Manuscript, lexicon of rhyming poetic expressions, compiled by the Rishon LeTzion R. Chaim Nissim Abulafia. [Eretz Israel, ca. late 18th or early 19th century].
Complete work arranged in alphabetical order, comprising thousands of expressions from Torah sources ending with various rhyming sounds.
Tall, narrow format, in cursive Sephardic–Oriental script. Two columns per page. The work was compiled and scribed by R. Chaim Nissim Abulafia, as stated in the poetic preface on p. 1a.
The preface is followed by a poetic dedication handwritten and signed by R. Abulafia, to the wealthy Yitzchak Alfandari, dated Sivan 1834.

R. Chaim Nissim Abulafia (1774–1861), leading Torah scholar in Tiberias, Jerusalem and Eretz Israel. Rishon LeTzion of Jerusalem since 1855.
The recipient of the manuscript was presumably Yitzchak Refael Alfandari, gabbai of Eretz Israel in Beirut. Known as a dominant activist through whom funds were transferred to the Sephardi and Ashkenazi Kollelot in Eretz Israel.

156 leaves (begins and ends with leaves from another manuscript of the same work, reused as endpapers). 34 cm. Good condition. Stains, including large dampstains. Wear and minor tears. Large tears to a few leaves, affecting text. Original binding, damaged.

Provenance: The Gross Family Collection, Tel Aviv, EI.011.030.

Journal handwritten by the kabbalist R. Yitzchak Kaduri. [Jerusalem, ca. 1950s].
Complete notebook handwritten by R. Kaduri, in which he records the requests of the people who approached him for guidance, with their name and mother's name, the diagnosis of various problems, and the advice and amulets he dispensed. Some records include a note that the segulah was effective.

R. Yitzchak Kaduri (ca. 1899 – 2006), renowned as a foremost expert in all areas of kabbalah. Many flocked to him for his blessings, advice and amulets, since he was one of the only individuals in his times proficient in the wisdom of kabbalistic amulets.

[24] leaves. 17 cm. Good–fair condition. Stains, including dampstains. Original card wrappers, damaged.

Provenance: The Gross Family Collection, Tel Aviv, EI.011.020.

Manuscript, Siddur Kavanot HaRashash – Shabbat prayers, kiddush and Shabbat meal. [Salonika, 19th century].
Square and cursive Oriental script.
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.

[35] leaves. Approx. 15 cm. Good–fair condition. Stains and wear. Several detached leaves. 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. 4.

Provenance: The Gross Family Collection, Tel Aviv, OT.011.016.