Manuscript, Composition on the Torah and Homiletics - A Rabbi from Sidon (Lebanon) - 1744-1751

Manuscript, Composition on the Torah and Homiletics - A Rabbi from Sidon (Lebanon) - 1744-1751
Manuscript, novellae and pilpulim on the Torah and commentaries on the words of Rashi and the Re'em. Homiletics for joyous occasions recited in Sidon during 1743-1751 and in Damascus, correspondence with Rabbi Chaim Amram "Mare D'Atra" of Damascus, and with Rabbi Moshe El-Granati. Autographic writing of an unknown author, but the content proves that he was a rabbi in Sidon at that time. [Sidon (Lebanon), after 1744].
Complete work [unprinted] – Novellae and explanations according to the order of the parshiot. Homiletics. The book has many variations of handwriting and apparently was written throughout various times, [or by several writers?]. Many ownership signatures at the bottom of the pages: “Ezra Atiye” [several additions to the book are in a similar handwriting to this signature, possibly they are late additions of Rabbi Ezra Atiye – a Torah scholar from Aleppo who lived in the 18th/19th century].
More than 20 long marginalia, in another handwriting, some begin with the words “Chaim speaks” and in one he mentions “And in the book Chacham Lev, I have a long matter [on this subject]” – The initial words “Chaim speaks” are the well-known signature of Rabbi Chaim Moda’i, author of Chaim L’Olam (died 1794), who printed Chiddushei HaRitva on Tractate Yoma in the book Or Yekarot (Constantinople, 1754) from a manuscript which was in his library and he add to it comments beginning with “Chaim speaks”. His comments to Seder HaAvodah printed in the machzor (Constantinople, 1744), begin with this signature as well. [Possibly, the writer of the marginalia is Rabbi Chaim Atiye, a Torah sage of Aleppo (1751-1795), who also wrote a work of “Pleasant homiletics on the Torah and on the language of the Re’em”. See: L’Kdoshim Asher Ba’Aretz’, p. 132, end of Ot 404].
On Leaves 20/2-21/1, he writes “And I have spoken these things in Damascus to the Mare D’Atra Rabbi Chaim Amram and this was his response…”. Apparently, Rabbi Chaim Amram (the I) a Safed emissary, who served for a while as Rabbi in Damascus. Died in 1760 and was buried in Tzipori in the Galilee. Author of Matza Chaim (the book Matza Chaim was not printed but he is still known by the name of this book. The manuscript of Matza Chaim was seen by Rabbi Y.M. Toledano who writes that the eulogy delivered by Rabbi Chaim Amram from 1743 on the death of his cousin, Rabbi Chaim ben Atar, author of Or HaChaim appears in that book. Kovetz Yerushalayim, p. 233) was the grandfather of Rabbi Chaim Amram, author of MiTa’am HaMelech born in 1759 (in his books and writings he quotes his grandfather, author of Matza Chaim). Also on Leaves 53/a-57/a, he brings other correspondence with Rabbi Chaim Amram: “I have been asked by the rabbi of the kollel Rabbi Chaim Amram…”.
On Leaf 2/a, the author brings excerpts from the book Yashresh Ya’akov by Mohracha Abulafia [Rabbi Chaim Abulafia, builder of the city of Tiberias – author of Mikra’ei Kodesh and Yashresh Ya’akov. Died in 1744), and further (Leaf 2/b) he writes things which he himself heard “from the holy … Moharcha”.
On Leaf 77/a is a homiletic eulogy “Which I have delivered here in Sidon, on hearing of the death of Rabbi David Melamed of Hebron in Elul 1751”. [Rabbi David Melamed (the I) Hebron emissary from 1724-1725]. He brings that Rabbi Melamed was eulogized by great rabbis and “Suitably eulogized by my brother, the complete wise sage…Rabbi Yosef…”. [Apparently, the author’s brother was an important rabbi called Rabbi Yosef].
On Leaf 82/a he writes: “I was asked by my brother-in-law Rabbi Moshe Elgranti…”. [Apparently, Rabbi Moshe Elgranti the III, an Izmir sage and rabbi, died in Cheshvan 1768. See Arzei HaLevanon, p. 1549].
On Leaf 107/a: “A homiletic I delivered here in Sidon, at the circumcision of the son born to my brother-in-law…Rabbi Chaim Divan, the week of Seder Shemot 1744”. [The Divan family was one of the most veteran Sidon families in the 18th-20th centuries]. On Leaf 113/a: “Homiletic which I have delivered here in Sidon at the wedding of the daughter of the complete chacham Shemarya [Katairibas?] with the complete chacham Rabbi David HaCohen, the week of Vayetze 1763.
1-2, (missing Leaves 3-4), 5-120 leaves, approx. 199 written pages. 21 cm. high-quality paper, good-fair condition, stains and wear, detached leaves. Ancient ornamented leather binding, worn and damaged.