it.
The leaves contain various inscriptions, including addresses, names for prayer, and more – see Hebrew description for more details.

Over 80 leaves. Size and condition vary. Stains, wear and many tears, affecting text.

Provenance: The Gross Family Collection, Tel Aviv, EE.011.035.

Manuscript, Kiddush Levanah (sanctification of the moon). [Europe, 19th century].
Square Ashkenazic script. The manuscript opens with a title page designed as a brick house, with the title page text scribed in the window. The following leaf is decorated with a border of vine tendrils and clusters of grapes. Fine illustration of LaMenatze'ach Menorah on final page.

[6] leaves. 17.5 cm. Fair condition. Stains, including dampstains. Wear, tears and minor open tears, slightly affecting text. Original binding, with label on front board reading: "Order of Kiddush Levanah".

Provenance: The Gross Family Collection, Tel Aviv, GR.011.010.