Handsome copy in leather binding: Taj of Genesis and Exodus with Targum—Nasmi-Doran, Yemen, 1818

Handsome copy in leather binding: Taj of Genesis and Exodus with Targum—Nasmi-Doran, Yemen, 1818
Taj with targum and tafsir and Rashi, the colophon lists the scribe as Rabbi Aharon ben Moshe HaLevi Sari, see below. Written in 1818. 323 pages. At the beginning of Exodus there is a transfer of ownership notice from 1918. “Aharon ben Yehi Alershi” bought the sections of Genesis and Exodus with witnesses and his signature: “Yehi ben Saliman El-Kapach”, see below, and “Aharon ben…HaKohen.” Colophon: “The total verses, etc., names, etc., completed, I the young Aharon ben Moshe ben Yosef ben David, known by Alsari…”. At the end of Rashi’s commentary: “completed with G-d’s help on the 5th day of the week [Thursday] 13th of Adar I.” Handsome copy, 31.5x22cm. Hard leather binding appears to be from the period, wear, stains, light moth damage at the beginning, overall good condition.

The scribe Rabbi Aharon ben Moshe HaLevi Sari (Encyclopedia of Yemenite Sages, p. 418-419). The signer Yehi ben Shlomo Kapach (1850-1932) was the Chacham Bashi and founder of the Darda’im movement, a sage of Sanaa in the 19th and 20th centuries. He was very learned and fought to introduce improvements in the life of the Jewish community in Yemen in education. In 1913 he became famous for his books in which he argued against the kabbalah and the weight given to it when it contradicts halacha, and thus founded the Darda’im movement (Dor De’ah). He authored Milchamot HaShem, Da’at Elokim, Amal v’Reut Ruach. See the Encyclopedia of Yemenite Sages, 545-546.