Pesakim U'Ktavim (Trumat HaDeshen) by Rabbi Yisrael Isserlein – Venice, 1546 – Notes, Signatures of the Rabbis from ...

Pesakim U'Ktavim (Trumat HaDeshen) by Rabbi Yisrael Isserlein – Venice, 1546 – Notes, Signatures of the Rabbis from the Berdugo Family of Meknes (Rabbi Maimon Berdugo, Rabbi Petachya Mordechai Berdugo and Rabbi Yaakov Berdugo) and Signature of Rabbi Nehorai Azubib – Handwritten Leaves Within the Binding
Pesakim U'Ktavim, by R. Yisrael Isserlein. Venice: Marco Antonio Justinian, 1546.
Trumat HaDeshen, by the same author, was printed concurrently and in later editions the two books were combined to one book consisting of two parts.
This copy belonged to rabbis from the prominent Berdugo family of Meknes. The title page contains an inscription handwritten and signed by R. "Maimon", presumably R. Maimon Berdugo: "I borrowed this from R. Yehuda HaLevi son of Yosef, Maimon". Followed by an ownership inscription of his cousin R. Petachya Mordechai Berdugo: "Received as a gift from the aforementioned R. Yehuda, Petachya Mordechai Berdugo", alongside an ownership inscription of his brother R. Yaakov Berdugo: "I acquired it from Hekdesh property which Lidicia widow of Yaakov son of Shmue[?] consecrated, Yaakov Berdugo".
The title page and subsequent leaf contain signatures of "Nehorai Azubib" – we were unable to ascertain whether this is the signature of R. Nehorai Azubib the first (1610-1690), a dayan in Algiers and patriarch of the Azubib family, or of his grandson R. Nehorai son of R. Saadia Azubib, Rabbi of Algiers (d. 1785).
The book contains a dozen handwritten notes (by one of the rabbis from the Berdugo family?). A handwritten leaf (4 small pages) was found amongst the leaves of the book, with a draft letter containing Torah thoughts, autographic writing with deletions and corrections (by one of the rabbis from the Berdugo family?).
Handwritten leaves were used as filling of the binding. The binding is partially falling apart and the leaves filling it are somewhat separated. The leaves contain numerous lists, including various names and data, in Western script from ca. 1740s.
The illustrious Berdugo family, one of the most distinguished families in Morocco, arrived in Morocco with the Spanish exiles between 1492-1497, and its descendants settled in Meknes. According to their family tradition, they claim to descend from King David. Some maintain the family name "Berdugo" stems from "Son of David" (Dugo is a nickname for David), and others believes it has its roots in Portuguese Bara Dogua, meaning Golden Scepter. From the 18th century onwards, the Berdugo family produced consecutive generations of rabbis, yeshiva deans and community leaders, until today.
R. Maimon Berdugo (1767-1854) "HaRav HaMeivin" - the author of Lev Meivin and Pnei Meivin, was the son of R. Refael Berdugo ("HaMalach Refael"). He served as rabbi and dayan in Meknes.
R. Petachya Mordechai Berdugo (1764-1820), a dayan and yeshiva dean in Meknes, was a leading Torah scholar of the town. He authored Pituchei Chotam and Nofet Tzufim. R. Petachya Mordechai was the son of R. Yekutiel Berdugo (d. 1802, brother and teacher of "HaMalach Refael").
His brother R. Yaakov Berdugo (1786-1843), who signed here alongside him, was also a leading Torah scholar in Meknes and served as head of the Meknes Beit Din. He authored Shufrei D'Yaakov, Kol Yaakov and other books.
R. Yehuda son of R. Yosef HaLevi – the first owner of the book – is presumably R. Yehuda HaLevi, the Beit Din scribe in the time of R. Yehuda ben Attar (Mohariva) and R. Yaakov Even Tzur (the Yaavetz). His signature appears on a verdict dated 1730, together with R. Shalom Ederi and R. Binyamin son of Samchon (see: Malchei Rabbanan, p. 45).
R. Nehorai Azubib (ca. 1720-1785) Rabbi of Algiers, was one of the Torah scholars and poets of Algiers. His commentaries on piyyutim were published in Chochmat Misken, Livorno 1772 (see: Marciano, Malchei Yeshurun, pp. 31-32).
77 leaves. 20.5 cm. Fair condition. Stains and wear. Worming and tears, affecting text in some leaves. Original binding, damaged and partly detached.