Manuscript, responsa and halachic novellae, by R. Yehuda son of R. Natan Meyuchas. [Constantinople], 1752-1765.
A complete composition handwritten by the author, with his calligraphic signature in several places. At the top of the first leaf: "This book of writings is by me, the least significant of the group, Yehuda son of R. Natan Meyuchas…". The composition contains responsa and halachic novellae on topics of Choshen Mishpat and Even HaEzer. In many instances, the date of the writing is indicated. "Year 1752", "Iyar 1752", "Adar I 1753", "Rosh Chodesh Sivan 1753", "Shevat 1757", "Cheshvan 1764", and more.
A responsum from 1754 regarding the case of an agunah is recorded on p. [5a]. At the foot of the page, the author writes that he was asked by his illustrious uncle to express his opinion on the matter, as required in such cases, yet a member of the group - R. Yom Tov Ankaoua, preceded him and prepared his own ruling on this case (the illustrious uncle mentioned here is R. Avraham Meyuchas, author of Benei Avraham. R. Yom Tov Ankaoua - a Torah scholar of Constantinople, author of Shevitat Yom Tov, also a close disciple of R. Avraham Meyuchas).
On p. [18a], beside a responsum from 1755, a note in the margins that this question was posed to him by "The great Torah scholar, the exceptional dayan R. Shlomo Shefami" (R. Shlomo Shefami was also a Torah scholar and dayan of Constantinople in those days).
At the end of one responsa (p. [62a]), he writes that this responsum was endorsed by "my teacher and uncle, the great rabbi and all the Torah scholars of the yeshiva", and that this ruling was applied in 1752.
At the top of one passage on p. [63a], he wrote that he copied these teachings from the manuscript of his father R. Natan. He later deleted this passage, and added: "This topic has already been addressed in the book of my father" (probably referring to Responsa Meorot Natan, an unpublished composition which remained in manuscript, located in the Columbia University Library, MS X 893 M 53 Q.
In one place (p. [67a]), he writes: "I found this in the writings of the outstanding Torah scholar… R. Yaakov HaLevi…". This passage was also deleted, and the inscription added: "Written in the book of my father".
The author, R. Yehuda son of R. Natan Meyuchas, was a Torah scholar of Constantinople in the 18th century and a dayan in the Constantinople Beit Din (his signature appears on Beit Din rulings, see: Bornstein-Makovetsky, Constantinople Beit Din Ledger, 1999, according to index). His father R. Natan (mentioned in this manuscript) was one of the city's renowned dayanim, and the brother of R. Avraham Meyuchas, rabbi and chief rabbi of Constantinople, author of Benei Avraham (Constantinople, 1773). R. Yehuda was a disciple of his uncle R. Avraham, and he mentions him several times in this composition. Another manuscript of responsa and novellae by R. Yehuda is extant, from 1752-1782 (NLI MS Heb. 3109).
[147] leaves (including approx. 15 blank leaves). 21 cm. Good condition. Stains and wear. Worming in several places. Original binding, damaged.