Toras Chaim, R' Chaim Shabsi, Salonica 1713, First edition.

Volume 1.

The ...

Toras Chaim, R' Chaim Shabsi, Salonica 1713, First edition.

Volume 1.

The well-known Torah scholar Rabbi Chaim Shabtai – the Maharchash (1656-1747), disciple of Rabbi Shlomo HaCohen (the Maharshach) and disciple and member of the Beit Din of Rabbi Aharon Sasson (the Mahara Sasson) in Thessaloniki. From 1715, he headed the Kehillat Kodesh Shalom Yeshiva in the city and merited teaching many disciples (in the Dvar Moshe responsa Part 2 Hoshen Mishpat Siman 23, he writes quoting Rabbi Yosef Kovo: "We have the tradition that the Maharchash would determine his ruling after discussing the issues with his disciples to assure that the decisions are clearly thought through"). The Maharshach was a great teacher and many prominent rabbis of his times from Thessaloniki and from other countries were his disciples. Among them are Rabbi Shlomo HaLevi (the Maharash L'Beit Levi responsa), Rabbi Yitzchak Barki, Rabbi Aharon Kopino, Rabbi Yehoshua Chandli (Pnei Yehoshua reponsa), Rabbi Azarya Yehoshua, Rabbi Chasdai HaCohen Pirchiya (Torah Chesed responsa), etc. Rabbi Shabtai was considered to be a rabbi of Jews all over the world; written on his tombstone in Thessaloniki is “Our teacher and our great rabbi, the head of ‘Golat Ariel’”. The Maharshach's responsa were accepted as halachic rulings to follow in practice and are quoted thousands of times in books written by the leading poskim of later generations, Sephardim and Ashkenazim.

After the Spanish expulsion, the city of Thessaloniki became the Jewish center of the Oriental countries and was divided into several communities originating from various countries. Each community led autonomous community lives until 1539 when all the community heads in Thessaloniki decided to appoint the Maharchash as Chief Rabbi whose decisions would be binding for all the various communities. Even at an old age, he retained all his facilities. His book contains a responsum which was written when he was over ninety years old.

Raban shel Yisrael - he responded to thousands of questions from Jews all over the world, most were printed only after his death. His book the Maharchash responsa – Even HaEzer and a pamphlet on the topic of agunot was printed in Thessaloniki in 1751. Most of his responsa were printed in Torat Chaim, 3 volumes, printed about 70 year after his death in 1713-1722. During all those years, his responsa were dispersed among various libraries of rabbis and Torah scholars in Thessaloniki and as the printer Rabbi Avraham ben Rabbi David Nachman writes a “Printers’ apology”: “The rulings of the author were dispersed and circulated throughout the homes of Torah scholars, a bit here and a bit there, until at the beginning of the printing they needed to announce that anyone who has any rulings of the rabbi shall bring it to the printing house. Furthermore, they sought them thoroughly among the homes of the Torah scholars until much time elapsed and I still did not receive them all...”

With library stamps of R. Y.Y. Ruderman and bookplates of R. S.Y. Weinberg, Roshei Yeshiva of Ner Yisroel Baltimore.

Pages: [5], 148

Size: 30 cm

Condition: Damage to the title page effecting text, the rest is in very good condition, some stains.