Decorated Manuscript – Menorat HaMaor, with Commentary by Rabbi Saadia al-Qati'i – Sanaa, 1826-1827

Decorated Manuscript – Menorat HaMaor, with Commentary by Rabbi Saadia al-Qati'i – Sanaa, 1826-1827

Manuscript, Menorat HaMaor by R. Yitzchak Aboab, with the Nefesh Yehuda commentary by R. Moshe son of R. Shimon of Frankfurt and the Chok LeYaakov commentary by R. Saadia al-Qati'i, copied and edited by the scribe R. Avraham al-Hazi. Sanaa, [1826-1827].
Complete manuscript. Yemenite script, in a fine layout. Illustrations and ornaments in red and black ink throughout the manuscript. Title page set in floral border topped by a pair of birds. LaMenatze'ach Menorah on page facing title page (additional menorah in the preface to Nefesh Yehuda, on the verso of the title page; and sketch of a menorah on the first leaf of the manuscript). Initial words and headings decorated with red ink.
The title page states that the manuscript was scribed in Sanaa in 1826. On the second leaf, lengthy foreword by the scribe, entitled: "Foreword to the commentary of R. Saadia son of Shalom al-Qati'i", signed: "I, the scribe… Avraham son of Avraham son of R. David". In his foreword, the scribe states that this work was entitled Chok LeYaakov by the compiler.
Additional signature of the scribe on p. 98a: "Avraham son of Avraham son of R. David al-Hazi". Colophon at the end of the manuscript, with his calligraphic signature: "The work was completed on Thursday, Rosh Chodesh Adar II 1827…".
Two columns per page. Nefesh Yehuda commentary mostly scribed in smaller characters at the foot of the page. R. Saadia al-Qati'i's commentary is incorporated in "windows" within the columns. The scribe added his comments in several places, opening with: "Says the writer".
Chok LeYaakov by the kabbalist R. Saadia Qati'i (al-Qati'i), who lived in the generation preceding the Maharitz, was passed down in Yemen from generation to generation in manuscripts, and was only first published in 2013 by Adam Ben-Nun. The present manuscript is one of the earliest complete manuscripts of the work, and was used as a basis for the printed edition. The scribe R. Avraham son of Avraham Hazi edited R. Saadia's work, expanded upon it and added sources and selections (see introduction to the aforementioned edition). The scribe describes his work at length in his foreword.
The scribe, Mori Avraham son of Avraham Hazi (al-Hazi), was a Torah scholar and scribe in Sanaa in the 19th century. He authored two books: Zivchei Tzedek – commentary to Shaarei Kedushah by the Maharitz, and Or HaChaim – addition and commentary to the Etz Chaim siddur compiled by the Maharitz. He reputedly copied the book Mikdash Melech on the Zohar, in Sanaa 1825, stating in the colophon that he was 18 years of age. If so, the present manuscript was scribed when he was 19-20 years old (see: Gavra, Encyclopedia L'Chachmei Teiman, I, pp. 127-128; and introduction to the aforementioned edition of Menorat HaMaor).
Menorat HaMaor was particularly well accepted amongst Yemenite Jewry, who referred to it as "Menorah". Yemenite Jews would read it every Shabbat and festival in the synagogue, before the recital of Aleinu LeShabe'ach. The Maharitz writes about this custom (in his Tiklal siddur), and the custom is preserved until this day in the Yemenite community.

165 leaves. 21 cm. Good condition. Stains, including large dampstains and dark stains. Mold stains to several leaves. Minor worming to a few leaves at beginning of manuscript, slightly affecting text. Paper repairs in several places. New binding.

Exhibitions:
• Jüdische Lebenswelten, Berlin, 1991. See exhibition catalog, pp. 241-242.
• Kabbalah – Om judisk mysticism (curator: Erika Aronowitsch), Stockholm Jewish Museum, April-December 2002. See exhibition catalog, p. 60.
Provenance: The Gross Family Collection, Tel Aviv, YM.011.020.