Ginat Veradim, Questions, answers and Halachic rulings. Rabbi Avraham Ha-Levi, Av Beit Din of Egypt. First and second volumes. Constantine, [1715-1717].
Various signatures by “Yedidyah Shlomo Israel” appear on both volumes’ title pages. There are a few glosses on the first volume’s sheets in Oriental handwriting. One remark in a different handwriting, signed by “the Young Matz"a Che"n”.
The Ga'on Rabbi Yedidyah Shlomo son of Rabbi Eliyahu Israel from Rhodes was among the greatest scholars of his generation. He served as Av Beit Din in Alexandria for about 30 years until his passing in 1831 [he did not leave any descendants, his books apparently made it back to his ancestors’ home in Rhodes]. His nephew, Rabbi Chaim Yehuda Israel, Av Beit Din of Rhodes, had a son also named Rabbi Yedidyah Shlomo, who was among the Rhodes and Jerusalem scholars and passed at a young age [around 1836] and his brother, Rabbi Michael Ya'akov Israel, Av Beit Din of Rhodes, was the one who took care of his bequest. [See enclosed material, on the books “History of the Rabbis from the Rhodes Israel Family”, the “Yad Yamin” responsum and “Roni Ve-Simchi”’s sixth eulogy].
Rabbi “Matz"a Che"n” is Rabbi Matityahu Avraham Zormani, Av Beit Din of Bucharest and Shumen (Bulgaria), son in law of Rabbi Michael Ya'akov, Av Beit Din of Rhodes. Answers he wrote appear in the “Ben Yamin” responsum, one of them is signed by him: “the Young Matz"a Che"n”.
[4], 157, 160-164 (faulty leaf count); [4], 158 leaves. 27-27.5 cm. Fair condition, moth damage. Some of the glosses are partially cut off. Old bindings with leather spine.
From Dr. Israel Mehlman’s private collection.