A huge and impressive collection of autographs. Dozens of letters, rulings, halachic responsa, testaments and bills, handwritten and signed by c. 100 rabbis and scholars of Morocco and North Africa. 18th and 19th centuries.
Amongst the writers and those who signed are rabbis of distinguished lineage in Morocco, some of the most prominent rabbis and dayanim who served in Fez, Meknes, Sefrou, Mogador (Essaouira) etc. from the families of Ben Atar, Ebn Tzur, Birdugo, Toledano, Siriro, Monsoneigo etc.
*Shtar Siluk from 1711 signed by Rabbi Yehuda ben Atar – Mohariva (1755-1834, Malkei Rabanan 46, 4), Head of the Fez Beit Din and leader of his generation [relative of the author of the Or HaChaim HaKadosh], author of Minchat Yehuda etc. Moroccan Jews admired him greatly and called him Rabbi Elkabir [Our great rabbi]. The Chida writes of him: "The rabbi was used to miracles and my ears have heard some of the wonders that have happened to him during his life and even after his death… he was thrown to the lions and saved after he stayed with them a day and a night… people used to give oaths in his name and if they gave a false oath they would die".
*3 pages handwritten by the greatest Moroccan rabbi of his time (successor of Rabbi Yehuda Ben Atar) Rabbi Ya'akov Ebn Tzur – Ya'avetz (1673-1753, Malkei Rabanan, Leafs 64-65). *Documents signed by the members of the beit din of the Ya'avetz and the scholars of his time, including: A document signed by Rabbi Menachem Siriro – son-in-law of the Ya'avetz and Rabbi Shalem Edrei. *A beit din ruling from 1753 (the year Ya'avetz died) signed by Rabbi Maimon Busidan and Rabbi Shmuel Ebn David Ochyon, concerning Rabbi Refael Oved Ebn Tzur, the Ya'avetz's son. "The rabbi, his father" is mentioned in the document. *A shtar for the widow of Rabbi Chaviv Toledano from 1838, signed by Rabbi Elazar Bahalul, Rabbi Moshe Toledano and Rabbi Elazar Cohen. *A document from 1745, signed by the rabbis of the beit din, Rabbi Efraim Monsoneigo, Rabbi Moshe Ebn Zimra and Rabbi Shmuel Elbaz [disciple of Rabbi Yehuda Ben Atar and a member of the beit din of the Ya'avetz. A friend of Rabbi Chaim Ben Atar, author of the Or HaChaim, who reffered to him as "brother of the Rashba"]. *Documents signed by early Moroccan rabbis: Rabbi Eliyahu HaTzorfati (the first), Rabbi Shaul Yeshua Abitbul (author of Avnei Shayish), Rabbi Shaul Ebn Denan, Rabbi Maimon Ebn Denan, Rabbi Maimon Busidan, Rabbi Yitzchak Shimon Tzeva, Rabbi Yehuda Bar Dehan, Rabbi Petachya Mordechai Birodugo and Rabbi Refael Birdugo (known as "The Angel Refael"). *Many more signatures.
The rulings and documents are signed by the leading rabbis of Morocco of the 18th and 19th centuries: Rabbi Videl HaTzorfati, Rabbi Yedidya Monsoneigo, Rabbi Yehuda Ben Atar (the second), Rabbi Matitya Siriro, Rabbi Ya'akov Birdugo, Rabbi Ya'akov Ben Atar, Rabbi Matitya Birdugo, Rabbi Amor Abitbul, Rabbi Chaviv Toledano, Rabbi Refael Ebn Tzur, Rabbi Amram Elbaz, Rabbi Shlomo Nahon, Rabbi Yehuda Elbaz and many others.
C. half of the manuscripts are from the 18th century (beginning with 1706) and c. half are from the 19th century (between 1800-1900). Few items are from the beginning of the 20th century – the 1900-s).
49 items, dozens of leaves. Varied size, overall good condition. Arranged in a binder.