Manuscript - Sermons, Eulogies and Novellae on Talmudic Subjects by 17th-18th Century Moroccan Scholars - ...

Manuscript - Sermons, Eulogies and Novellae on Talmudic Subjects by 17th-18th Century Moroccan Scholars - Tétouan, 1720s - Unprinted Novellae
Manuscript containing sermons, eulogies, Talmudic novellae and more from Moroccan scholars during ca. 1658-1729, copiyings from the manuscripts of R. Chaim Yaakov, emissary from Safed, author of "Tzror Hachaim", and anthologies from various books. [Tétouan, ca. 1720s].
Thick volume with hundreds of pages. Sephardic-eastern (Moroccan) handwriting, with handsome calligraphic titles and initials. The style of handwriting alternates throughout the volume. The majority of the volume was seemingly written by one scribe, with several paragraphs written by others.
The manuscript includes compilations from different sources available to the scribe: unprinted manuscripts and compositions by Moroccan scholars from the 17th and early 18th centuries, as well as printed books. Most of the manuscript is comprised of essays and homilies from Moroccan scholars (mid 17th-early 18th centuries), including: HaRashbatz (R. Shalom Ibn-Tzur); HaYaavetz (R. Yaakov Ibn-Tzur); R. Chasdai Almosnino (dayan in Tétouan); R. David Hakohen (died 1708); R. Shlomo Abudraham; R. Yitzchak Abudraham; R. Avraham ben Moussa; R. Yitzchak Babayas (died 1698); R. Shlomo Amar; R. Chaim Yaakov, emissary from Safed, and others. This manuscript was written by a scribe in ca. 1720s, and includes compilations from the manuscripts that were available to him at that time, ca. 1658-1729. To the best of our knowledge, much of the content of the manuscript is unknown from other sources and has never been printed.
The manuscript also includes copyings of essays from homiletic books published during the 17th century. Many of these essays underwent editing and adaptation, and some have glosses added (see p. 37b where a long learned gloss is inserted into the text, which reads "…according to my scant knowledge, I, the young Yehuda, will attempt to explain these verses in the manner that I heard from the rabbi…"). The entire volume contains glosses of emendations and elucidations. Some of the glosses are written in the margins, while others are included within the text itself. One of the glosses (p. 170a) is signed: "the words of Shlomo…".
The manuscript includes many sermons by R. David Cohen: the title on p. 79b states: "Second sermon by R. David Cohen in memory of a Torah scholar who passed away…". Pp. 94a-111b contain other sermons by R. David Cohen, with the final words of the scribe on p. 111b: "these are the sermons of R. David Cohen; I will now copy sermons by R. Shlomo Abudraham". Pp. 210a-[250]b contain further sermons "by the wise R. David Cohen" - eight sermons for Shabbat Hagadol and one for Shavuot. The seventh sermon for Shabbat Hagadol mentions: "I heard in the name of R. Saadia Ibn Danan…". The end of the sermons on p. [251]b contains the scribe's colophon: "the Shabbat Hagadol sermons are complete… by me, the young anonymous scribe for R. Shlomo Hacohen, leader of the community of Salé…" (Sefer Malki Rabanan, p. 114, mentions two rabbinical figures named Shlomo Hacohen who served in Salé ca. 1728).
The opening title on p. 111b states: "This is one of R. Shlomo Abudraham's sermons, which I repeated on the anniversary of the passing of my father-in-law, R. Avraham ben Zimra, my master and teacher, on 8 Adar I, 1658".
From p. 122b and on, many paragraphs are signed by another scribe: "Maharashbetz", "Maharash ben Tzur" (R. Shalom ben Moshe Ibn-Tzur, cousin of R. Yaakov ben Reuven Ibn-Tzur, the "Yaavetz", rabbi in Salé, who passed away prior to 1727).
Pages 167-174 contain copyings of sermons written by R. Chaim Yaakov, emissary of Safed: "This is what the great and wise R. Chaim Yaakov, emissary of Safed, wrote - this is a sermon that I gave in memory of my father, Adar I, 1720… and regarding the news of R. Yisrael Benvenisti". The manuscript contains further writings quoted from R. Chaim Yaakov, and p. 174b contains an inscription in the margin (in a different handwriting): "These are the words of R. Chaim Yaakov" (R. Chaim Yaakov ben R. Yaakov David was an emissary from Safed to North Africa during 1718-1728. He authored the works: "Sama DeChayei" and "Tzror Hachaim". His Torah thoughts are quoted in the works of R. Yaakov Ibn-Tzur and other Moroccan and Tunisian scholars from that time period).
Pp. 180a-189a contain various eulogies. The author menetions (p. 185b) his uncle, "My uncle, the great R. Yitzchak Abudraham, construes this differently, but in my humble opinion it seems to me…". On p. 188b the author writes: "It seems to me…" at the end of a paragraph, with the name "Mordechai Berdugo, scribe" written above (between the lines). [It is possible that this scribe was Marbi"tz (1715-1772 or 1763)]. The following colophon appears after the eulogies (page 195a): "I finished copying this work on Rosh Chodesh Adar I, 1723, anonymous".
Most of these sermons (those of R. David Cohen, the eulogies, the sermons of R. Chaim Yaakov of Safed, the novellae of R. Shalom ibn-Tzur, and others), are unknown from other sources and to the best of our knowledge have never been printed.
Approximately [290] leaves (pagination is faded and missing on many pages. Individual leaves are missing in several locations). [10], 62, 64-75, 77-84, [1], 94-112, 116-251,[1], 250-253, 257-267, [29] leaves. Approximately 20 cm. Fair condition. Most leaves and gatherings are detached. Heavy wear and tears. Stains and ink stains. Several pages are damaged by ink erosion. Original leather binding, worn and detached, without spine.