Manuscript, Mateh Yehuda – Autograph of the Author Rabbi Yehuda Ayash – Different Edition from the Printed Edition ...

Manuscript, Mateh Yehuda – Autograph of the Author Rabbi Yehuda Ayash – Different Edition from the Printed Edition – Contains Hitherto Unprinted Sections
Manuscript, sections of the book Mateh Yehuda – autograph of the author R. Yehuda Ayash. Novellae on Shulchan Aruch Orach Chaim, Hilchot Chol HaMoed and Hilchot Tisha B'Av (Simanim 539-561), novellae on Responsa Halachot Ketanot, and more. [Algiers?/Jerusalem?, 18th century].
Written by a scribe, semi-cursive script, two columns per page, with hundreds of revisions and additions in the author's own handwriting (in Sephardic cursive script – including entire sections in the author's handwriting). [4] leaves of novellae on a few sections of Shulchan Aruch Orach Chaim (written by a scribe, Sephardic cursive script) are bound at the end of the volume.
The manuscript partially parallels (with textual differences) the novellae printed in the author's well-known book Mateh Yehuda on Shulchan Aruch Orach Chaim, and contains many sections which are not found in the printed book. Approximately half the manuscript has never been printed. Most of the additions and revisions in the handwriting of the author were not included in the printed book. Apparently, this is a different edition and possibly a Mahadura Kama of the composition (for example, the section on Halachot Ketanot Siman 140, on p. 165b of the manuscript, was integrated in the printed version within Siman 550:1, with textual differences: "I am surprised at the Mahari Chagiz in Halachot Ketanot Part 2 Siman 140…").
R. Yehuda Ayash (1688-Tishrei 1760) was a prominent Torah scholar of the later generations, in Algiers and Jerusalem. Primary disciple of R. Refael Tzror of Algiers. He served there as a rabbi and preacher, and in 1728, was appointed as the rabbi of Algiers. In 1756, after a tenure of 28 years, he left his position as rabbi and moved to Eretz Israel, travelling via Livorno. Upon arriving in Jerusalem in 1757, he was appointed Raavad of the Jerusalem Beit Din and joined the Knesset Yisrael Yeshiva. Among his books: Mateh Yehuda and Shevet Yehuda on the Shulchan Aruch, Lechem Yehuda on the Rambam, Bnei Yehuda on the Rambam, Responsa Beit Yehuda, Kol Yehuda on the Torah, and more.
He was venerated in his times as a leading Torah scholar, and in his approbation to R. Ayash's book V'Zot LiYehuda (Sulzbach, 1776), R. Yehonatan Eybeschutz refers to him as "rabbi, gaon, glory of the generation… famous among the Jewish people, he is great and his deeds are great". The Maharit Algazi also uses lavish praise in his approbation to the same book. R. Ayash's novellae are much cited in the books of the poskim, such as the Chida and R. Akiva Eger. The Chida refers to him with great reverence and cites him dozens of times in his books. In one place, the Chida writes that he merited thinking along the same lines as R. Ayash: "And now, the book Mateh Yehuda by Mahari Ayash was printed… and I saw that I concurred with his exalted opinion…" (Machazik Beracha, Orach Chaim 47:2). R. Ayash gave an approbation to the Chida's first book, Shaar Yosef (Livorno, 1757).
[20] leaves, comprising approx. 19 written leaves (first 16 leaves paginated: 151-166). 31.5 cm. Fair condition. Stains. Wear and tears, slightly affecting text. Worming and mold. Old binding.