Manuscript, Siddur Kavanot HaRashash – Jerusalem, 18th Century – Partially Copied by Rabbi Yosef Edrehi, Trusted ...

Manuscript, Siddur Kavanot HaRashash – Jerusalem, 18th Century – Partially Copied by Rabbi Yosef Edrehi, Trusted Scribe of the Rashash – Copy of the Emissary Rabbi Yitzchak Farhi

Manuscript, Siddur Kavanot HaRashash for the Shabbat meals. [Jerusalem, 18th century].
Kavanot for the Friday night and Shabbat morning kiddush, kavanot for the Shabbat meals and Birkat HaMazon, and kavanot for Torah study.
Pocket format (presumably for use during the Shabbat meals).
The second part of the manuscript (from p. 25b onwards) was neatly scribed by the kabbalist R. Yosef Edrehi, trusted scribe of the Rashash. R. Yosef Edrehi presumably continued where the previous scribe left off. His copying begins with a diagram of the kavanot for the Shabbat meal.
The siddur was later owned by the kabbalist R. Yitzchak Farhi, emissary of the Beit El yeshiva – ownership inscription in his handwriting (somewhat deleted) at the beginning of the manuscript: "Acquired in my youth, emissary of Jerusalem… Yitzchak Farhi".
On the final leaf of the manuscript, four sections with segulot and incantations: "For one who is lost in a forest or on his journey…", "for any trouble at sea or on dry land, thieves and fire…", "lot…", "to annul the plans of enemies…".
R. Yosef Edrehi, kabbalist and expert scribe, served as the trusted scribe of the Rashash in Jerusalem, copying many kabbalistic compositions of the Arizal and of the Rashash. Based on his dated manuscripts, he was active in Jerusalem ca. 1755-1771 (see: Avivi, Kabbalat HaAri II, p. 787). The kabbalist R. Refael Yedidya Abulafia, dean of the Beit El yeshiva for kabbalists (and disciple of the Divrei Shalom, grandson of the Rashash) mentions him in his preface to Sefer HaLikutim as the scribe who produced the manuscript of Siddur HaRashash. There are manuscripts by R. Yosef Edrehi which were annotated by the Rashash, who added his handwritten comments and corrections (see photographs at the end of Ahavat Shalom by R. Yaakov Hillel, Jerusalem 2002; and at the end of some volumes of Siddur HaKavanot published by Ahavat Shalom publications, Jerusalem 1984-2006).
The kabbalist R. Yitzchak Farhi (1782-1853), known as "the Jerusalemite reprover" or "the Jerusalem Maggid", was a leading Torah scholar of Jerusalem in his times. Born in Safed to R. Shlomo Farhi, preacher and Torah disseminator, he was orphaned at a young age and was raised in Jerusalem by R. Yom Tov Algazi, who took him under his wing. He attended leading Jerusalem kabbalists, such as R. Avraham Shalom Mizrachi Sharabi (grandson of the Rashash), and became a member of the Beit El yeshiva. He was renowned as one of the leading Jerusalem Torah scholars and dayanim, as a Torah disseminator, preacher and maggid. He served for a time as emissary, travelling several times on behalf the Kollelot of Jerusalem and the Beit El yeshiva to Turkey, the Balkans and Italy. During the course of his travels, he published his many works, which he would gift to philanthropists. His books include: Matok LaNefesh, Zechut HaRabim, Marpeh LaEtzem, Mussar Haskel, Shevet Mishor, Hadrat Zekenim (on the Idra), Minei Metikah, Tzuf Devash, Rochev Aravot, Zechut UMishor, and more. He is especially known for his book Matok MiDevash, which was cherished throughout the Jewish world and was reprinted already in the 19th century in over 10 editions, in Zhovkva, Zhitomir, Vilna, Warsaw, Lublin, Lviv and elsewhere.

[51] leaves. 11 cm. Good condition. Stains, including dampstains and dark stains. Tears and blemishes to several leaves, slightly affecting text. Inscriptions in Arabic on front endpaper. Old binding, damaged.

Provenance: The Gross Family Collection, Tel Aviv, EI.011.007.

Manuscripts of Siddur HaRashash in the Gross Family Collection
Siddur HaRashash was a siddur with kabbalistic kavanot based on the writings of the Arizal and R. Chaim Vital. The siddur was 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 1911-1912 did several Ashkenazi kabbalists of Yeshivat Shaar HaShamayim in Jerusalem finally initiate the printing of the siddur, and parts I and II were published. Parts III-IX were printed later, presumably in 1916.
The Beit El yeshiva of kabbalists, also known as Midrash HaChassidim or Kehal Chassidim, was founded in Jerusalem in 1737 by R. Gedalia Hayun, and was designated as a place for studying kabbalah. Ever since, the kabbalists of Jerusalem have gathered to study there, directed by foremost kabbalists. Of particular prominence were R. Shalom Sharabi (the Rashash), who headed the yeshiva, and his successor R. Yom Tov Algazi. Reputedly, R. Gershon of Kitov – brother-in-law of the Baal Shem Tov, also studied there. Following the passing of R. Chaim Avraham Gagin in 1848, R. Yedidia Refael Abulafia (1806-1869), was appointed in his stead, a position he held until his passing. R. Abulafia's disciples include the sons of Rebbe Moshe of Lelov; the Imrei Binah Rabbi of Jerusalem; R. Shalom Moshe Chai Gagin, who succeeded him as dean of the Beit El yeshiva; and others.
Presented here is a unique collection of manuscripts of Siddur HaRashash from the Gross Family Collection, which reflects the tradition of manuscript transmittal of the Siddur HaRashash amongst kabbalists. Some of the present siddurim were scribed by most prominent kabbalists of the Beit El yeshiva, including R. Yosef Edrehi (scribe of the Rashash), R. Yedidia Refael Abulafia, R. Nissim Zerachya Azulai (grandson of the Chida), R. Yitzchak Moshe Ferrera, R. Masoud HaKohen Alhadad, and others.
Regarding the development of Siddur HaRashash, see: 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 lists the manuscripts of Siddur HaRashash found in the Gross Family Collection.