Manuscript from the Beit Midrash of the Rabbis of the Or Shraga Family, With their Signatures - Handwritten by ...

Manuscript from the Beit Midrash of the Rabbis of the Or Shraga Family, With their Signatures - Handwritten by Mullah Yitzchak son of R. Moshe Or Shraga - Yazd, Persia, 19th Century
Manuscript from the beit midrash of the rabbis of the Or Shraga family of Yazd - various selections, contract texts, halachot, novellae on the weekly Torah portions, responsa, amulets and more. [Yazd, Persia, 19th century].
Written by the grandson of the Or Shraga - Chacham (Mullah) R. Yitzchak son of R. Moshe son of R. Or Shraga. His signature appears in many places in this manuscript (pp. 32, 39, 49, 66, 124, 128, 138, 140).
In the margin of the first page, stamp and signature of R. Moshe son of Refael Shraga (his stamps and signatures also appear on p. 41 and on the following blank leaf). The first page and pp. 75 and 108 bear various stamps of "Refael son of R. Moshe son of the Maor Shraga". Unidentified calligraphic signature on p. 17. Blurred stamp on p. 26 (of R. Moshe son of the Or Shraga?).
Additional leaves (from the same region and period), bound at the beginning of the manuscript, comprise tales, songs, piyyutim and various selections.
The Or Shraga family of Yazd, descendants of the Kabbalist Mullah Or Shraga, were among the greatest rabbis of Persia. Mullah Or Shraga served as a rabbi for decades and was the force behind the enduring adherence of Yazd Jewry to Torah study and mitzvah observance. He and his descendants led the local community for some two hundred years. Rabbi Or Shraga reputedly came to Yazd two hundred and fifty years ago, from the city of Isfahan, after the king issued a decree ordering the killing of ten great Torah scholars. He was one of three Torah scholars who managed to escape, the other seven died sanctifying G-d’s Name. In Yazd, he facilitated the flourishing of the city’s Jewish population and transformed the city into a Torah center. Yazd Jews were among the first to emigrate from Persia to Jerusalem, establishing there the famous Yazdim community.
Not much is known about the life of the scribe, Chacham (Mullah) R. Yitzchak son of R. Moshe Or Shraga. His name appears on various ketubot between 1839 and 1865 and it is known that he composed a homily on the Torah (Y. Shraga, MiYazd LeEretz HaKodesh, p. 149). His son, R. Moshe son of R. Yitzchak Or Shraga served as rabbi during 1890-1900.
[15] leaves; 157 pages. 17 cm. Bluish paper. Condition varies, good-fair. Stains, wear and tears, affecting text of several leaves. Old damaged binding.