Auction 74 - Judaica - Books, Manuscripts, Rabbinical Letters, Ceremonial Art
Four Books Printed in Livorno – Signatures and Glosses by Torah Scholars of the Or Shraga Family, Persia
Opening: $300
Sold for: $525
Including buyer's premium
• Sheyarei Knesset HaGedolah, Orach Chaim, by R. Chaim Benveniste. Livorno, 1792.
The title page bears stamps of the rabbinic dynasty, descendants of the Or Shraga: Stamp of "Moshe son of Maor" – son of the Or Shraga, signature and stamp of his son "Yitzchak son of R. Moshe", stamp of his grandson "Moshe son of R. Yitzchak" (Mullah Aghababa), and several other stamps. Several glosses.
• Torah Or, Five Books of the Torah with Targum and commentaries. Livorno, [1863].
On the title page: Stamps of R. Refael son of R. Moshe "grandson of the Maor" (Mullah Refael), and two handwritten inscriptions: One is a lamentation over the passing of R. Moshe son of R. Yitzchak ("R. Moshe Shapiro"; Mullah Aghababa) in Shevat 1913, composed by his son (presumably Mullah Refael, whose stamps appear on the title page); the second is a lamentation on the passing of Mullah Refael, in Cheshvan 1942, written by his son R. Moshe. Stamp of R. Moshe (the latter) on the leaf following the title page. Other stamps and signatures. Several glosses.
• Millel LeAvraham, homiletics, by R. Avraham Sithon. Livorno, [1843]. Bound with: Divrei Moshe, by R. Moshe Sithon. Livorno, [1844].
Stamps of R. Refael son of R. Moshe "grandson of the Maor" (Mullah Refael). Inscription on the title page: "I acquired it with my money for the worship of my Creator, Avraham Halawa", and another inscripition: "I sold this book to Menachem Yehuda HaKohen, resident of Tiberias, so says the emissary from Jerusalem, Avraham Halawa" (the father of Mullah Refael, R. Moshe son of R. Yitzchak – Mullah Aghababa, granted his approbation to the book of the emissary R. Avraham Halawa – the book Minchat Avraham). Inscriptions and stamps of R. Moshe son of R. Refael Shraga.
• Aderet Eliyahu, homiletics, by R. Yosef Chaim of Baghdad, the Ben Ish Chai. Livorno, [1864]. Signatures and stamps of R. Moshe son of R. Refael Shraga. Another signature: "Yosef son of… Yehuda HaKohen, in Teheran… 1904". Another ownership inscripition. Several glosses.
The Or Shraga family of Yazd, descendants of the Kabbalist Mullah Or Shraga, were among the greatest rabbis of Persia. Mullah Or Shraga served as a rabbi for decades and was the force behind the enduring adherence of Yazd Jewry to Torah study and mitzvah observance. He and his descendants led the local community for some two hundred years. Rabbi Or Shraga reputedly came to Yazd from the city of Isfahan, some two hundred and fifty years ago, after the king issued a decree ordering the killing of ten great Torah scholars. He was one of three Torah scholars who managed to escape, the other seven died sanctifying G-d’s Name. In Yazd, he facilitated the flourishing of the city’s Jewish population and transformed the city into a Torah center. Yazd Jews were among the first to emigrate from Persia to Jerusalem, establishing there the famous Yazdim community.
Rabbi Or Shraga and his descendants were revered by the Jews of Persia. Of particular renown is R. Moshe son of R. Yitzchak, known as Mullah Aghababa, who served as rabbi of Yazd (see: Yosef Shraga, MiYazd LeEretz HaKodesh, pp. 157-161).
4 books. Size and condition vary.
The title page bears stamps of the rabbinic dynasty, descendants of the Or Shraga: Stamp of "Moshe son of Maor" – son of the Or Shraga, signature and stamp of his son "Yitzchak son of R. Moshe", stamp of his grandson "Moshe son of R. Yitzchak" (Mullah Aghababa), and several other stamps. Several glosses.
• Torah Or, Five Books of the Torah with Targum and commentaries. Livorno, [1863].
On the title page: Stamps of R. Refael son of R. Moshe "grandson of the Maor" (Mullah Refael), and two handwritten inscriptions: One is a lamentation over the passing of R. Moshe son of R. Yitzchak ("R. Moshe Shapiro"; Mullah Aghababa) in Shevat 1913, composed by his son (presumably Mullah Refael, whose stamps appear on the title page); the second is a lamentation on the passing of Mullah Refael, in Cheshvan 1942, written by his son R. Moshe. Stamp of R. Moshe (the latter) on the leaf following the title page. Other stamps and signatures. Several glosses.
• Millel LeAvraham, homiletics, by R. Avraham Sithon. Livorno, [1843]. Bound with: Divrei Moshe, by R. Moshe Sithon. Livorno, [1844].
Stamps of R. Refael son of R. Moshe "grandson of the Maor" (Mullah Refael). Inscription on the title page: "I acquired it with my money for the worship of my Creator, Avraham Halawa", and another inscripition: "I sold this book to Menachem Yehuda HaKohen, resident of Tiberias, so says the emissary from Jerusalem, Avraham Halawa" (the father of Mullah Refael, R. Moshe son of R. Yitzchak – Mullah Aghababa, granted his approbation to the book of the emissary R. Avraham Halawa – the book Minchat Avraham). Inscriptions and stamps of R. Moshe son of R. Refael Shraga.
• Aderet Eliyahu, homiletics, by R. Yosef Chaim of Baghdad, the Ben Ish Chai. Livorno, [1864]. Signatures and stamps of R. Moshe son of R. Refael Shraga. Another signature: "Yosef son of… Yehuda HaKohen, in Teheran… 1904". Another ownership inscripition. Several glosses.
The Or Shraga family of Yazd, descendants of the Kabbalist Mullah Or Shraga, were among the greatest rabbis of Persia. Mullah Or Shraga served as a rabbi for decades and was the force behind the enduring adherence of Yazd Jewry to Torah study and mitzvah observance. He and his descendants led the local community for some two hundred years. Rabbi Or Shraga reputedly came to Yazd from the city of Isfahan, some two hundred and fifty years ago, after the king issued a decree ordering the killing of ten great Torah scholars. He was one of three Torah scholars who managed to escape, the other seven died sanctifying G-d’s Name. In Yazd, he facilitated the flourishing of the city’s Jewish population and transformed the city into a Torah center. Yazd Jews were among the first to emigrate from Persia to Jerusalem, establishing there the famous Yazdim community.
Rabbi Or Shraga and his descendants were revered by the Jews of Persia. Of particular renown is R. Moshe son of R. Yitzchak, known as Mullah Aghababa, who served as rabbi of Yazd (see: Yosef Shraga, MiYazd LeEretz HaKodesh, pp. 157-161).
4 books. Size and condition vary.
Iraqi, Iranian and Indian Jewry – Manuscripts and Books
Iraqi, Iranian and Indian Jewry – Manuscripts and Books