Ruling Signed by Holy Ga’on Rabbi Ya’akov Abuhatzira – Morocco, 1832

Ruling on matters of sale and transfer of ownership of land and homes, signed by Rabbi Shlomo Ben Sussan and Rabbi Yosef Ben Moshe Ben-Atiya. On the reverse is an approbation signed by Rabbi Yichye Yaloz and Rabbi Ya’akov Abuhatzira. [Tafilalet, Morocco], [1832].
“The ruling authorizes that the mentioned sale is valid even if each party has not yet made use of his yard… And as evidence, we have signed our names on Monday, the 22nd of the month of Tevet… Signed Yichye Yaloz; Ya’akov Abuhatzira.”
Rabbi Ya’akov Abuhatzira (1806-1880) – Abir Ya’akov, acknowledged from youth as a holy Ga’on, exalted genius in Torah and Halachah, and divine Kabbalist. Rabbi and Av Beit Din of the Tafilalet congregation, the central congregation in the Emek Haziz region in Southern Morocco. By the time he was in his twenties, his opinion was considered definitive by most of the rabbis of the region. The approbation on this ruling was written when we was twenty-six years old. His co-signatory, Rabbi Yichye Yaloz, was the most prominent rabbi of the city.
Rabbi Ya’akov Abuhatzira was considered one of the leading Halachic authorities of his generation and thus was involved in Halachic responsa with leading rabbis throughout northern Africa. He is considered a holy and divine miracle worker, with many miraculous stories attributed to him and he was credited with a revelation of Elijah the Prophet (see “Ma’aseh Nissim,” Jerusalem 1968, based upon information and stories related to him by the “Baba Sali” and other rabbis of Abuhatzira family). He was also well known among the Moslem gentiles of the region, who referred to him respectfully as “Al Hazan Al Kabir” (great rabbi).
Rabbi Abuhatzira passed away while on his way to immigrating to Eretz Israel. He was buried in Damanhur, Egypt. The epitaph on his tombstone reads, “Tombstone of… the great miraculous, divine Kabbalist, the holy Torah scholar Rabbi Ya’akov Abuhatzira….” His compositions include "Ginzei HaMelech," "Yagel Ya’akov," "Yoru Mishpatecha LeYa’akov" Responsa, "Pituchei Chotam," "Doresh Tov," "Bigdei HaSrad," "Machsof HaLavan" and many others.
There exist dozens of poems composed in his honor and memory, some of which are still widespread among Moroccan Jews. The famous picture of him seated with his legs crossed holding a holy book, hangs in many homes in Morocco and in Israel to this day.
His sons and grandsons were known for their holiness and vast knowledge of the Torah. The most famous are Rabbi Yisrael Abuhatzira, the “Baba Sali,” and his brother Rabbi Yitzchak the “Baba Haki,” Rabbi Meir Abuhatzira the “Baba Meir” and dozens of other prominent rabbis.
Signatures in Rabbi Abuhatzira's holy handwriting from such an early period are rare. Of his known signatures, the majority are more recent and lack the calligraphic curls of the fine signature that appears here.
2-page leaf, 15 cm. Dark stains. Tears to the margins and to the center of leaf the (professionally restored), some extending into the text. Half-leather binding.